Aggies one win away from Big Dance

One point. When you win by one point, every single thing that happened in the previous 40 minutes has absolutely mattered.

Hamidu Raman's two free throws early in the game were as important for New Mexico State University as Jahmar Young's jumper with 3.8 seconds left that gave the Aggies their 80-79 margin of victory in the Western Athletic Conference tournament semifinal game in Reno.

Saturday night, Feb. 27, after the Aggies beat Boise State in the Pan Am Center, 95-92, I was disappointed. I didn't want the home season to end. I wanted to watch the Aggies more.

Watching them on ESPN2 last night was fun, particularly watching, or more accurately, hearing, ESPN analyst Steven Bardo (a former player for Lou Henson when Lou was in Illinois) fall in love with Wendell McKines.

Here are the top seven Aggies this year, and why I've enjoyed all of them so much this season.

HAMIDU RAMAN, sophomore, center: Hamidu is the tallest Aggie, and the only one I've ever had a conversation with. It went like this.

Me: Hey, Ham, how's it goin?

Ham: Good, good.

Many people shudder at the thought of Hamidu going to the free throw line, and his percentage IS less than 60 percent. But I've always felt good about Ham at the line. And, remember, he won a game for us last year at the line. He fouls a lot, but the only time I got upset with him was when he jacked a 14-footer late in a game when we were trying to use up some clock. He would be fun to go to the movies with.

GORDO CASTILLO, junior, wing: Gordo looks exactly like Jon Cryer, the co-star of the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men. Gordo even wears black socks, like the nerdy Cryer character would do.

Everyone in the Pan Am loves Gordo because he's the hometown kid from Las Cruces High. He has had a great career by having a limited but definite role, and performing that role incredibly well. Gordo hits the three. 'Nuff said.

HERNST LAROCHE, junior, guard: Of all the top seven Aggies, Hernst is the least likely to make a mistake, especially at a critical juncture in the game. He wears No. 13, which tells you he's not superstitious. It is said he can speak four languages. He's from Montreal and speaks French well. Also English, Spanish and Creole. I took five years of French and even got to go to France. If I met Hernst, I might say to him the first thing I said to a real French person when I was in the heart of Paris: Mes levres est mal. Avez-vous du Chap-Stik?

TROY GILLENWATER, sophomore, post: Troy seems the most relaxed of the Aggies on the court. I've heard cynics say it's because he's the laziest of the Aggies. I disagree. I think when he first returned, he was a little slower because he wasn't in game shape, but he's been a dominant force inside and out in every game. Has a great touch around the basket, and the strength to finish and draw fouls.

JONATHAN GIBSON, senior, guard: Friday night, I screamed at Gibson through my TV when he fouled Nevada's 90-percent free-throw shooter Luke Babbitt while the Aggies clung to a one-point lead with under a minute to play. He occasionally will make you do that, but more often he'll make something positive happen on the offensive end. He drives well in the paint, can dish or finish, and, of course, drain the three-pointer. What impresses me most, however, is his toughness. At least once a game, he takes a hard hit to the gut, chest or face, and never winces. It strengthens his resolve, and in a short time he is making a key play. He will be greatly missed next year. My biggest disappointment was that he always wore his hair in cornrows and a headband. Just once I'd like to see him set his extension free. Gib, if we make the Big Dance, will you let your hair out for the first game?

JAHMAR YOUNG, junior, wing: Here's one of my favorite Aggie plays: when Jahmar grabs a defensive rebound and takes off on the fast break. He handles the ball well in transition, and usually makes good decisions in the open floor. He has broadened his game this year, proving to be a good passer and even working hard at times on defense. I once sat in the barber chair next to Jahmar as he held court at City Barber Shop. Let's put it this way: Jahmar has an unorthodox perspective on the world. That's why I was not surprised when he mouthed off at a Nevada player after a bump, drawing a critical technical that helped the Wolfpack to a five-point possession that changed the game. I was not surprised, but it didn't stop me from yelling at the TV again. But maybe knowing he made that mistake gave him more determination to correct it, as he did when he hit the eventual game winner.

WENDELL McKINES, junior, forward: Saving the best for last, everyone's favorite Aggie. Here's how ESPN analyst Bardo put it: "If something happens outside after the game, I want this guy with me." And that's the way every Aggie on the floor feels, and every Aggie fan in the arena. He calls himself Wen, but I call him WenDELL, with the emphasis on the Dell. I overheard one Aggie fan say he looks like a young Mike Tyson. That may or may not be, but he certainly projects the image of strength and invincibility the pre-Buster Douglas Tyson had. McKines will not get out-hustled on the floor. He will go and get the rebound. He will dive and get the loose ball. He will put back the missed shot. He will make the great pass. And he WILL dunk straight on your head. With considerable authority. He clearly loves basketball, and he does everything he can to win the game. However, my favorite Wendell McKines play of the whole season came on a play after the clock was stopped. I believe it was the Hawaii game. The Aggies were in their 2-2-1 zone press (which I hate, and could spend a whole hour explaining why, but that's another blog). Gibson got a steal, drove in for a layup, was fouled and knocked to the floor. Wendell was the first one there, helping Jonathan up. Then I thought, How did Wendell get there? Wasn't he beyond half-court on the back side of the press? Wasn't he 60 feet away from Gibson? Now he's helping him up? Then they showed the replay on the Aggievision scoreboard, and I saw exactly what happened. Sure enough, as soon as Gibson was going down, Wendell burst into a full sprint, racing down the court to greet, help, encourage, congratulate and energize his teammate.

I know Utah State is a well-disciplined, well-balanced team that does all the fundamental things you're supposed to be. But damn, they don't have Wendell McKines, and Wendell McKines is the type of player who should be playing in the NCAA tournament.

Let's go, NMSU. Let's go to the Big Dance. Let's win tonight.