Anthony Bennett

[bonesw505]

has eliminated florida and kentucky and narrowed his choices to UNLV and oregon

[burquesid]

I think he ends up at UNLV. Just a prediction. Watching him play, he is an absolute beast inside. He has an NBA body already. Selfishly I was hoping after the Kentucky 5 left for the NBA, he would go to Kentucky.

UNLV will be very formidable inside if Bennett does indeed go there.

[NMStorm]

I think he ends up at UNLV. Just a prediction. Watching him play, he is an absolute beast inside. He has an NBA body already. Selfishly I was hoping after the Kentucky 5 left for the NBA, he would go to Kentucky.

UNLV will be very formidable inside if Bennett does indeed go there.

I'm curious...were you hoping for him to go to Kentucky because you like Kentucky that much or because you hate UNLV that much?

Personally, I'd much rather every team in our conference stock up on as many good players as possible. It will make us step our game up (or die trying).

[rick7g]

We are falling behind SDSU and Vegas in recruiting.

[Mark]

We are falling behind SDSU and Vegas in recruiting.

How about in post season success?

[NMStorm]

We are falling behind SDSU and Vegas in recruiting.

No we are not!!!!

We got the freshman of the year in the MWC two years ago and a top-5 freshman in the MWC last year. Did UNLV or SDSU have either of these???

I think that sometimes people only look at the very last thing you've done and use that as their point of reference. UNLV could have an incredible recruiting class this year but we have been every bit as good recruiting as UNLV has before this year. If Rice doesn't improve as an in-game coach, his recruiting won't matter and it will suffer. Outside of Winston, who did SDSU get that was soooo much better than who we got? They signed three transfers who could be pretty good but would you say any of them are as good or better than D. Walk (who came in as a sophomore transfer this year).

I'm sorry but our recruiting is as good as it has ever been both in quality of player and quality of young men.

[BoRealist]

How about in post season success?

Umm, pretty sure SDSU went to the sweet sixteen a couple seasons ago correct?

[unmlobo2011]

No we are not!!!!

We got the freshman of the year in the MWC two years ago and a top-5 freshman in the MWC last year. Did UNLV or SDSU have either of these???

I think that sometimes people only look at the very last thing you've done and use that as their point of reference. UNLV could have an incredible recruiting class this year but we have been every bit as good recruiting as UNLV has before this year. If Rice doesn't improve as an in-game coach, his recruiting won't matter and it will suffer. Outside of Winston, who did SDSU get that was soooo much better than who we got? They signed three transfers who could be pretty good but would you say any of them are as good or better than D. Walk (who came in as a sophomore transfer this year).

I'm sorry but our recruiting is as good as it has ever been both in quality of player and quality of young men.

Yes, we do get our fair share of solid recruits, same as UNLV and SDSU. However, this offseason, those two schools have completely and totally outdone us. We've nabbed a few mid-level prospects/projects, but UNLV and SDSU have locked up talented potential starters through recruitment and transfers. Sure, Alford has proven he can take unproved players and turn them into studs, but right now, I'm disappointed we never landed that marquee player like a Sheppard/January/Pelle.

We'll be fine with the tools in place, and hopefully we can convince Aaron Gordon to play a season at UNM. But right here, early May with no spring signer, you have to at least be a little envious of our intraconference rivals.

[blacklab101]

Rivals rank SDSU's current recruiting class at 24 in the country. That's pretty impressive imo, anytime you can crack the top 25 in recruiting, I would say its a great job by the staff, especially for a non big 6 school.

[judas_priest]

has eliminated florida and kentucky and narrowed his choices to UNLV and oregon

He'd get more playing time at Oregon Ducks are thin in the front court, returning only 1 experienced post player ( a true center), 2 red-shirts of uncertain potential (one center, one can play center or PF), and two good 6'6" players who are essentially 3s. One other post recruited.

[Mark]

Umm, pretty sure SDSU went to the sweet sixteen a couple seasons ago correct?

Fishers had 10 years to build that yet we are well ahead of pace becuase Alford is one player hitting their average in out last game from being at the same level.
Theres still a chance that Bennett doesn't even qualify. There's also a big question about his toughness OR if he's injury prone. Look up how many games he sat out last year at FP.
If he debunks each of those questions then he's going to be a hell of a player and will do really well in the MWC.
But by my count UNM is winning just about as many games, if not more each year as UNLV and SDSU. Do we really have to do this each year?

