- Playing games like tonight is why New Mexico State University redshirt sophomore guard Chris Cole came to Las Cruces.
"Most of us came here to play against teams that are in the upper echelon of college basketball," said Cole, who transferred from Hartford after his freshman season. "We want to prove ourselves as a team and as individuals that we can play with them."
The Aggies have that opportunity tonight at Cameron Indoor Stadium against No. 13 Duke. The game tips at 5 p.m. on ESPN2.
Cole and the rest of NMSU's guards will have their hands full with the perimeter oriented Blue Devils. Duke hit 16 3-pointers in its season opener against North Carolina Central on Friday night.
"If we give them as much ball pressure as they give other teams, we should negate their 3-point shooting," said Cole, who had six points and four assists in 18 minutes in Friday's 80-72 loss at Ohio. "We are more worried about their transition. They hit most of their 3s in transition, but I think we should be fine because we addressed that before the Ohio game."
Cole played AAU ball with Duke freshman guard Nolan Smith in the Washington D.C. area.
"That's my man," Cole said. "I talked to him more before the Ohio game
than I have since. We are both competitive so he might talk some trash to me and I might talk some to him."
Smith was 2-for-3 from beyond the arc and was one of seven players to hit a 3 on Friday night. Smith finished with 16 points. Starters Greg Paulus, Gerald Henderson and DeMarcus Nelson can all shoot the 3, and Smith and Jon Scheyer come off the bench.
One advantage the Aggies have, at least on paper, is a size advantage in the paint.
"They are smaller than in years past, but they are still athletic and can run," Aggies head coach Marvin Menzies said.
Freshman Kyle Singler (6-foot-8) and sophomore Lance Thomas (6-8) started for the Blue Devils last Friday. Duke can bring 7-footer Brian Zoubek off the bench.
The Aggies' size and experience is why they landed on Duke's non-conference schedule.
"We always try to schedule teams that win their league and NCAA Tournament teams," Duke assistant coach Chris Collins said. "Their size represents an ACC front line when they put (NMSU senior forward) Justin Hawkins, (NMSU senior forward) Hatila Passos and (NMSU senior center) Martin Iti out there."
Collins pointed out that the Blue Devils had 27 assists on Friday, showing they are patient, even while playing at a fast tempo.
"We are going to run the ball and I know they like to run as well," Collins said. "I don't think people will have to worry about there being a lot of action, as long as both teams are knocking down shots."
Menzies knows his guards will have to take care of the ball against Duke's suffocating ball pressure.
"It's important to rebound and improve on our previous effort and to take steps forward instead of backward and work on things that we didn't do against Ohio," Menzies said. "We have to handle the ball pressure. They deny you all over the place so we need strong ball handling in a road environment.
"I don't anticipate them not doing what they have done for years. We are used to that tempo, but we are not used to facing the level of competition so we will see how we handle that."
Tonight is not the first time Menzies has brought a team to Cameron Indoor Stadium. In 2001, as an assistant coach at San Diego State, the Aztecs lost to then No. 1 Duke 92-79.
"Anytime you step into a legendary arena, it brings back good memories," Menzies said. "This is a brand new experience and we are all excited about playing here."
Notes: On Saturday, Menzies said the school has not received word from the NCAA regarding the eligibility of NMSU freshman forward Herb Pope or freshman guard Jahmar Young. The NCAA offices close on the weekend and Young and Pope did not travel with the team. ... Hawkins suffered a sprained right thumb at the end of Friday's game at Ohio. Hawkins practiced over the weekend and is probable tonight.
"Most of us came here to play against teams that are in the upper echelon of college basketball," said Cole, who transferred from Hartford after his freshman season. "We want to prove ourselves as a team and as individuals that we can play with them."
The Aggies have that opportunity tonight at Cameron Indoor Stadium against No. 13 Duke. The game tips at 5 p.m. on ESPN2.
Cole and the rest of NMSU's guards will have their hands full with the perimeter oriented Blue Devils. Duke hit 16 3-pointers in its season opener against North Carolina Central on Friday night.
"If we give them as much ball pressure as they give other teams, we should negate their 3-point shooting," said Cole, who had six points and four assists in 18 minutes in Friday's 80-72 loss at Ohio. "We are more worried about their transition. They hit most of their 3s in transition, but I think we should be fine because we addressed that before the Ohio game."
Cole played AAU ball with Duke freshman guard Nolan Smith in the Washington D.C. area.
"That's my man," Cole said. "I talked to him more before the Ohio game
than I have since. We are both competitive so he might talk some trash to me and I might talk some to him."
Smith was 2-for-3 from beyond the arc and was one of seven players to hit a 3 on Friday night. Smith finished with 16 points. Starters Greg Paulus, Gerald Henderson and DeMarcus Nelson can all shoot the 3, and Smith and Jon Scheyer come off the bench.
One advantage the Aggies have, at least on paper, is a size advantage in the paint.
"They are smaller than in years past, but they are still athletic and can run," Aggies head coach Marvin Menzies said.
Freshman Kyle Singler (6-foot-8) and sophomore Lance Thomas (6-8) started for the Blue Devils last Friday. Duke can bring 7-footer Brian Zoubek off the bench.
The Aggies' size and experience is why they landed on Duke's non-conference schedule.
"We always try to schedule teams that win their league and NCAA Tournament teams," Duke assistant coach Chris Collins said. "Their size represents an ACC front line when they put (NMSU senior forward) Justin Hawkins, (NMSU senior forward) Hatila Passos and (NMSU senior center) Martin Iti out there."
Collins pointed out that the Blue Devils had 27 assists on Friday, showing they are patient, even while playing at a fast tempo.
"We are going to run the ball and I know they like to run as well," Collins said. "I don't think people will have to worry about there being a lot of action, as long as both teams are knocking down shots."
Menzies knows his guards will have to take care of the ball against Duke's suffocating ball pressure.
"It's important to rebound and improve on our previous effort and to take steps forward instead of backward and work on things that we didn't do against Ohio," Menzies said. "We have to handle the ball pressure. They deny you all over the place so we need strong ball handling in a road environment.
"I don't anticipate them not doing what they have done for years. We are used to that tempo, but we are not used to facing the level of competition so we will see how we handle that."
Tonight is not the first time Menzies has brought a team to Cameron Indoor Stadium. In 2001, as an assistant coach at San Diego State, the Aztecs lost to then No. 1 Duke 92-79.
"Anytime you step into a legendary arena, it brings back good memories," Menzies said. "This is a brand new experience and we are all excited about playing here."
Notes: On Saturday, Menzies said the school has not received word from the NCAA regarding the eligibility of NMSU freshman forward Herb Pope or freshman guard Jahmar Young. The NCAA offices close on the weekend and Young and Pope did not travel with the team. ... Hawkins suffered a sprained right thumb at the end of Friday's game at Ohio. Hawkins practiced over the weekend and is probable tonight.
