Lobos’ star questionable, but Rebels prepare for him

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005 | 10:19 a.m.

Will he play or will he not?

That is the question New Mexico basketball fans and UNLV coaches would like to have answered regarding the status of Lobos star forward Danny Granger for Saturday night's Mountain West Conference game at The Pit in Albuquerque.

The Rebels (9-7, 2-2) returned to the practice court Tuesday afternoon to begin preparations for their contest against the Lobos (14-5, 1-3). And those preparations included getting ready to face 6-foot-8 Granger, even though the potential NBA first-round pick has missed each of the past three games after undergoing arthroscopic for torn cartilage in his left knee on Jan. 10.

Granger, who is averaging 19.1 points and 8.9 rebounds this season and leads the Lobos in steals (39) and blocked shots (37), accompanied New Mexico on its trip to Utah this past weekend and suited up for both games. But he didn't see any action in the Lobos' 69-58 loss to Utah on Saturday afternoon or in Monday night's 68-53 setback at BYU.

The Albuquerque Journal on Tuesday listed Granger as probable for Saturday's game. However, New Mexico sports information assistant Jay Blackman said Tuesday night Granger has yet to practice with the team since his surgery and is still being listed as day-to-day.

"It's nothing that we can control," UNLV coach Lon Kruger said. "We'll just act like he's going to be there until we see otherwise."

"If there is a chance he's going to play, then we have to prepare for him," added senior forward Odartey Blankson. "We can't get caught off-guard."

Blankson more than held his own against Granger in three games last season. He held a 55-49 edge in scoring over the Lobos star and was outrebounded 25-23. UNLV won all three games.

Still, most NBA scouts project Granger as the better NBA prospect. Before the injury he was considered a late first- or early second-round pick in most mock drafts.

That could be one of the reasons New Mexico coach Ritchie McKay is not rushing his star player back.

"We have (10) conference games left and a conference tournament and a postseason," McKay told the Albuquerque Tribune last week. "I'm much more interested in how we play Feb. 15 and beyond, than what we are doing right now. ... If he plays (too soon) and reinjures it and is out for six weeks, that's a huge negative for our program's direction."

Not to mention Granger's pocketbook. Another knee injury could end up costing him $2-3 million if he gets passed over in June's NBA draft.

There has been some speculation that Granger will continue to rehab his injury until the final week or two before the Mountain West Conference Tournament, when both parties stand to gain the most by his comeback.

"We've got to prepare as if he's going to play," said Rebels center Louis Amundson, who has also guarded Granger in the past. "I don't care (if he plays). But we're going to prepare as if he's going to play so we can be ready for him."

Kruger said he has been impressed by what he's seen of Granger in the past.

"He's a very good player," Kruger said. "From what I've seen he's an extremely talented, very versatile guy who can hurt you a lot of different ways."

"He's a tough guy to guard," Amundson added. "He's their main guy. He's their go-to guy."

But will he play Saturday night?

Stay tuned.