How many of you were saying Snell who???
I want Cobbins!

How did that work out?

[BoRealist]

Don't get to fired up there Stormy, you're absolutely correct concerning the character of the young men Alford and his staff recruit and land. They are absolute studs in that regard. I think the staff has done a real nice job with the quality of their recruiting efforts in the talent department as well. I think what everyone is pointing to is this current recruiting and transfer class coupled with last years two player class that had a freshmen walk out and a immature non-qualifier. 2012 has us brining in 3 good looking prospects but not a single player you'd deem a game/programs changer. If that's to steep a hill for you then stick with major 1st year impact player. I've got zero issues with Banyard, Aget and Williams and I'm happy they're Lobos.

People see the fact that we wiffed on our number 1 target Winston Shepard. To our most hated rival no less.
People see zero top 150 recruits ... let alone top 100 or 4 star players. (yeah yeah yeah stars don't mean anything blah blah blah)
People see that we've missed or (UNLV type) passed on every major mid-season or end of season transfer.
People see that we're sitting on two empty scholarships and have a definate need in the post (don't pretend it doesn't exist).
People see UNLV land Khem Birch high level transfer and Reinhardt a 94 / 4 star recruit. They also now see them in the top two for one of the top 5 remaining players on the board.

So far 2012 recruiting can be labeled a disappointment and I wouldn't argue (Not a major one mind you). It's not the end of the world but the bottom line is your program needs high level talent to compete in the higher levels consistently. It's ok to look at this years recruiting class and say that on paper this class isn't getting it done. Banyard, Aget and Williams could all blossom into freaking beasts no one knows, but I do know that at least one of them has to inorder to keep the upward trend in the program's success.

[NMStorm]

Don't get to fired up there Stormy, you're absolutely correct concerning the character of the young men Alford and his staff recruit and land. They are absolute studs in that regard. I think the staff has done a real nice job with the quality of their recruiting efforts in the talent department as well. I think what everyone is pointing to is this current recruiting and transfer class coupled with last years two player class that had a freshmen walk out and a immature non-qualifier. 2012 has us brining in 3 good looking prospects but not a single player you'd deem a game/programs changer. If that's to steep a hill for you then stick with major 1st year impact player. I've got zero issues with Banyard, Aget and Williams and I'm happy they're Lobos.

People see the fact that we wiffed on our number 1 target Winston Shepard. To our most hated rival no less.
People see zero top 150 recruits ... let alone top 100 or 4 star players. (yeah yeah yeah stars don't mean anything blah blah blah)
People see that we've missed or (UNLV type) passed on every major mid-season or end of season transfer.
People see that we're sitting on two empty scholarships and have a definate need in the post (don't pretend it doesn't exist).
People see UNLV land Khem Birch high level transfer and Reinhardt a 94 / 4 star recruit. They also now see them in the top two for one of the top 5 remaining players on the board.

So far 2012 recruiting can be labeled a disappointment and I wouldn't argue (Not a major one mind you). It's not the end of the world but the bottom line is your program needs high level talent to compete in the higher levels consistently. It's ok to look at this years recruiting class and say that on paper this class isn't getting it done. Banyard, Aget and Williams could all blossom into freaking beasts no one knows, but I do know that at least one of them has to inorder to keep the upward trend in the program's success.

I understand what you are saying but I think the implication that we are really behind those two programs is dead wrong (which is why I responded the way I did in my current post). We had a two man class last year and our one remaining freshman is better than any freshman SDSU or UNLV had last year. Yes, our current recruiting class lacks flare (but addresses needs) but it is just one class. If the trend continues and we start to fall back in the standings then I'd agree that we are falling behind, but I think people are hitting the panic button way too prematurely.

Oh yeah, my posts alway sound like I'm fired up. I'm a passionate typest...but I'm usually pretty mellow while I do it. :)

[BoRealist]

Fishers had 10 years to build that yet we are well ahead of pace becuase Alford is one player hitting their average in out last game from being at the same level.
- I did not realize that fact disqualified them from counting that sweet sixteen as "post season success".
Theres still a chance that Bennett doesn't even qualify. There's also a big question about his toughness OR if he's injury prone. Look up how many games he sat out last year at FP.
If he debunks each of those questions then he's going to be a hell of a player and will do really well in the MWC.
- Sounds like things we would ignore if he was our recruit. I'd be popping streamers out my cornhole if we were in his top two and so would you.

