Eagles head to New Mexico Classic
Fielding ‘a better team’ this year, Coach Cordova is optimistic the Pit won’t daunt players
When Northern New Mexico College ventured into the Pit a year ago to face New Mexico in a men’s basketball game, it is safe to say that things got a little out of hand.
As a matter of fact, the Lobos smashed some records, including points, at the expense of the Eagles as UNM came away with the 147-76 victory.
Still, that didn’t deter NNMC coach Ryan Cordova from volunteering to do it again as part of the New Mexico Classic that includes New Mexico Highlands facing Western New Mexico at 3 p.m. today and Eastern New Mexico Saturday at 3 p.m.
The latter game will be followed by the Eagles against New Mexico in an exhibition game at 7 p.m.
“It gets us exposure,” Cordova said of the game. “That’s what we really need. I don’t have a marketing budget, the kind of marketing that even NCAA D-II schools have. We have to get what we can take and if it’s a game like this, at least I can get the team’s name on the schedule, and that goes to hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people.”
And just maybe that will help recruiting, not just for the team, but for the school, as well, he said.
“When kids are thinking about where they’re going to go to school in the future, that really helps when kids are making that decision,” Cordova said. “It really does make a big difference.”
As for the game itself, NNMC is determined not to be a sacrificial lamb again.
“The last time, it was our fifth game in seven days for us and at the tail end of that trip,” he said. “We were young and immature, as well. This year, just knowing that we have to prepare a little better going into the game and I have a better team going in this year, I feel lot more optimistic.”
It certainly didn’t help that the arena was a bit overwhelming for the Eagles.
“Just the ambiance of the Pit,” Cordova said. “That’s pretty big on a team. When you know what to expect, you don’t get caught up in the whole drama that goes along with it.”
It also helps that on the Eagles’ eclectic roster are a few familiar names who have played more than a few games at the Pit, among them freshman Jeremy Anaya, a Capital High School graduate.
Anaya helped guide the Jaguars to two championship games at the Pit, which he said was important, even if they lost both games.
“My high school career was all right,” he said. “It was pretty good. We lost two state championships, but we were there.”
Playing with an international squad like the Eagles has been eyeopening, but already rewarding, experience.
“It’s been a great experience meeting all the guys,” Anaya said. “We’re very diverse in our cultures. A few nights ago, I was hanging out with a guy from Brazil. I never really pictured that. We have dudes from France, Brazil, Louisiana, El Paso. Just all over. You can tell with some of the internationals, they’re shy at first, but we try to do a good job of getting everybody comfortable. We’re all a team.”
It’s also been something of an eye-opener playing with rim-rockers who can routinely throw down dunks — something that was pretty rare when Anaya was playing high school ball.
“It’s faster, physical. Just faster than high school,” Anaya said. “You have dudes here that are taking one dribble and dunking it. I’m used to taking a dribble and taking a layup, or something like that. You don’t see too many dunks in high school. I don’t think anyone in my senior year was dunking it.”
As for his role on the team, he’s just taking it game by game as he gets used to it all.
“For myself, I expect to do whatever the team needs,” Anaya said. “Play defense, find my role and do whatever. Just buy in. If all of us buy in, we should be pretty good. I think I should get some playing time. It’s pretty important. But this is my first year. There are guys out here who have been through several different colleges, and are 24, 23 years old. And there are some big guys.”