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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Even though four starters are back, this will be a new-look New Mexico team since the coachs son has left the program to finish his career at Ole Miss.An often tumultuous relationship between point guard Cullen Neal and the fans in the town where he grew up led to his departure and leaves the Lobos minus one returning starter.Cullen doesnt play for me, coach Craig Neal said in responding to a question about his son. You have to go to Ole Miss press conferences.Still, his absence will have an impact.Any time you lose somebody who was going to be your fifth starter, its different. It affects you, coach Neal said.But with a solid nucleus of returning players, the Lobos seek to return to the postseason after a disappointing two-year absence.Leading the way for New Mexico will be a pair of first-team all-Mountain West players in guard Elijah Brown, who led the conference in scoring at 21.7, and power forward Tim Williams, who averaged 16.8.Its led to optimism that the Lobos will be back to challenge for the conference crown again.We had some really high moments and we had some really low moments, Neal said. Now were looking for more consistency. Im really excited because these guys are a year older. I think were on an uptick. The program is on an uptick from where we thought it was going to be.Here are some things to consider as the Lobos chase San Diego State for Mountain West supremacy:WHATS THE POINT: Cullen Neals departure -- he can play right away and will have two seasons of eligibility as a graduate transfer -- leaves a gaping hole at point guard. But coach Neal is convinced returning sophomore Jordan Hunter and incoming freshman Jalen Harris will be effective.Hopefully, well figure it out real soon, Neal said. It wont take very long to figure out whos going to be that fifth guy. I think Jordan and Jalen Harris will be able to do a good job.EXPERIENCED HANDS: Guard Sam Logwood and rail-thin 7-footer Obij Aget are the other returning starters, while six other Lobos also saw minutes last season, led by versatile Xavier Adams, who saw time at forward, off guard and shooting guard.Were excited about where we are as a team, Neal said. Were excited about our depth athletically. I like out athletic ability. I think we have some frontcourt depth this year that we didnt have. I think we can play Xavier Adams at a couple of different positions with his energy and glue and making different little plays.NEWCOMER NUANCES: Of the players new to the Lobos, Arizona State transfer Connor MacDougall is gathering the most attention. A 6-foot-9 redshirt sophomore, MacDougall played in six games for the Sun Devils before deciding to move on.I wish we had him last year, Neal said. He does a lot of good things. He can rebound it. Hes active. Hes big, hes strong. He can score the ball. Hes got great hands. He gives us another guy we can go to on the block.WHERES THE D: The Lobos under Neal and former coach Steve Alford were always defense-oriented. Last year, New Mexicos defense suffered, allowing more than 73 points a game, and it got even worse as the Lobos played out the string.We have to get better on the defensive end, Neal said. The last six games last year, we gave up 77 points a game and we cant turn the ball over like we did last year.BROWN HAMSTRUNG: For the Lobos to have any real chance of getting back into the Mountain West upper echelon, Brown has to be at the top of his game. But he has been sitting out of practice as he recuperates from a hamstring problem that arose at the end of last season. On the pre-season Jerry West Award watch list, Brown is a capable outside shooter who can also drive the lane. But not when hes hindered.Its concerning because its still bothering him, Neal said. Were trying to get him as well as we can and get him 100 percent. Im not going to put him out there at 80 or 85 with a chance of him getting hurt again. Its a lingering situation.Adidas Nmd Womens Clearance . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Yeezy 350 Cheap Real . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. http://www.nmdsneakerssale.com/nmd-shoes-r1-deals.html . A statement from the worlds top-ranked player says all checks "were satisfactory and showed positive evolution" regarding the injury, which contributed to his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the final in Melbourne. Cheap Adidas Nmd r1 .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. Adidas Nmd Sneakers Style . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said.SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Jazz challenged Gordon Hayward to push his game even further last summer and become a more versatile scorer. The Jazz are seeing those results on a nightly basis through the first quarter of the season.Hayward matched his season high with 32 points and the Jazz beat the Denver Nuggets 105-98 on Saturday night.We talked about this early in the season. We felt like hed expanded his game, Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. He added a comfort-level in the post. ... And hes shooting off screens. Hes able to score in multiple ways.When someone takes something away, hes able to have another option. The biggest thing Gordons been doing is defending and, as a result, hes getting some easy baskets.The Jazz used a 31-8 stretch in the third quarter to blow open the game. Hayward took over, scoring both inside and on the perimeter, with 21 points in the quarter. It was the third consecutive 30-point game for the seven-year veteran, who is averaging a career-high 22.8 points and has scored 20-plus points in 11 of 14 games this season. This is the first three-game, 30-point stretch of Haywards career.Its a lot of work that I put in this summer, for sure, Hayward said. But, also, were running some good sets for me. ... Just continuing to see the floor a lot better. Seeing where my shots are coming. Taking advantage of how the defense is guarding me. ... Just trusting the work that I did.When Im active and play with a little bounce on the defensive end, Im definitely more confident offensively because of that. Its all about staying active and getting myself involved in the game.Rodney Hood chipped in 15 for the Jazz.Wilson Chandler and Will Barton each scored 20 for Denver.Denver knocked down seven 3-pointers trying to rally in the fourth quarter, but couldnt complete the comeback. The Nuggets matched a season high with 13 3-pointers.The Jazz took a 49-47 lead into halftime after a back-and-forth opening 24 minutes in which neither team was able to string together a significant run.dddddddddddd. Neither team shot the ball well from distance in the first half as the two teams were a combined 4 for 15 from behind the arc.Im happy we showed a lot of fight and heart getting back in the game, not dropping our heads and feeling sorry for ourselves, Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. Hopefully, that can give us a little juice going forward.Im just really happy with the fact we competed tonight. Thats step No. 1 in our recovery.TIP-INSNuggets: Nikola Jokic missed his second straight game with a left wrist sprain. ... Denver is now 0-8 when trailing after the third quarter. ... The Nuggets have won just one road game since Nov. 6.Jazz: Hood returned to the starting lineup after missing the last game with a hamstring injury. He went down hard in the third quarter and limped to the bench, but stayed in the game. ... George Hill missed his second consecutive game with a sprained left big toe.TOUGH TIMESThe Nuggets have lost five of six with a lengthy road trip ahead. Malone is not thrilled with the state of his team.Right now, I am living minute-by-minute, day-by-day, Malone said. We arent playing good basketball right now. Its no secret. Our defense is evaporating rapidly.QUOTABLEWe started out in the first half doing all the right things, Chandler said. It was in the third quarter we kind of got away from that. Everybody, not just one person. We had to climb uphill and exert so much energy. Its hard to fight back from a 20-point deficit and get the win.UP NEXTNuggets: Denver visits Philadelphia on Monday for the second game of a six-game trip.Jazz: Utah travels to face the Los Angeles Lakers and No. 2 overall pick Brandon Ingram on Monday. ' ' '