Front Page  sports

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Defense Likely to Be Key in Women's MWC Race

By Ken Sickenger

    Baskets? We don't need no stinking baskets! All right, maybe corrupting an old Western movie line is going a bit too far in describing the Mountain West Conference women's basketball race. Teams still have to score to win.
    However, judging by this week's NCAA statistics, defense more than explosive scoring will determine this season's MWC champion. The league has three teams (Wyoming, New Mexico and Utah) ranked among the nation's top 30 in scoring defense— and just one (TCU) among the top 50 in scoring offense.
    "There are some very talented defensive teams in our conference that challenge every shot," Wyoming coach Joe Legerski says. "If you get an open look, you better make it count."
    The numbers back Legerski's assessment. Wyoming ranks ninth nationally in scoring defense, allowing 52.5 points per game. New Mexico is 18th at 53.7 points allowed, while Utah is 29th at 55.9 points allowed.
    MWC teams tend to take care of the ball, too. Wyoming, UNM, Utah and Colorado State rank among the top 50 in fewest turnovers per game.
    In other words, don't count on too many steals and breakaway layups. Do count on some low-scoring, physical, grinding games.
    When asked if the first team to 40 points would win tonight's New Mexico-Wyoming matchup, Legerski chuckled.
    "It might be like that," he said.
    One might think so much good defense would be good news for New Mexico. After all, low-scoring games would seem to favor a shooting-challenged team like the Lobos, right?
    Only to an extent. Reliable defense aside, UNM is 30-0 when scoring 60 points the past two seasons, just 2-14 when it doesn't reach 60.
    Not even in the MWC, it seems, can defense prevail without a few baskets.
    "That's mainly what we've been practicing during the (holiday) break," UNM point guard Amy Beggin said, "offense and shooting.
    "It's easier if you have some balance and don't have to grind it out every night."
   
A little help
    As one might expect, UNM isn't well represented among the NCAA's individual statistical leaders. After all, most of the stats relate to offense.
    The one notable exception is Beggin, who ranks second in assist-to-turnover ratio and 34th in assists per game. Beggin has 65 assists against just 21 turnovers this season and averages 5.0 assists per game.
    One can only wonder what kind of assist numbers Beggin might post if her team shot a little more accurately.
   
Getting busy
    The schedule-makers probably didn't get any fruit baskets from the Lobos this holiday season. No presents are likely in the next two months, either.
    UNM has had more time off than needed in recent weeks, playing just once in 19 days. Starting tonight the Lobos will play six games in 17 days, including road trips to San Diego, Colorado Springs and Salt Lake City.
    The Mountain West Conference portion of the schedule will be more difficult this season as the league eliminated two-game road trips. Because the MWC includes nine teams, creating natural travel partners is impossible. As a result, one-game road trips are in.
    For example, UNM visits Utah on Jan. 23, comes home to play BYU on Jan. 26, then later returns to play the Cougars in Provo in February.
    Is the schedule fair? Yes. All nine conference teams face one-game trips and travel aplenty.
    Is the schedule travel-efficient or student-friendly? No, but the players aren't dwelling on it.
    "That's not something we really have control over," Beggin said. "We just have to do our best and get up for games whenever they're scheduled."
    The Lobos also have been night owls several times this season, starting home games after 8 p.m. several times. Tonight's tipoff at 8 (for television purposes) is the last late home start. The March 4 game at UNLV is the only remaining game set to start after 7 p.m.