New Mexico State Basketball: Are the Aggies the most dangerous mid-major?
By Connor Hope
Defense
Perhaps the strongest component of the Aggies’ on-court production is their ability to stifle opposing offenses.
Allowing just 63.5 points per game, New Mexico State in in the top 25 in scoring defense in the country. In fact, the Aggies have let up over 70 points, just three times this season: 92 points in their early road loss to Saint Mary’s, 76 points in their home victory over Colorado State, and 77 points in their loss to USC during the Diamond Head Classic.
Chris Jans’ group values effectiveness over flashiness when it comes to denying their opponent points. While No. 13 in points per possession defense, at .916, the Aggies are in the bottom half of the country in both steals and blocks. The stifling defense comes from their ability to force opponents into taking bad shots, which has them ranked in the top 30 in effective field goal percentage.
This team is incredibly hard to deal with for any offense, and with their 33% three-point defense, teams will need to force the issue inside to beat the Aggies.