Sports speak up (Feb. 4): Critiques of UNM men's basketball after loss to Boise State
Feb. 4—UNM men's basketball
Boise State game opinions:
1: Their game plan was to have a "big" bring the ball up. It should not matter who brings it up (guards or others) — harass 'em all.
2: If Rice is going to make no-look 35-footers, no one is going to beat Boise.
3: If Rice is so hot, why not drive against him every time we get the ball and foul him out?
4: Why did our two bigs not touch the ball much in the second half?
Inquiring minds want to know.
— Ken Ikelman
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Outcoached, and outplayed, there can be no excuses for that when 13,239 fans come out late on a Wednesday evening fully focused and cheering loudly. Each of the Lobos seemed to be suffering from just having eaten a pregame feast, as all were asleep at the start, again at halftime, and last but not least, for the entire second half.
The shooting percentages for our two star players were anemic. If this had been a mid-term exam, each member of the coaching staff would have had to repeat their "work" as it was sub-par at best, and they would have had to refund their salaries for this game because they did not earn them. A sad day in Loboland, and Coach Pitino needs to explain why it occurred, now. His postgame comments were inappropriate and unhelpful to their loyal fans, and to their employer, UNM. Mr. Athletic Director, you had to watch the sad debacle with us. What say you, sir?
— Ross Perkal, Lobo alum, men's basketball season ticket holder for 49 years
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Sorry to see the Lobos winning streak ended by Boise State. There are bound to be bumps in the road in the Mountain West Conference given the caliber of play this year and even the best teams will have their off days. Better for us that it was Boise State and not Nevada that caught us in an off day in the Pit. We have a great team this year that plays with outstanding synergy and emotion. Let's give them all possible support. Go Lobos!
— Dave Coulie
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Over the years the Lobos men's basketball teams have had an uncanny knack of allowing opposing players to score their career high against them. Mostly recently, Boise State's Max Rice has accomplished that feat two seasons in row. And my observation is that you can't win a game when the coach's son is hotter than a branding iron. Defense, Lobos, defense.
— Dave Mathews
UNM football
I know our Lobo men's BB team is right in the middle of a very contentious MWC race, but I want to take a minute to welcome Lobo FB coach Bronco Mendenhall back to Albuquerque. He was a "hit it out of the park" hire for us, and there is no doubt whatsoever he will get the football program on track. It's gonna be fun watching him and his staff build the program to conference contender status, brick by brick. I'm already looking forward to spring football after our BB team takes care of business this spring (March Madness?)!
— George Scott
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Will the last UNM football player to enter the transfer portal please turn off the lights?
— George Loehr
MWC standings
It would be nice to see the MWC basketball standings printed in the Scoreboard section, especially with all the "upsets" taking place in the conference.
— Tony Carrillo
Editor's note: Mountain West men's and women's standings will publish on Friday's Scoreboard page as well as other days of the week when time and space allow.
NMSU men's basketball
Suspended New Mexico State basketball player Robert Carpenter would do well to take the advice of another carpenter ... the one who said to "turn the other cheek."
— Ed Upton
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