FanHouse NewMexicoStateAggies

Sometimes it does seem that there is an order to the universe.

So much seems to have gone wrong for New Mexico State after a rapid rise. Their top recruit is shot, and while making a full recovery, it still remains to be seen how he will actually do once he gets on the court. They lose Reggie Theus to the NBA in June, after they gave him a raise and an extension.

Now, their best returning player, senior Tyrone Nelson, gets dismissed from New Mexico State following his plea of no contest to robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and conspiracy to commit bribery. Now while the plea deal avoided the trial and any jail time, NMSU's student-athlete code of conduct calls for the dismissal of a player who is convicted or pleads no contest to a violent felony.

The NMSU Athletic Director, McKinley Boston, testified on behalf of Nelson regarding his character -- and to try and have Nelson avoid being tagged as felon so Nelson could keep playing basketball complete his education.

As aggravating as it must be for New Mexico State fans and the Aggies Athletic Department to have to try and hire a coach at the end of June, there has to be some smiles at the knowledge that people outside of New Mexico and the WAC are paying watching to see who they hire to replace Reggie Theus.

Of course, part of that is because there are programs and their fans lurking in a vulture like pose to see if top recruit Herb Pope asks for his release from his Letter of Intent. Not that New Mexico State would be willing to simply let him walk.

[NMSU Athletic Director McKinley] Boston said that no recruit has asked to be released from their commitment to the school. Even if such an event unfolded, Boston said that he would not allow it to happen, at least not until a new coach was named and had a chance to sit down with the players.

"No one has asked to be released and I'm not going to release anyone," Boston said. "That question will take on a new meaning once the coach is named and has a chance to meet with the recruits. A lot can happen between now and the beginning of the school year."

Pope has said he doesn't intend to back out of his commitment, but...

Speaking of letting someone walk, now Sacramento Kings Head Coach Reggie Theus, was able to leave New Mexico State without paying a buyout. Theus had a $550,000 buyout if he went to another college program except for USC and UNLV. The exception also applied to any NBA team.

Previously at Fanhouse:
New Mexico State's Next Move
Reggie Theus to Leave New Mexico State for Sacramento Kings

Having to do a coach search in June is not an ideal time. Still, New Mexico State seems to be moving quickly to replace Reggie Theus.

[McKinley] Boston, New Mexico State's athletics director, said he knew weeks ago that the meteoric coaching rise of Reggie Theus could soon stretch to the NBA. By the time the Sacramento Kings hired Theus away from the Aggies on Tuesday, Boston already had hired search firm agency Champ Search and started compiling a list of candidates to interview.

That's why the Aggies expect to have a news conference to introduce a new head coach on Friday, Boston said.

According to reports, assistants Damon Archibald and Chris Pompey will be interviewed, but the main candidates are:

• Rodney Terry, Texas assistant;
• Robert Evans, Arkansas assistant, former head coach at Ole Miss and Arizona State, and an Aggie alum;
• Gib Arnold, USC assistant; and
• Marvin Menzies, Louisville assistant.

The details on Herb Pope's shooting are still very hazy. Mainly because Pope himself wasn't particularly forthcoming about the incident.

Chief Pallante said Mr. Pope walked into Aliquippa Hospital's emergency room early yesterday after someone, whom he did not name, dropped him off and left. Mr. Pope was stabilized and then taken to UPMC.

"He stated that he was at a party at that 800 block of 8th Avenue and someone had shot him," Chief Pallante said. "He did not know who, did not know why."

"He just said somebody did it for no reason," Mr. Reddic said. "I'm not sure of the whole story."

Chief Pallante said Mr. Pope did not say whether he was indoors or out at the time of the shooting.

So Pope's story at the moment is that he was at a party at 3 am when someone he didn't know, just shot him four times "for no reason." I'm not sure that is completely plausible. Add in the fact that he was dropped off at the emergency room by an identified person. Well, there's just a few gaps in this narrative.

Right now, the police are giving him a couple days to recover from the surgery and come out of the haze of being shot and pumped full of painkillers before asking any more questions. They claim not to have any leads and the exact house in the neighborhood where the party took place is in question.

Despite being shot four times -- twice in the abdomen, once in the thigh and once in his left arm -- his life is in no danger. As for his basketball career, it seems the gunshot wound to his left arm is going to be the serious issue.

Herb Pope is one of the more talented but troubled recruits in the 2007 recruiting class (4th team Parade All-American). He drew interest from teams like Pitt, Texas, UConn, Louisville, Memphis and tons of other schools. The problem was a questionable attitude and even more questionable view towards academics. That caused most schools to back away (with regrets) from the 6'9" power forward with an excellent scoring touch and some toughness.

New Mexico State Head Coach Reggie Theus eventually convinced him to sign with the Aggies.

Now comes news that Pope was shot this morning.

According to Aliquippa Police Chief Ralph Pallante, Pope was shot four times - twice in the abdomen, once in the lower left arm and once in the thigh - around 3 a.m. Saturday in Aliquippa.

He was taken to Aliquippa Hospital and then flown to UPMC Presbyterian by Life-Flight helicopter. His condition was unknown as of 1 p.m.

Police said Pope stated that he was at a party on 8th Avenue in Aliquippa, but did not know who shot him.

Pope is now reportedly recovering in the Pittsburgh hospital.

This incident follows a very embarrassing display of unsportsmanship and general bad behavior after his team's collapse and loss in a state high school championship game this past week.

Pope was supposed to be going to Chicago today for the Roundball Classic all-star game.

You would think that after a full season of hype and attention would be better prepared to go into the NCAA Tournament to take the best shot from any and every team they face. Yet against New Mexico State, the Longhorns seemed stunned at points that the Aggies did not merely wilt in the presence of their talent.

Through most of the first half, New Mexico State was the aggressor, taking it right at Texas. Putting them back on their heels and making them have to respond. They did, and slowly took control of the game, but were not able to put the game out of reach.

In fact, the Aggies kept fighting back and making things more than a little uncomfortable for the Longhorns. Ultimately, Texas prevailed and advanced. If they have finally realized everyone wants to take them down. If they realize everyone wants to say they beat Kevin Durant and play accordingly, then they will at least make it to the Sweet 16.