Emerging from the purgatory known as the redshirt transfer season, former Kansas starter J.R. Giddens wanted to cram a year of expectation into his first 16 minutes in a New Mexico uniform.
The result: 20 points, two assists, six rebounds, a shot blocked into the stands and a steal converted into a thunderous dunk by the 6-foot-5 Oklahoma City product.
It was only an exhibition game against Division II Western New Mexico, but Giddens’ numbers won’t drop appreciably and more likely will go up with more minutes.
“He’s a huge part of the team,” Lobos point guard Jamaal Smith said recently at the Mountain West Conference media event in Las Vegas. “In my mind, he’s doing everything. He can score, but he’s also playing defense great. He’s going to have to do a lot of everything.”
And Giddens, does not lack for confidence after a year on ice.
“I’m going to be a spark plug, just come right out and be a leader. I played in two NCAA Tournaments,” he said. “I can offer my wisdom.”
As a freshman in 2004, Giddens led the Jayhawks in 3-point shooting (40.7 percent) and was named to the all-Big 12 freshman team. He averaged 10.1 points as a sophomore.
Giddens didn’t just decide one day in May 2005 to leave Lawrence, Kan., for Albuquerque. He was in a much-publicized brawl outside a Lawrence bar and was slashed in the leg. Recruited by the prior staff, he and Bill Self mutually agreed to part ways.
For all the returning talent in the MWC – big men Jason Smith of Colorado State, Trent Plaisted of BYU, Luke Nevill of Utah and backcourt standouts Brandon Heath of defending champion San Diego State and Wyoming’s precocious sophomore Brandon Ewing – this is the year of the transfer.
New Mexico also added former Penn State forward Aaron Johnson for his senior year. UNLV made a late pickup in coach Lon Kruger’s son, Kevin, a guard from Arizona State, and San Diego State unveils Louisville transfer Lorrenzo Wade. Junior college-impact help includes New Mexico’s Smith and CSU guard Tyler Smith.
New Mexico was nearly an instant choice for Giddens, who took only one recruiting trip on his second recruiting go-round.
“It’s been a very big adjustment,” he said. “Oklahoma is a lot different from Kansas, and Kansas is different from New Mexico. Three different places, three different worlds. I’m glad I got to live in all three, see different people and how people act.
“New Mexico is so chill and so mellow. Lawrence is a college town, and Oklahoma City is my home and that’s where my heart is.”
The clincher was Ritchie McKay, the former CSU coach now going into his fifth season with the Lobos.
“It was a family atmosphere,” Giddens said. “Coach McKay talked about me as a person instead of my game. Coach McKay is a Christian coach. He doesn’t use profanity like so many coaches.”
So when McKay gets mad, he tosses players out of practice and makes everyone practice before dawn the next day. Johnson was one evictee.
When the team regrouped at 5:30 a.m., Giddens said, “It was one of the best practices of the year.”
After a season watching Giddens in practice, McKay is convinced he will have a one season-and-done career with the Lobos before heading to the NBA.
“He’s a different type of player,” McKay said. “There was a reason he was a McDonald’s All-American in high school. He’s a great talent. He needed to polish the way he approached life. By sitting out a year, it helped him grow up a little.”
New Mexico’s last big-time transfer, Bradley forward Danny Granger, led the Lobos to the NCAA Tournament in 2005 and was picked in the first round of the NBA draft.
Giddens’ first priority is following Granger’s path to the NCAA Tournament.
“I don’t think about (the NBA),” Giddens said. “What I think about is this season and being successful. If (the NBA) happens, it happens. That’s my dream. You have to take care of business to get there.
“All I can do is focus on getting better every day, making my teammates better.”
MWC men’s hoops
Denver Post staff writer Natalie Meisler predicts the order of finish in Mountain West Conference men’s basketball:
1. SAN DIEGO STATE
Coach: Steve Fisher 289-188 in 15 seasons; 105-106 in seven seasons at SDSU
Last season: 24-9, 13-3 MWC (first); lost first round NCAA to Indiana
Strengths: Aztecs proved last season they can finally convert all the talent into a league championship. Four starters and three top reserves return, led by MWC player of the year Brandon Heath.
Weaknesses: Except for Arizona and Washington State, a weak nonleague schedule could hurt the RPI.
Did you know? Two-time all-MWC pick Marcus Slaughter, the only starter not returning, gave up his final year of eligibility for the NBA draft. He is playing in Turkey.
Quotable: “The league from top to bottom is the best its been in my eight years.” – Fisher
2. BYU
Coach: Dave Rose, 20-9 in one season at BYU
Last season: 20-9, 12-4 MWC (tie second); lost in NIT first round
Strengths: MWC freshman of the year Trent Plaisted leads four returning starters. Solid bench and international cast of newcomers.
Weaknesses: Rose may have too many players to choose from with nine lettermen and five newcomers. Repeating last season’s late-developing chemistry is critical.
Did you know? Backup guard Austin Ainge is the son of BYU legend Danny Ainge and cousin of Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge.
