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Hounds out to prove preseason pick wrong

Andrew Helton wasn't that surprised to see his Eastern New Mexico University men's basketball team picked for last in the 10-team Lone Star Conference's preseason poll.

Still, he was a bit taken aback.

"Not a lot because of the players we lost," the fourth-year coach said of the surprise element. "But respect for our program isn't where I'd like it to be, and a lot of our kids aren't known to the league.

"We haven't been anywhere near last place in three years. For us, it's just motivation."

CMI correspondent: Joshua Lucero

ENMU junior Dennis Hardwell takes a shot over junior Johari Templin during Thurday's practice at Greyhound Arena. The Hounds open the 2012-13 season tonight against Texas A&M International at Laredo, Texas.

The Hounds open the 2012-13 season tonight against Texas A&M International at Laredo, Texas.

ENMU (14-14, 7-11 LSC last season) graduated its top three and six of its top seven scorers, and the No. 4 scorer — senior point guard Devone Davis (9.0 ppg) — is not expected to start the season on the active roster. Also in that category is 6-foot-8 senior center Greg McFarland (eighth at 5.2 ppg) and senior guard Versia Hodges, all of whom are hoping to be cleared soon as part of the school's ongoing investigation of NCAA eligibility that has affected most of the school's sports programs to varying degrees.

Helton has reshaped his roster a bit, looking for more athletic players on the wings. To that end, he's added 6-4 junior guard Rafael Love of Woodland Hills, Calif.; 6-4 freshman forward Lawrence Domingo of Union City, Calif., and 6-5 junior forward Jordan Awoye of Bay Shore, N.Y.

"We're basically similar in size (to last year) at the (post) position," Helton said. "We're bigger on the wings, smaller on the post.

"Some of that is by design. In our league, I think you've got to have some 6-3 to 6-5 guys with some versatility."

The only currently active returnees from last year are 6-2 junior guard Kyle Lantz and 6-0 sophomore point guard Dylan Houlihan, both of Albuquerque. Junior guard Jordan Romero of Santa Fe, who was redshirted last year, also returns.

"It's going to be tough; there's not going to be any easy games," said Lantz, who started five games late last season and averaged 4.4 points for the year. "We'll have to play a lot more (of an) up-and-down (style)."

Still, he insists the team is better than its projection.

"We obviously don't expect to finish anywhere near 10th," Lantz said. "I'm not making any predictions, but we'd like to finish in the top four."

Lantz has seen his playing time increase steadily over the past two years, and he's confident he fits in well.

"I'm definitely more comfortable, just being around the system for a couple of years," he said. "It's just become easier to understand the whole philosophy. And my intensity has picked up from a year ago."

Among other newcomers expected to make an impact are 5-11 junior guard Rodney Blackmon of Los Angeles and 6-8 junior forward Phil Henry of Marlton, N.J.

Still, Helton said potential playing time is open for anyone on the roster.

"It's a fluid situation," he said.

Helton knows the LSC is a rugged league year-in and year-out, and it's tough to break into that upper echelon of Tarleton State, Midwestern State, West Texas A&M and the like.

"Most of the first-team (All-LSC) players (from last year) are gone," Helton said. "It's whoever's new guys are better or whoever's new guys get better."

 
 
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