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New Mexico Lobos (Last Year: 30-5, 14-2 in MWC)
2010-11 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Alex Kirk (Fr)/Drew Gordon (Jr)
PF: A.J. Hardemann (Jr)/Emmanuel Negedu (Jr)/Cameron Bairstow (Fr)
G/F: Phillip McDonald (Jr)/Chad Adams (So)
G: Curtis Dennis (So)/Tony Snell (Fr)/Kendall Williams (Fr)
PG: Dairese Gary (Sr)/Jamal Fenton (So)
Gone: G/F-Darington Hobson, F-Roman Martinez, G-Nate Garth (transfer-UC Santa Barbara), F-Will Brown (transfer-McNeese State)
2010-11 Outlook:
New Mexico proved to be national threat early in the season when they won their first 12 games including a pair of victories against ranked teams. After a little hiccup midway through the year, the Lobos ended strong by winning their final 14 regular season games en route to the Mountain West Conference championship. Steve Alford must replace the two most important pieces from a year ago in “The Evan Turner of the West” Darington Hobson and steadying force Roman Martinez.
Helping bridge that transition is the return of senior point guard Dairese Gray, who was named first team All-Conference and to the MWC All-Defensive team a year ago. He will be joined in the backcourt by returning starter Phillip McDonald. Redshirt sophomore Curtis Dennis will likely step into a more prominent role after coming off the bench a year while freshman wing Tony Snell should also figure into the rotation.
The strength of the Lobos this season figures to be up front. A.J. Hardeman made an impressive jump from his freshman to sophomore season despite playing out of position at the center position. Hardeman will likely play the four this year with highly recruited 6-11 freshman Alex Kirk joining the team.
Alford has had previous success in landing impact freshmen and this year is no different. UCLA transfer Drew Gordon becomes eligible after the first semester and could find his way into the starting lineup. Emmanuel Negedu comes to New Mexico after suffering sudden cardiac arrest prior to last season that forced him to sit out the entire year at Tennessee. The Vols did not clear him healthy enough to play for the University and neither did Indiana when Negedu tried to transfer there. His heart condition will be monitored closely at New Mexico and I will be curious to see how his playing time will shake out. If he proves to be 100 percent, he can make a major impact for the Lobos and provide even more depth in the frontcourt. Alford also added Arizona State transfer Demetrius Walker who will sit out this season per NCAA rules.
Player to Watch: Drew Gordon, PF
The UCLA transfer never really found his niche with the Bruins despite being highly recruited out of high school, and ended up leaving on a sour note. He is an athletic big who figures to flourish in the Lobos’ up-tempo style of play as opposed to UCLA’s slower-paced offense. Gordon will not be eligible until Dec. 19 but should add even more depth to an already talented frontcourt.
Key Non-Conference Games:
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2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 23
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
