Column: Next year's men's Lobos shows promise

New Mexico’s season was not of the caliber fans have come to expect from UNM.

There were a lot of speed bumps, there was a lot of inexperience, and there was an unprecedented eight-game skid.

After winning three consecutive Mountain West championships, the Lobos finished 15-16 and were bounced in the first round of the conference tournament against the Air Force Falcons. The loss was senior guard Hugh Greenwood’s first in MW Tournament play throughout his four-year career at UNM.

The Lobos might have had the opportunity to play in the College Basketball Invitational but declined any offers regarding a postseason and will start planning for next year.

Greenwood had another solid year in a Lobo jersey and finished second on the team in points per game (11.6), also tying for second on the team with rebounds per game (5.3).

He received All-Mountain West Third Team honors. It is the third consecutive season that the Lobo guard has received all-conference honors. Greenwood led the team in conference play with 11.5 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 3.3 assists per game and 1.5 steals per game, and led the conference in 3-pointers made during that stretch.

Greenwood made the All-Mountain West roster with significant components missing from his team.

Sophomore guard Cullen Neal missed a large portion of the season following an ankle injury early on, freshman guard Sam Logwood was forced to miss three games due to a shoulder injury early in the year, and junior forward Jordan Goodman had to miss the team’s final seven games due to a bone spur on his right foot. Senior guard Deshawn Delaney sat out the team’s last two games due to a fracture in his right hand that he sustained the week before senior night.

Next year looks bright, however, for the Lobos. They will return Neal and Goodman along with sophomore guard Elijah Brown, junior forward Tim Williams and freshman guard Adam Cumber, who were forced to sit out this year due either to transfer rules or taking a redshirt season.

Entering the program next year are three recruits who can bring an offensive threat, which is what the Lobos need. Dane Kuiper and Anthony Mathis can both stretch the floor and knock down deep shots, while Jordan Hunter will be looked to for ball handling and scoring.

Kyle Tomasi is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter 
@KyTo22.