UNM men’s basketball’s next opponent may be more dangerous than its 0-2 record suggests.
Much like the Trojan Horse of Greek mythology, the Little Rock Trojans have some surprises hidden beneath the surface, including an athletic backcourt, a physical frontcourt and strong offensive rebounding that could create some matchup problems for the Lobos.
The Lobos (2-0) will host the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (0-2) on Tues. Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Pit. The game will be available on MW+ and 96.3 KKOB radio.
Little Rock is currently ranked No. 217 in KenPom and enters as another Quad 4 opponent the Lobos should beat convincingly. UNM opens as a 21.5 point favorite on Monday night while Ken Pom projects this as a 87 to 69 win for the Lobos.
Athletic Guards and Size Inside
Offensively, the Trojans are paced by University of Maryland Baltimore County transfer guard Jah'Likai King, who is averaging 20.5 points through two games. At 6-foot-2, King looks like a three-level scorer who can get to the rim, shot the 3-ball, and also pull up in the midrange and score as shown below in UALR’s 82-72 loss to VCU in the season opener.
King also went 3 of 4 from the 3-point line against VCU.
Six-foot-four junior guard Jalen Lyn is another key piece of the Trojans' backcourt, bringing a combination of perimeter shooting and the size to attack the basket and finish in the paint. He had 11 points and four assists in UALR’s 83-79 loss to Southern Louisiana but has been in foul trouble in both games. First-year head coach Travis Ford emphasized how important Lyn is to the team's success. “We have to have Jalen Lyn on the floor,” UALR head coach Travis Ford said. “He's been in foul trouble our last two games.”
The Trojans also have some size and athleticism up front. Both 6-foot-10 forward Papa Amadou Kante and 6-foot-5 grad transfer forward Bradyn Hubbard (235 pounds) and have made an impact through the first two games. Kante recorded 13 points and seven rebounds against VCU, while Hubbard posted 16 points and seven rebounds against Southern Louisiana.
Little Rock's offensive rebounding may be its strongest attribute. The Trojans rank No. 40 nationally in KenPom's offensive rebounding rate, grabbing 15 offensive rebounds against SLU and 13 against VCU. Redshirt junior forward Jamai Felt stands at 6-foot-10, and is another athletic presence who can capitalize on putbacks at the rim.
Undisciplined Pressure Defense
Little Rock has shown it can disrupt opponents with its full-court pressure, but the Trojans have struggled to turn that defensive intensity into consistent stops. Through two games, UALR has forced 27 combined turnovers and scored 26 points off turnovers against Southern Louisiana. However, when opponents break the initial pressure, the Trojans have had difficulty defending in the half court.
That was evident in the season-opening loss to VCU. Little Rock took a first-half lead and stayed within striking distance until midway through the second half, when the Rams put together a decisive run. The Trojans also struggled with foul discipline, committing 38 fouls and sending VCU to the free-throw line 48 times.
Little Rock head coach Travis Ford instructs big-man Papa Amadou Kante. Ford has 491 coaching victories from coaching stops at Saint Louis, Oklahoma State, Massachusetts, Eastern Kentucky and Campbellsville. Photo: UALR Athletics
Those defensive issues continued Saturday in a home loss to Southern Louisiana, which shot 13-of-25 from beyond the arc. First-year head coach Travis Ford pointed to a lack of focus, particularly after Little Rock repeatedly fouled 3-point shooters.
“It's lack of focus,” Ford said. “It's a lack of understanding what it takes to win…We've had too many guys lose focus within a possession ... Guys are resting in the middle of a possession. That's not understanding what it takes to win.”
Ford also identified perimeter defense as an area that needs immediate improvement.
“Right now we have a big Achilles' heel of giving up threes,” Ford said after the SLU game. “All we talked about was not giving up the three tonight. That's all we talked about.”
The Lobos hope to bounce back from a bad shooting 7 of 26 shooting night from beyond the arc against NAU.
Projected Starters for UALR
#1 Jalen Lyn, 6-foot-4 junior guard
#2 Jah’Likai King, 6-foot-2 senior guard
#3 Aaron Clark, 6-foot-5 junior guard
#51 Bradyn Hubbard, 6-foot-5 grad transfer
#5 Papa Amadou Kante, 6-foot-10 junior forward.
Keys to the Game for UNM
1. Secure Defensive Rebounds
Little Rock's offensive rebounding is one of its biggest strengths. Hubbard, Kante and Felt are all big, athletic forwards, while Lyn and Clark have enough size at the guard position to compete on the offensive glass. UNM must finish defensive possessions by securing rebounds rather than giving the Trojans second and third opportunities.
2. Take Care of the Ball
This should be manageable after UNM committed just two turnovers against Northern Arizona, but Little Rock is more athletic in its backcourt and will likely try to speed up the Lobos with full-court pressure. UNM must handle the press and have good ‘end-of-drive decision making’ when it gets into the paint.
3. Protect the Paint on Defense
Head coach Eric Olen wants to continue seeing growth on the defensive end. Little Rock's guards King, Lyn and Clark are capable of getting downhill and attacking the basket. The Lobos must keep them out of the paint and prevent them from getting deep enough to collapse the defense and create open looks for their teammates.
UNM men's basketball closes its three-game homestand Tuesday against the 0-2 Little Rock Trojans. Despite their slow start, the Trojans have the size and athleticism to create matchup problems, led by guard Jah'Likai King and a frontcourt that ranks among the nation's best in offensive rebounding. However, Little Rock has struggled with defensive discipline, committing fouls and allowing open 3-point looks. The Lobos will look to take advantage and protect home court.