Lobos’ Furstinger, Kuiper continue to impress on court
If deflections in practice dictate who starts for The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team, playing flawlessly during games and hitting shots when they count certainly helps.
In that regard, Joe Furstinger really doesn’t care if he starts or if he comes off the bench. The only thing that matters is making the most of his opportunities when they come to him.
The Lobos senior has sat and waited patiently for the first three years of his college career, spending time on the bench behind more seasoned big men like Obij Aget, Devon Williams and Tim Williams. He started just five of the first 84 games in which he appeared, barely making a splash as a player who preferred to pass out of the post rather than attack the rim.
Something has created a major shift in his approach. Since cracking the starting lineup in 13 of the team’s first 15 games — a byproduct, said coach Paul Weir, of Furstinger’s commitment to defense in practice and in games — the 6-foot-9 power forward has played the best ball of his college career.
He has recorded a double-double in four straight games, averaging 14.8 points, 11 rebounds and 3.3 assists with just 11 personal fouls in a 3-1 stretch against Rice, Prairie View A&M, Air Force and Nevada.
“Joe’s been terrific, man, he’s been terrific for about a week and a half, two weeks now,” Weir said.
With fellow big man Vladimir Pinchuk continuing to struggle, the onus of the post production falls to Furstinger. Pinchuk has been held scoreless the last two games and has not attempted more than three shots in any game since late November. Largely a non-factor, he has logged 26 minutes in Mountain West games against Air Force and Nevada without even so much as a free throw attempt.
Entering Wednesday’s game at MWC co-leader Boise State (12-2, 2-0), New Mexico (6-9, 1-1) is at least starting to get some production out of 6-7 swing man Jachai Simmons. He had a career-high 15 points against Air Force and is averaging 8.7 points the last three games.
“It’s all about confidence, if I believe in myself,” Simmons said. “I’ve been working on that.”
A decent shooter from the outside, he has made five of his last 11 shots from 3-point range and has actually gotten to the rim a few times on other plays. Until this stretch, he had attempted only one free throw through the team’s first 12 games.
“I think he’s learning how to be like a good offensive basketball player,” Weir said. “It’s allowed him to stay on the court more.”
In Boise State, the Lobos are getting a team that is still undefeated at home (8-0) and has the reigning MWC player of the week in Chandler Hutchison. He helped the Broncos rally past UNLV in its most recent game, scoring a career-high 32 points with 12 rebounds. He is sixth in the MWC in scoring at 17.5 and fourth in rebounding at 8.4.
Exactly who winds up guarding him Wednesday is
anyone’s guess. Weir isn’t so much concerned with individual matchups as he his individual effort. To that end, no one is playing better defense right now than Dane Kuiper. He played what Weir said was the best half of defensive basketball all season in the win over Air Force.
“It was absolutely exceptional,” Weir said.
As well as the Lobos played in their recent loss at preseason MWC favorite Nevada, it will take an even better effort to take down Boise State at Taco Bell Arena. The Lobos remain the only conference team not to win a game on the road this season.
GAME NOTES
Board work: UNM has fared better on the glass in recent games, outrebouding three of its last four opponents by an average of 4.5. The Lobos are still minus-4.1 in rebounding this season, however, and enter Wednesday’s game facing a Boise State squad that is plus-8.3 on the glass.
Rivalry: The Lobos lead the all-time series, 10-3, and have won four straight against the Broncos.