Nunn’s status is unknown for Oklahoma
Lobo post was injured Sunday
Mike Bradbury is playing this hand close to the vest.
Heading into Saturday’s showdown at Oklahoma, the University of New Mexico women’s basketball coach is not revealing exactly what the Lobos’ lineup might be in Norman. Specifically, Bradbury’s not saying whether Jaisa Nunn will play.
Nunn, a 6-foot-3 junior post, suffered an undisclosed injury late in Sunday’s 94-87 victory over Navy. She appeared to hit her head on the floor diving for a loose ball in the final minute of regulation and did not return for overtime.
Bradbury said after the game that Nunn’s injury was being evaluated. Since then, mum’s been the word on Nunn.
Bradbury did not take questions about Nunn during his Monday night radio appearance and declined to comment on her injury Wednesday or Thursday. Nunn did not participate in Wednesday’s open practice but Bradbury said it was because of her final exam schedule. Senior Cherise Beynon also left Wednesday’s workout early to take a final.
Thursday’s practice was closed to the media and Bradbury declined to say whether Nunn participated. The Lobos (11-0) leave today for Oklahoma and will not practice in Norman. Why all the secrecy? Bradbury said he closed Thursday’s practice because, “We needed to concentrate. It was our last practice before Saturday’s shoot-around and we needed to focus.”
Wednesday’s late-afternoon practice was at an unusual time due to finals and was attended by members of the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.
Still, Bradbury’s unusual silence regarding Nunn is more likely intended to keep Oklahoma’s coaching staff guessing. The Sooners’ (4-5) game plan undoubtedly accounts for Nunn, who is averaging a double-double (14.5 points, 10.5 rebounds) this season and scored a schoolrecord 39 points in UNM’s win over then-No. 16 Marquette.
Antonia Anderson, a 6-2 freshman, has served as Nunn’s primary backup in the post this season. She averages 4.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game and leads the team with nine blocks.
Oklahoma’s top scorer and rebounder is 6-4 senior post Vionise Pierre-Louis, who averages 16.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and has 19 blocks this season.
“Oklahoma has great inside play,” Bradbury said, “and they really rebound the ball. They’re similar to Marquette and Texas Tech in that regard, so we really have to get bodies on people and battle for every board.”
UNM will be trying to extend its best-ever start to a season and can set a record for the longest overall win streak in program history with a victory Saturday. The Lobos have equaled the 11-game streaks set by UNM’s 1997-78 and 2003-04 teams.
It will have to come in a setting where New Mexico has enjoyed little success over the years. The Lobos are 1-4 in Norman with their lone win coming in 1978.
“Oklahoma started the year (ranked) in the top 20,” Bradbury said, “and that’s where they’ll finish. They’ve had some struggles but they just handled a South Florida team that was ranked 16th. Oklahoma will be the best team we’ve played to date. Playing them in Norman is going to be a major challenge.”