Digging into New Mexico State University basketball 2011-12

Not to downplay what appears below but it's always critical to keep in mind that some of the players on any team will move forward over the summer, some will remain in a static state and some will regress. Coupling that with 'determining' the impact of new (unseen) recruits make the following a fun exercise but not much else.


Three Aggie players in particular must step forward but the trio, combined with senior redshirt Wendell McKines, should keep Coach Marvin Menzies' team in contention for the top spot.

McKines is a known quality -- strong rebounding and power play --  but isn't necessarily a creator on the floor (unless he has tuned up his dribble-drives during his off season).

The so-called troika consists of Remi Barry, Tshilidzi Nephawe and Christian Kabongo.

Barry has morphed into Sidd Finch (George Plimpton/SI) proportions in the minds of some NMSU fans but it's important to remember that he hasn't played game conditions basketball in two years so it's unfair to place such expectations on him from the get-go.

With added strength which will aid in maintaining better balance, Nephawe is going to be a jewel. He can shoot from the floor, from the foul line (so he doesn't have to be removed at the ends of games) and block shots. His boardplay needs upgrading but 25 more pounds should be the antidote there.

Kabongo needs to shoot much better from outside (19%) and actually overall too if he is going to take the third most shots on the team. But he brings a dribble-drive penetration to the team that no one else has displayed with any consistency.

It's a valuable bonus if K.C. Ross-Miller can gain eligibility because that establishes two competent points on the team (Hernst Laroche being the other). Laroche is best at getting the ball to the right teammate at the right time and not necessarily at creating.

PTW espects Hamidu Rahman to be the backup in the middle (to Nephawe) and that's another bonus for Menzies in having a pair of WAC-level bigs in which he can interchange. Plus, watch out for B.J. West who had his moments in 2011-12

Tyrone Watson just gets it done but hopefully won't be needed to produce points as much as it seemed like last season -- that's not his strength.

PTW isn't sure what role Bandja Sy plays in the coming year -- a wing type must shoot better and possess better ball skills than he has displayed to date.

As for Renaldo Dixon, he has promise but not necessarily the opportunity right now.
       
Emery Coleman SG 6-4 & 180 Fr (walk-on)
Terrel de Rouen PG 6-1 & 175 Fr (walk-on)
Drew Herig PG 6-0 & 175 So (walk-on)
Christian Kabongo SG 6-4 & 190 So
Hernst Laroche PG 6-1 & 170 Sr
K.C. Ross-Miller PG 6-1 & 175 So
Eric Weary SG 6-5 & 180 Fr
Daniel Mullings Sg 6-foot-2 & 180 Fr

Remi Barry SF 6-7 & 200 So     
Renaldo Dixon PF 6-8 & 200 Fr  
Wendell McKines SF 6-6 & 225 Sr        
Tshilidzi Nephawe C 6-10 & 250 So      
Hamidu Rahman C 6-11 & 245 Sr  
Bandja Sy SF 6-8 & 210 Jr      
Tyrone Watson SF 6-5 & 225 Jr  
B.J. West C 6-11 & 220 Jr      

7-foot Abdoulaye N'Doye has transferred.

Temjae Singleton SF 6-7 & 200 Fr will be a non-scholarship redshirt.

Reynaldo Walters PG 5-11 & 180 Fr didn't qualify academically

Makhtar Diop SF 6-6 & 195 Sr is apparently another walk-on candidate

SUMMARY

There's a load of promise and potential here so let's see what kind of team New Mexico State is come 2011-12. Will it be one that boards well and, even more importantly, plays five-on-five defensively? A shooter in the backcourt plus one on the wing needs to step up and stand out. If one or both can also be creators on the floor, then the Aggies will be tough to top. Another need for the Aggies is a determination of who earns the role as the one with the ball in his hands at the end of a close or tied game.