Crushing defeat raises more questions for Lobos
Colorado State runs away for 33-point win
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — It was over before it started.
But in case the uninspired, distracted look in the Lobos’ eyes from the opening tip didn’t give that away, maybe Colorado State hitting three 3-pointers in the first 120 seconds of the game should have been a sign.
Or the fact that UNM’s lone center, Corey Manigault, picked up his second foul — both on the offensive end of the court — just 4 minutes, 36 seconds into a game against arguably the best big man in the Mountain West Conference.
And if you still weren’t sure Wednesday wasn’t the Lobos’ night, maybe by the time UNM’s 6-foot-9 wing, Vance Jackson, went down for the night with a leg injury 14:17 into the game with UNM already trailing by 21 helped convince you.
Yes, the Lobos were in Moby Arena on Wednesday night, but the Colorado State Rams hit a record 19 3-pointers to make sure UNM was never in the game in a 105-72 blowout in front of an announced crowd of 2,502.
“They weren’t missing,” Weir
said. “Obviously there’s some ones we left them open, particularly early in the game. We started out in the zone press that I regret. It was, going into the game, initially what we were game-planning for. I just wanted to get back (on defense) and not get too extended (on the perimeter) with their speed. … That’s on me.”
CSU (12-7, 3-3 Mountain West) had six players score in double figures, six players hit multiple 3-pointers, and had 27 assists on 38 baskets.
UNM falls to 15-4 overall and 4-2 in league play. But while the record is still fine, questions are louder than ever about whether a Lobos team that was expected to compete for a league title, or at least remain in the mix as a top two or three team, can avoid a collapse as drama off the court continues.
Starting point guard J.J. Caldwell’s indefinite suspension is still in effect with no word from UNM of when that might end. Senior forward Carlton Bragg — the team’s second leading scorer and top rebounder and shot blocker — was booted from the team Sunday after an aggravated DWI arrest.
“I don’t think anybody really knows exactly how this team is going to unfold,” Weir said when asked if they will still contend. “Right this very minute, I think it’s a good question. I think it’s an honest question and something we’re gonna have to answer. I hope not (that the team can’t compete anymore) ... but I don’t know if there’s very many teams that can be down three starters and still have the initial expectation everybody had.”
UNM’s defensive strategy to sag aimed at protecting the offensively gifted Manigault from foul trouble as the only experienced center backfired — both with the Rams seemingly never missing from 3-point range (19-of-28 for 67.9%) and with Manigault pickings up those two early fouls.
The Rams’ swarming defense on Manigault and JaQuan Lyle, who had eight of UNM’s 21 turnovers, did the rest.
“They load up so much on (Manigault) and JaQuan right now, they’re really just forcing these other guys to make shots and, especially with Vance off the floor, it kind of makes those other guys really important to our offense,” Weir said.
UNM did shoot 50.8 percent from the floor and Zane Martin had a team-high 17 points, but the national leader in free throws made and attempted entering the game was just 6-of-11 at the line and trailed by as many as 39 points late in a game it held a lead for just 27 seconds.
JACKSON UPDATE: Jackson hurt his knee in the first half. He warmed up at halftime and was checked out by both UNM’s trainer and CSU’s on-sight doctor, but did not return to the game.
“I think we’re waiting to just get him to a doctor,” said Weir, whose Lobos go straight to Las Vegas, Nevada, for Saturday’s game against UNLV. “He obviously was checked out here and wasn’t probably comfortable enough, even me I just said it’s not worth it right now, to risk something. I’d like to get him looked at. Maybe an MRI to see where things are at to get kind of a clean bill of health before I throw him back out there.” COLORADO ST. 105,