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September 30th,
2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
New Mexico
State Aggies
Overall Rank:
#40
Conference
Rank: #2 WAC
2005-06:
16-14, 10-6, 4th (t)
2005-06
postseason: none
 With four
starters returning and a group of four transfers that could
field a quality team of their own, expectations are
understandably high at New Mexico State. With just one season
at the helm, Coach Reggie Theus has appeared to turn the program
around. The big question is how long it will take to mix the
returning players with the transfers. If it takes too long, it
might be too late for an at-large bid, but knocking off Nevada
in the WAC is a legitimate possibility as well.
Who’s Out:
The
lone starter not returning is Mike Mitchell. The guard averaged
12.2 points and 2.6 assists during his senior campaign and his
long range shooting will be missed. Fellow guard Shaun Davis
earned 14 starts and averaged over 30 minutes per game. Despite
the loss of a starter and the sixth man, the backcourt has
enough weapons to recover. Up front the Aggies will lose a
little depth with the departures of Trevor Lawrence and Shon
Caston. Kevin Ford has transferred after his freshman campaign
in which he scored 3.4 points and grabbed 3.8 rebounds per
contest.
Who’s In:
Martin Iti
will take over the center job. The seven-footer started 27
games for a good Charlotte team two years ago and looks to put
up bigger numbers for the Aggies. Even if the scoring isn’t
there, Iti will provide some quality defense and rebounding.
Justin Hawkins will battle for a starting gig at the small
forward spot. Hawkins spent two years at Utah and averaged 8.5
points and 4.2 rebounds during the 2004-2005 campaign. Trei
Steward, a 6-7 forward, spent two seasons at Northern Colorado.
He came out strong in his freshman campaign and averaged 4.5
points and 3.6 rebounds. Steward’s sophomore season was
hindered due to a shoulder injury. The final transfer is Fred
Peete from Kansas State. Peete is a great scorer, a solid long
range shooter and a tenacious defender. If he’s not starting,
the shooting guard will see plenty of minutes. Junior college
transfer Hatila Passos has the potential to be a starter up
front. The 6-9, 230 pound power forward was named the 2006
National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament
Most Valuable Player last year after leading Arkansas-Fort Smith
to the national title. The lone incoming freshman is Jonathan
Gibson. The 6-1 combo guard has the shooting touch and
quickness to contribute as a freshman.
Who to Watch:
Last
year this team was all about Tyrone Nelson. After being
suspended for a few days over the summer, the 6-9 forward will
return for his junior season at NMSU. Nelson averaged team
highs with 17.8 points and 8.7 boards last season. With more
weapons on the squad this year, Nelson won’t be asked to carry
the team as much, yet he can if he needs to. Fellow forward
David Fisher started 22 games last year and may be relegated to
the bench, despite averaging 8.8 points and 6.3 rebounds.
Final
Projection:
The backcourt
will be led by Elijah Ingram once again. As a junior, Ingram
earned second team All-WAC honors and averaged 13.4 points and
3.1 assists per game. Ted Knauber returns after starting 28
games last season and is expected to provide a spark off the
bench during his senior campaign. For a team that finished
fourth in the WAC a year ago, returns four starters and brings
in such a talented group of transfers, NMSU will compete for the
WAC title. Nevada might be too much for them in the end, but
NMSU is good enough to earn a trip to the NCAAs.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NCAA
Projected
Starting Five:
Elijah Ingram,
Senior, Guard, 13.4 points per game
Fred Peete,
Junior, Guard, DNP last season
Justin Hawkins,
Junior, Guard, DNP last season
Tyrone Nelson,
Junior, Forward, 17.8 points per game
Martin Iti,
Junior, Center, DNP last season
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