ENMU home for basketball openers

Nov. 7—It's basketball time at Eastern New Mexico University.

ENMU men's and women's squads open the 2023-24 campaign at home this weekend, taking on Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference members Fort Lewis and New Mexico Highlands at Greyhound Arena in the South Central Region crossover event.

Four games are scheduled each day, with ENMU's women playing at 2:30 p.m. and the men at 7:30 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday. The women face Fort Lewis on Friday and Highlands on Saturday while the men's get Highlands first and then Fort Lewis.

Western New Mexico's women play at noon both days, against Highlands on Friday and Fort Lewis on Saturday, while Angelo State's men face Fort Lewis on Friday and Highlands on Saturday in 5 p.m. starts.

ENMU's men went 17-12 (12-10 Lone Star Conference) last season, losing in the first round of the conference tournament to West Texas A&M, while the women were 12-15 (9-13) and just missed qualifying for the LSC tourney.

Here's a look at both squads:

Men — Third-year coach Brent Owen said six players are in contention for starting spots at this time, including returnees in senior guards Jahcoree Ealy (12.7 ppg) and Greg Johnson (11.8), the team's top two scorers in 2022-23, and sophomore forwards Jose Murillo and Blazej Czerniewicz. Others are junior forward Mario Whitley and senior guard Lyron Bennett, both transfers.

Ealy earned second-team All-LSC honors last season, while Johnson was honorable mention. Murrillo, who started 24 games a year ago, and Czerniewicz were named to the LSC all-freshman squad.

"We've got a good core of returnees for the first time since I've been here," Owen said. "I think we have good size again, and we're a little more skilled on the perimeter."

Depth, at least early in the year, is a bit of a concern.

"That's the one thing we're waiting to see," Owen said.

The Hounds added size with 7-foot freshman Jaxon Koroll and 7-3 freshman Conrad Luczynski.

ENMU was picked eighth overall in the 16-team conference, up from 11th in last year's preseason poll.

"Our goal last year was to make the conference tournament (top eight)," Owen said. "This time we want to take another step forward. We want to play for a chance to make the NCAA (Division II) tournament.

"I just think we're more skilled on the perimeter and bigger inside. We just have to see if we play as hard as the team did last year."

Women — Blake Huber replaces Meghan De los Reyes after she was let go following the 2022-23 season.

Four players return from that squad, including the top two scorers in senior guard/forward Adrian Deja (17.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 42 assists last year) and senior guard Ashley Shipley of Tucumcari (11.4 ppg, 39 assists).

Another potential starter, sophomore guard Julieta Ceja, suffered a torn ACL in last year's finale at Western New Mexico and is out for the season.

"They were a halfcourt team last year," said Huber, who came to ENMU after going 29-2 (20-0 Red River Conference) at Texas-Texarkana last season, his only one at the school. He took the Eagles to the second round of the NAIA tournament and was named the league's coach of the year.

"I think we're going to be more balanced this year; last year, Deja had to score most of the time for them to win," he said. "Ship shoots the ball extremely well, and she's been a great leader for us in preseason."

Huber brought in three Division I players from the transfer portal in senior guard Vanessa Oduah, Jamila Nansikombi-Gunter and Tatiana Hodges-Johnson, all international players. Another recruit, 6-foot junior forward Ishuana Hunter, is expected to be eligible at the semester and should help.

Eventually, Huber said the Hounds want to be able to go 10 or 11 deep.

"My goal for the first semester is to kind of piece everything together," Huber said. "I think it's important for us to get off to a good start. The more you win, the more (players) will buy into your philosophy."

ENMU was tabbed for 11th place in preseason. Needless to say, Huber doesn't want to finish anywhere near there.

He's set a goal of going 3-1 in the team's four conference games prior to Christmas.

"Our players' mindset is to make the NCAA tournament," Huber said. "Some people might not believe that, but the girls know how good the league is. We want to do special things this year."