But by my count UNM is winning just about as many games, if not more each year as UNLV and SDSU. Do we really have to do this each year? - Yeah sure UNM is winning as much if not more, I wasn't aware that was what was being discussed in this recruiting thread. You threw out the "post season success" line, all I did was point out SDSU's NCAA tournament finish that you managed to ignore. It did happen. But if your point is that recruiting success doesn't guarantee post season success you're correct, but I'll be damned if I'm going to listen to how it isn't an important factor. It takes talent to win not just coaching. Coach Alford's arguably best three coaching success years at UNM all came with an NBA talent leading the way (JR year 1, Butta year 3, and Beast Mode year 5). Need one star or potential/budding star in every recruiting class to remain at the top every season in my opinion.

How many of you were saying Snell who??? I did
I was Cobbins! Pretty sure Mike Cobbins is pretty good. I'd gladly take him if he wanted to transfer, though I wouldn't trade Tony Snell or anyother Lobo for him.

How did that work out?

People like to talk err bitch about recuiting. They're not making statements about the past success of the program on the court.

[blacklab101]

UNLV didnt have a freshman!

[burquesid]

I'm curious...were you hoping for him to go to Kentucky because you like Kentucky that much or because you hate UNLV that much?

Personally, I'd much rather every team in our conference stock up on as many good players as possible. It will make us step our game up (or die trying).

I dont hate Unlv at all. I respect the hell out of them. I see them in the same boat as the Lobos; a top 25 basketball program being overshadowed in the grand scheme of things by a losing football program.

My point was a frontcourt including Birch and Bennett, on paper, would be pretty darn good.

[ikevarela]

I think it's only fair that we evaluate the 2012 recruiting classes at the end of the 2012 season. I think the coaches will still bring in a difference maker by fall. I like our chances this upcoming season. I won't be surprised if Rice once again fails to prepare his team for the road. No doubt STDSU looks tough on paper but the games still have to be played out.

[Digital Lobo]

Sure, Alford has proven he can take unproved players and turn them into studs, but right now, I'm disappointed we never landed that marquee player like a Sheppard/January/Pelle.

So Gordon and Hobson were what, chopped liver? Also, if Williams and Walker are not marquee players yet, they are surely on the verge. If you want to make a point, you could probably do a better job by making statements that are actually grounded in reality. Even Kirk and McDonald were highly recruited, which goes to show you that the stars on the ratings don't always equate to stars on the court once they get onto a D-1 team.

[Mark]

People like to talk err bitch about recuiting. They're not making statements about the past success of the program on the court.

For the record. Horses win races. Not jockeys.
Hows this. UNM has just about as many wins in the post season as UNLV and SDSU in the last 4 years.
And I didnt manage to ignore it. I simply asked a question because people forget that were a pretty ok basketball team too with all these roll players.
People love to talk and bitch about recruiting and compare UNM recruiting against SDSU and UNLV. Both who have built in advantages.
See Findley prep and Bishop Gorman and newly formed La Hoya Prep. Where Anthony January will now go to school.
Do we really have to go into how one Prep was started by UNLV's biggest boosters? The same prep where Bennett is now playing?
And realistically, how many kids are going to chose UNM over SDSU? Do any of you really think thats an easy sell?

Wheres UNM built in advantage? So many of you just think its so simple to recruit here and its not. I feel like a broken record.

Rocky long said it best when he said,
"theres nothing special to sell here other than I love it".
When Rocky talked about a miracle worker he was talking about a recruiter who can get it done skirting the rules, if you will. That didnt work out with Locks and I dont even have to tell you why it wont fly with Alford. He is the ultimate golden boy who goes about things the right way. Were going to lose some and win some. Obviously we missed on Winston and others we looked at didnt eventually qualify.
In reality, we should only have 1 open scholly but were lucky to get an extra with the transfer of DD.

You will see soon get what some of you are wishing for and hopefully it pleases the unhappy. What frustrates me is some fans thinking that UNM is just some high and mighty place on the college basketball map. Its not. I talk to these AAU guys from around the country and frankly, they think of UNM as the 3rd best job in the MWC. Yet, some fans think we deserve x recruit and we expect this yet fail to realize this program is in the best state its ever been and its not even close. Why I get frustrated is because it bugs me that this staff has to prove itself each year with some yet these coaches are some of the most respected on the circuit. They go out and hammer the AAU scene all summer yet cant get the respect from some of their own "supporters" when they were that close to beating the eventual final 4 team.
Proven talent evaluators.
Proven game day coaches.
Proven coaches who advance players skills.
But hey, have at it!