Quotable: “This will be a different kind of season for us. Last year, we spent a lot of time trying to instill confidence in our guys. Now that we’ve had some success, we’re in a position where we need to make sure that our success doesn’t affect our work ethic.” – Rose
3. AIR FORCE
Coach: Jeff Bzdelik, 49-38 in three seasons, 24-7 in one season at Air Force
Last season: 24-7, 12-4 MWC (tie second); lost first round of NCAA to Illinois
Strengths: Most experienced team in league, with five players having starting experience. The program is entrenched in the modified Princeton system despite two coaching turnovers.
Weaknesses: The lone graduation loss was a big one, leading scorer Antoine Hood, who also led the Falcons in assists. Without Hood, the Falcons could find themselves at more of a disadvantage against the more athletic teams.
Did you know? Air Force has led the nation in scoring defense for three consecutive seasons.
Quotable: “When we see what Antoine did, it makes us push ourselves as hard.” – forward Jacob Burtschi, on Hood’s preseason camp with the Nuggets
4. NEW MEXICO
Coach: Ritchie McKay, 150-141 in 10 seasons, 67-52 in four seasons at New Mexico
Last season: 17-13, 8-8 MWC (fifth)
Strengths: Outstanding backcourt in newcomers J.R. Giddens and Jamaal Smith. One of league’s toughest home courts at The Pit.
Weaknesses: One returning starter and depth is often a problem for the Lobos.
Did you know? Smith is the son of former UNLV star Robert Smith, a third-round draft pick by the Nuggets.
Quotable: “We’re picked fifth every year. When the NCAA selects the teams, I don’t think they bring the preseason polls into the room.” – McKay
5. COLORADO STATE
Coach: Dale Layer, 253-180 in 15 seasons, 86-93 in six seasons at CSU
Last season: 16-15, 4-12 MWC (eighth)
Strengths: Future NBA talent in center Jason Smith, and much-needed help on the perimeter from Tyler Smith fills the Rams’ biggest gap.
Weaknesses: Rams do well in nonleague every year, then hit a wall in MWC play with lengthy losing skids. Backcourt depth a question mark.
Did you know? Forward Freddy Robinson is in his sixth year of eligibility after sitting out two seasons with injuries.
Quotable: “The NBA draft isn’t about the best in college but the best in the world.” – Jason Smith, on his observation last spring when no MWC players were drafted
6. UNLV
Coach: Lon Kruger, 352-260 in 20 seasons, 34-27 in two seasons at UNLV
Last season: 17-13, 10-6 MWC (fourth)
Strengths: Rebels get the MWC Tournament back on their home court for the first time since 2003. Arizona State transfer Kevin Kruger is expected to make an immediate impact.
Weaknesses: Lost top player in Louis Amundson and only two starters return. Rebels don’t have a player taller than 6-feet-9.
Did you know? Kruger has taken three schools to a total of nine NCAA Tournaments.
Quotable: “The coaches understand this is what’s best for the conference, the fans and the presidents from the revenue standpoint. It’s easy for me to be a proponent.” – Kruger, on moving the MWC Tournament back to Las Vegas
7. UTAH
Coach: Ray Giacoletti, 160-104 in nine season, 43-21 in two seasons at Utah
Last season: 14-15, 6-10 (sixth)
Strengths: Four starters return from a painful rebuilding season, led by 7-1 center Luke Nevill. He matured from a project to a solid contributor as a freshman.
Weaknesses: Utes forgot how to win in a hurry after losing top draft pick Andrew Bogut. Utah is unsettled at shooting guard. Point guard Johnnie Bryant is the only experienced upperclassman.
Did you know? Nevill weighed in at 265 pounds, 40 more than he played at as a freshman.
Quotable: “Our objective when we started two years ago was to bring in freshmen who would be here for four or five years.” – Giacoletti
8. WYOMING
Coach: Steve McClain, 140-100 in eight seasons at Wyoming
Last season: 14-18, 5-11 MWC (seventh)
Strengths: Outstanding backcourt in sophomore Brandon Ewing and junior Brad Jones. Both had major confidence boosts from taking San Diego State into overtime of the MWC Tournament championship game.
Weaknesses: Limited experience up front, and lost rebounding leader Justin Williams, two-time MWC defensive player of the year.
Did you know? McClain, the dean of MWC coaches, has more conference wins (53) than any other coach in league history.
Quotable: “When I heard he’s from Chicago, I said, ‘Why didn’t we recruit him?”‘ – San Diego State’s Steve Fisher, on Ewing
9. TCU
Coach: Neil Dougherty, 48-75 in four seasons at TCU
Last season: 6-25, 2-14 MWC (ninth)
Strengths: Horned Frogs are now familiar with the rest of the MWC programs and venues. Solid guard play from returning starter Brent Hackett and Neil P. Dougherty, coming off an injury.
Weaknesses: Unlike the school’s football program, TCU was ill-equipped for the move to the MWC. There is very little experience up front.
Did you know? Cal transfer Kevin Langford is the younger brother of former Kansas star Keith Langford, who played for Dougherty in the Big 12.
Quotable: “We are anxious to have a chance to set some things straight after last year.” – Dougherty
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
