Lobos’ Granger has familiarity with Rebels

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Jan. 30, 2004 | 10:57 a.m.

Danny Granger makes his first ever appearance at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday night with the New Mexico Lobos. But the frontrunner for Mountain West Conference player of the year honors is very familar with UNLV.

Before deciding to transfer to New Mexico last January, the talented 6-foot-8, 220-pound junior forward played in 14 games for the University of Bradley. And one of those was against the Rebels when he scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 85-83 overtime loss in Peoria, Ill.

"I remember they were a real athletic team with Marcus Banks and Dalron Johnson," Granger said. "I remember they won the game when Johnson hit like a 27-footer at the buzzer.

"That left a real bitter taste in my mouth."

Uh-oh.

There has been no more dominating player in the Mountain West Conference this year than Granger, who didn't become eligible until Dec. 21.

The two-time MWC player of the week has averaged 21.9 points and 10.0 rebounds in his 11 games and helped transform a floundering Lobo squad that was just 3-3 before his arrival --- two of the wins were over I-AA squads --- into one of the hottest teams in the conference.

New Mexico arrives in Las Vegas on Saturday following a rare sweep of preseason conference favorites Utah and BYU. And Granger was a major reason why.

In the Lobos' 70-54 victory over the Utes last Saturday, Granger scored 28 points on 10 of 16 shooting, grabbed six rebounds and led his team with four assists while playing point guard.

"He really stuck it to us tonight," Utah coach Rick Majerus said afterward. "Granger's a great player, a phenomenal talent. He's a combination of (former New Mexico players) Clayton Shields and Kenny Thomas. He's probably the best player I've seen at New Mexico in my career, and that's a long time."

Two nights later, Granger scored a game-high 27 points on 7 of 12 shooting, grabbed eight rebounds and had a season high six blocks in helping lead the Lobos to a 65-63 victory over Rafael Aruajo and the BYU Cougars. Granger, a former high school football wide receiver, did a nice Keyshawn Johnson impression and got behind Araujo to catch a 60-foot pass from Troy DeVries for a game-winning layup with 1.9 seconds remaining.

"Troy was the quarterback and he made a great throw," Granger said. "I got behind (Araujo) and there was nobody between me and the basket. I almost missed the layup. I got too close to the goal and I was kind of rushing it because I didn't know how much time was left. I should have just gone up and dunked it."

No matter. Granger was still mobbed by his teammates and Lobo fans after the final buzzer sounded.

"Saturday was crazy," Granger said of the Utah upset, "but Monday night was even crazier. I've never heard anything louder than The Pit that night."

"I think Danny is just tapping into how good he can be," New Mexico coach Ritchie McKay said. "He's versatile in the ways he can score. He also contributes on the glass and is unselfish and passes the ball. We're excited about Danny and the way he's playing. He's a really good player but an even better person."

UNLV coach Charlie Spoonhour remembers Granger well from last year's double-double performance with Bradley. And he believes Granger, who has since added 10 more pounds in the weight room, is even better this year.

"He's appreciably better now," Spoonhour said. "He definitely made the most out of his redshirt year. He's just very difficult to guard because he can shoot the ball from the 3-point line and he's quicker than most of the people who are able to guard him. It will be a tough matchup for us. I'm not sure who will guard him."

Or at least try to. Granger is averaging 25.0 in four conference games.