[rick7g]

For the record. Horses win races. Not jockeys.
Hows this. UNM has just about as many wins in the post season as UNLV and SDSU in the last 4 years.
And I didnt manage to ignore it. I simply asked a question because people forget that were a pretty ok basketball team too with all these roll players.
People love to talk and bitch about recruiting and compare UNM recruiting against SDSU and UNLV. Both who have built in advantages.
See Findley prep and Bishop Gorman and newly formed La Hoya Prep. Where Anthony January will now go to school.
Do we really have to go into how one Prep was started by UNLV's biggest boosters? The same prep where Bennett is now playing?
And realistically, how many kids are going to chose UNM over SDSU? Do any of you really think thats an easy sell?

Wheres UNM built in advantage? So many of you just think its so simple to recruit here and its not. I feel like a broken record.

Rocky long said it best when he said,
"theres nothing special to sell here other than I love it".
When Rocky talked about a miracle worker he was talking about a recruiter who can get it done skirting the rules, if you will. That didnt work out with Locks and I dont even have to tell you why it wont fly with Alford. He is the ultimate golden boy who goes about things the right way. Were going to lose some and win some. Obviously we missed on Winston and others we looked at didnt eventually qualify.
In reality, we should only have 1 open scholly but were lucky to get an extra with the transfer of DD.

You will see soon get what some of you are wishing for and hopefully it pleases the unhappy. What frustrates me is some fans thinking that UNM is just some high and mighty place on the college basketball map. Its not. I talk to these AAU guys from around the country and frankly, they think of UNM as the 3rd best job in the MWC. Yet, some fans think we deserve x recruit and we expect this yet fail to realize this program is in the best state its ever been and its not even close. Why I get frustrated is because it bugs me that this staff has to prove itself each year with some yet these coaches are some of the most respected on the circuit. They go out and hammer the AAU scene all summer yet cant get the respect from some of their own "supporters" when they were that close to beating the eventual final 4 team.
Proven talent evaluators.
Proven game day coaches.
Proven coaches who advance players skills.
But hey, have at it!

Good points and I completely agree that SDSU and UNLV have a recruiting advantage over us that makes it tough for Alford to compete with. My original comment that we are falling behind them in recruiting is a statement of fact, not a criticism of Alford.

[DAshroom34]

Alford is building a program, and with that comes tradition. With tradition comes the kind of players some on here expect to get. I believe after Alford has been here, we will have gone to a sweet 16 or farther. I love our team, and I think Alford has assembled a team that have bought into his system.

[Elijah]

Does anyone else think its weird that Oregon is all the sudden in play for top level recruits? When did Oregon become a destination? Anyways I hope Bennett goes to Vegas. Some years we win the recruiting battle some years we don't. Last year we had the highest rated team in the conference recruit wise. Go back and check if u don't believe me. Our recruits out of high school were rated higher. I'm including transfers cuz I consider them recruits. So to say we are falling behind is a little premature in my opinion.

[vegasErNN]

To clear up on some of the little things...

1. Anthony Bennett is the epitome of tough. 6'7 240 with a 7'2 wingspan and he loves to get in the paint and bang with the bigs.
2. His grades are good to go... Can't get in SEC, but still has a PAC 12 school? PAC 12 has higher standards.
3. Character issues....NONE. This is all slander a bunch of bitter UK fans are spitting out.
4. No injury problems...he sat out MUCH longer to make sure he was 100%. First Highschool games back was the National tournament where he won MVP for. Not injury prone, just cautious about returning because he knows his future in front of him.


UNM will be fine. Alford does a great job and your returning core is all coming back. Plus, next year you guys have solid recruits that you can possibly land.
SDSU has Winston who was a great pickup (I wanted him to UNM) and a couple solid transfers, but like they were last year they will be weak at the 5 spot. Hardeman and Birch will dominate anything SDSU puts in there.

[NMCatsFan]

Quality posts in this thread guys. I love reading threads like this where the fans can have realistic discussions about their teams situation. Good stuff. Nothing worse then when a fan posts an opinion that isn't homered out and gets groaned for being non supportive or for not being a "true fan".

