Hustle is now more of a given for Lobos
Deflections will not determine who starts
It became a curse word among some Lobo men’s basketball fans.
UNM coach Paul Weir rolled out a starting five the past two seasons on a game-by-game basis not based on scoring, minutes played or projected matchups. Instead, in an effort to emphasize the importance of hustle plays and effort, what he wants to be the foundation of his program, he selected his starters based on deflections per minute.
Not surprisingly, the Lobos used the most starting lineups in Division I over the past two seasons (21 in 2017-18, 22 in 2018-19) — starting fives that consistently included freshmen and even walk-ons.
And, as each of the past two seasons saw the Lobos consistently struggle early in games, especially in non-conference play, many openly bemoaned the “deflections” approach to the start of games. For those fans, the nightmare is over. Weir enters the 2019-20 season, which starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday against Eastern New Mexico in Dreamstyle Arena — the Pit, planning to be far more traditional in his selection of starters.
“Right now the plan is to try and find the best mold offensively that won’t distract us too much defensively,” Weir said of his approach to picking starters this season.
So, to be very clear, the old deflec
tions per minute formula isn’t being used anymore? “Right now, no,” Weir assured. The reality, Weir says, is the program seems to have embraced those core principles more consistently this season, negating the need for such motivational ploys from game to game.
“Hopefully the culture of those things has been established (enough) that you don’t need to have little reminders to really enforce upon new people what you’re doing,” said Weir.
He added that the roster also seems to have a more obvious hierarchy of talent, at least offensively, entering the season than in the past two years, certainly helping his ability to settle in on a more consistent starting group.
“It’s become more of an offensive picture than maybe I would have liked, but when you have very good offensive players like we do, our rhythm and flow there can really impact our defense,” Weir said.
DRINNON: As of Monday, sophomore point guard Drue Drinnon had still not returned to Albuquerque to rejoin the team.
Last week, Weir announced the 6-foot-1 guard who played in 27 games a season ago left the team to be with family and it remains unclear if
Drinnon will return to UNM.
“I’d like to keep his privacy as it is and, quite honestly, I don’t have an answer,” Weir said last week of Drinnon’s decision. “It’s like I told our team, I quite honestly don’t know when or if he’ll be coming back.”
OTHERWISE: Aside from Drinnon, every other Lobo player was a full participant at Monday’s practice, even freshman guard Daniel Headdings, who last week announced he will use a redshirt this season (meaning he won’t play in games), due to a back injury that kept him out most of the past six weeks of practice.
He is still allowed to participate fully in practices but cannot travel with the team.