Is all copacetic in Las Cruces?

It's coming up on the college football season but college basketball continues to make news. Down Las Cruces way, some are wondering about the status of two of their hardwood stalwarts. This despite the return of prodigal son Wendell McKines.

As expected, Jason Groves has the details in his blog:

Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News
August 23, 2008

Here we go again

This topic seems to pop up once or twice a month. I talked to Dr. Boston on Saturday regarding Herb Pope. The fact of the matter, as I understand it is that Pope is enrolled at NMSU and has not been granted a release, as some rumors have suggested....

Go here for the remainder.

Also, here's a Groves response to a comment on his post that also made mention of the absence of Jonathan Gibson on campus:

"Jason Groves said...

Great post anon 503. I believe both of those players are in their respective home turf currently.

Pope is by far the highest profile athlete to come to NMSU. I'm also confused why any university remains so loyal to an athlete when they obviously don't feel the same way, but you look at Pope's NBA potential and I guess it makes sense that they give him a little more freedom to take care of whatever he needs to take care of. The bottom line about Pope though, is he is a solid student and he's their best player, so from a student athlete performance wise, he's been ideal. It's only during the offseason where his focus might start to focus back east."