[JCB Lobo]

Im gonna laugh my arse off at Chicken Little next season when Alex Kirk is straight going off on fools and our so called "Post deficiency" is are biggest advantage. He had a pretty solid Freshmen Year, true he sat out a year due to injury but he also had the advantage of having the UNM Training staff whip him back into shape and apparently has strenghtened his core to never before seen levels. He did have half a season to practice and truly play against Drew Gordon. He is no DG and will not rebound like him (NO ONE at UNM did anyway) but he sure will be the most amazing Alex Kirk we could hope for and having a 7footer to go with the Gritty Australian and young players to bring along off the bench is an ideal position for UNM.

I hope we can land another studly big but in all reality I think we have Sweet 16 Potential without ANYONE added to our roster. We have one of the Best and DEEPEST Back Courts in the entire country coming back next year. WOW!

[EZLoboCat]

I think that alot of "frustration" is with the (us) fans wanting more. Coach Alford and his team has done and excellent job from day one and he has not let up. We are solid, and will continue to get better. We were a couple of shots this year from going to the sweet 16 and maybe even the final 4 - but we didn't so as fans we feel the pain and frustration. Even reading esp (sic) and rival sites all they seem to mention is SDSU and UNLV with lots of "recruiting" interest. Coach Alford has a very "quiet" way of getting great transfers and very good recruits who he makes better, but like I said we still feel "frustration". I think it will end soon and we will get there, but until we do - many will continue to find fault and complain that the "sky is falling". After many many years of following Lobo basketball I find this the best opportunity mainly because of Coach Alford and his staff for us to reach the next level. GO Lobos GO Coaches!

[txlobo95]

Last year we had the highest rated team in the conference recruit wise. Go back and check if u don't believe me.

I'd like to see you prove your point!

We only had a 2 man class with Hugh and DD and were told DD was undervalued, but then got here and couldn't crack the line-up, so maybe rated properly. Analysts really didn't know how to grade out Hugh. So, I'm not sure how our class could have been rated high at all?

As Bo mentioned, this year's class, no top 150 players. Hugh was at least a solid front-line starter. Our soph class was really good class, but that was 2 years ago.

This year appears "solid", but certainly no where near our top competitors.

But by my count UNM is winning just about as many games, if not more each year as UNLV and SDSU.

IMO, our coaching is better and their management of players and why we win as many games not because our recruiting is as good.

IMO, if our recruiting picked up, we could leave SDSU and UNLV in the dust.

If we can expand on our recent NCAA wins, then maybe recruiting takes a huge upward spike?

I do like next year's class so far, so there's hope!!!

[LoboMike]

Recruiting is about relationships more than anything. Which is why top recruits will go to places like Waco, Texas and Eugene, Oregon. Not every place is Las Vegas or San Diego. Heck, even Fresno is recruiting pretty well right now because the head coach himself is a big-time recruiter.

I don't think Alford has an "ace" recruiter on his staff currently to go after top recruits like he had with Wyking. Thus, we've seen a bit of a dip in recruiting. The 2013 class is big for us, so we'll have to see how that one plays out. That will tell a lot.

[judas_priest]

Does anyone else think its weird that Oregon is all the sudden in play for top level recruits? When did Oregon become a destination? Anyways I hope Bennett goes to Vegas. Some years we win the recruiting battle some years we don't. Last year we had the highest rated team in the conference recruit wise. Go back and check if u don't believe me. Our recruits out of high school were rated higher. I'm including transfers cuz I consider them recruits. So to say we are falling behind is a little premature in my opinion.

This says more about your level of knowledge than it does about Oregon.

Oregon has two elite 8 appearances in the past 11 tournaments (2007 & 2002. They were a 2 & 3 seed and lost to a number 1 seed in the regional finals.)
Oregon has great facilities
Oregon has Phil Knight and Nike.
Oregon has an excellent coach.
And Oregon has been generating lots of positive vibes through its football program. It's certainly a destination for football players, and may become one for basketball.

[NMStorm]

This says more about your level of knowledge than it does about Oregon.

Oregon has two elite 8 appearances in the past 11 tournaments (2007 & 2002. They were a 2 & 3 seed and lost to a number 1 seed in the regional finals.)
Oregon has great facilities
Oregon has Phil Knight and Nike.
Oregon has an excellent coach.
And Oregon has been generating lots of positive vibes through its football program. It's certainly a destination for football players, and may become one for basketball.

Yep, everyone know$ about Phil Knight and the money he $pend$ officially and otherwi$e...

Oregon i$ a de$ired location becau$e of that.