New Mexico’s season might have just took a turn for the worse this weekend when sophomore guard Cullen Neal went down in pain against Boston College on Thursday night. After losing forward Cameron Bairstow (20.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG) and guard Kendall Williams (16 PPG) from last years squad, New Mexico needed a new leader. Neal, who is averaging 17 points per game and shooting 50% from the three-point line, was supposed to be the “man” on this years Lobos team, following a year in which they went 27-7. Now out for “awhile”, per coach Craig Neal, can New Mexico avoid a disastrous season without their leading scorer?
New Mexico does have a couple things going for them. One, although they lost to Texas A&M on Sunday, they did beat a solid George Mason team a day after losing Neal. Two, their schedule, yearly and upcoming, is not very intimidating. In the next month, their toughest tests will be November 30th vs. USC and December 6th @ Valparaiso. After that, the only games they should lose in their conference schedule is UNLV and San Diego State. Playing against weaker opponents will help the Lobos get some undeserving wins and give them some leeway if they do have any trouble scoring the ball with Neal out.
Another factor in how New Mexico’s season will go is the emergence of Hugh Greenwood (14 PPG) and Deshawn Delaney (10.8 PPG). Both players are seasoned seniors, and they have been one some really good teams the last few years. That said, Jordan Goodman and Austin Edwards had contributions in the games after Neal’s injury. The youngsters growth could also be a big factor in how New Mexico’s game will transition in the next few weeks. Ultimately, this will be Greenwood and Delaney’s team for at least a little while.
So yes, while Cullen Neal is an essential part to New Mexico’s run back to the NCAA tournament, they shouldn’t be completely lost without him. They have a favorable schedule, a good coach, and good leadership. Neal’s injury could also prove to be a plus if the Lobos can get some new faces out on the court. Even with Neal’s injury, I believe New Mexico will be fine, even if it comes with some growing pains.
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