Wins aren’t easy when the points aren’t ‘free’
Editor’s note: The following is excerpted from Geoff Grammer’s “Emptying the Notebook” column of news and notes that posts at ABQJournal.com/sports the morning after each University of New Mexico men’s basketball game.
In defeating New Mexico 84-73 Wednesday night in Logan, Utah, Utah State outscored the Lobos by 16 points at the free throw line — hitting a 27-of-31 (87.1%) at the line compared to just 11-of-16 (68.8%) for UNM.
Starting off this column with a lot of free throw talk may not be the most exciting nugget. But there aren’t many other stats you can point to with such regular tie-ins to the outcome of a Lobos game as whether or not they win at the free throw line.
And this isn’t a post about Mountain West officiating being out to get the Lobos. That’s simply not true.
The significance of the free throw discrepancy on Wednesday is this: The Lobos’ entire offense is predicated on their aggressive guards (Jaelen House and Jamal Mashburn, Jr.) and offensively gifted post (Morris Udeze) putting pressure on opposing teams, drawing fouls and keeping the offense flowing. Even if it kills a rhythm for fans or onlookers, the reality is there’s very little that can get shooters and offenses rolling like a few trips the charity stripe.
Wednesday, that happened for one team far more than the other.
“At the end of the day, they made 27 free throws to our 11,” UNM coach Richard Pitino said. “I’m not saying it was a poorly officiated game, but it was just hard. We kept sending (them) to the foul line. They kept converting.”
UNM (19-4, 6-4) gets to the free throw line compared to its opponent — one of the top margins in the entire country for the overall season. When that’s not happening, it’s usually a good sign the offense simply isn’t performing very well — not much ball movement, too many turnovers, an over-reliance on one-on-one basketball. In the first half Wednesday, for example, UNM had just one assist on its 10 field goals.
And they just kept fouling the
Aggies, who slashed through the huge gaps created by their spread-out sets with seemingly everyone capable of knocking down a 3.
When that free throw well runs dry for the Lobos, so do their chances of winning games. UNM matched that 46-point first half by USU with its own 46-point second half, had more field goals (29 to 25) and shot at a higher percentage (49.2% to 46.3%), but still lost by 11 points and never were a real threat.
Why? Getting outscored by 16 at the free throw line.
UNM entered Wednesday’s game making 17.7 free throws per game to their opponent’s 11.5.
So far this season, there have been five games the Lobos were outscored at the free throw line.
Those five games include all four of UNM’s losses and one of its toughest wins of the season. The free-throws made differential:
■ minus-16: Utah State 27, New Mexico 11 (Wednesday, LOSS)
■ minus-4: UNLV 18, New Mexico 14 (Jan. 7, LOSS)
■ minus-3: Fresno State 12, New Mexico 9 (Jan. 2, LOSS)
■ minus-3: Saint Mary’s 17, New Mexico 14 (Nov. 30, WIN)
■ minus-2: Nevada 20, New Mexico 18 (Jan. 23, LOSS)
And it’s not just this season. In 55 games under Richard Pitino, UNM is 4-17 when outscored at the line, including a 3-13 mark in 2021-22.
Oh, brother(s)
As most know by now ,that familiar name Lobo fans kept hearing on the TV on Wednesday night is, in fact, related to former Lobo great Cameron Bairstow.
Sean Bairstow, a senior guard for the Utah State Aggies, may have some senior season bragging on big brother, who wasn’t at Wednesday’s game but told the Journal he hopes to make a Lobos game in the Pit this season.
■ Sean Bairstow senior season vs. UNM: 20.0 points (the teams play only once)
■ Cameron Bairstow senior season vs. Utah State: 18.0 points per game (two games in 2013-14)
Back home
The Pit’s attendance in Mountain West games continues to be second to none, and the Lobos have four home games still to play.
Already the school announced the Feb. 25 game in the Pit vs. San Diego State is sold out. There are student tickets yet to claim, but that’s normal for this far in advance of a game.
If available, tickets on hold will be released for sale on the morning of the game..
For those keeping track of such things (I don’t know why you would, but that’s another matter): Top 5 attendances in the Pit this season:
■ 15,424 —Jan. 7 vs. UNLV
■ 15,215 —Dec. 28 vs. Colorado State
■ 15,143 — Friday vs. Air Force
■ 14,566 — Jan. 20 vs. Boise State
■ 14,534 —Dec. 18 vs. Iona
Brrr...
Earlier this week, Logan had a record-low minus-29 degrees. Tuesday, for the second day in a row, the schools, and the University, were actually shut down due to the cold. Not snow -- it was actually fairly dry on the roads this trip. Things shut down just due to the cold.