Peter Dindinger — NMMI Sports Press
If this were a normal season, the New Mexico Military Institute Bronco basketball team would be 17 games into the season and entering a competitive conference slate right around this time.
Instead, the squad has been sidelined for the last six months due to the current public health orders.
After patiently waiting the Broncos are going to finally got the chance to play as they traveled to Levelland, Texas, for the Texan Basketball Classic hosted by South Plains College this past weekend.
NMMI defeated Strength 'N Motion, 75-53, on Friday before dropping to Murray State College, 72-62, Saturday.
During the ongoing pandemic, everything has been very unclear from day to day.
"It's tough because this is all so unknown for everybody, not just us, but all the sports," said NMMI head coach Sean Schooley. "Every day is a new adventure, a new situation, and we haven't even started play yet."
The Broncos wrapped up the 2019-2020 season with a 15-14 overall record and 7-9 mark in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference.
NMMI earned two solid victories over nationally ranked South Plains College to close out the regular season in a three-way tie for fourth place in conference.
Unfortunately, the Broncos' season came to an end after a 10-point loss to Western Texas College during a play-in game to decide the final playoff spot at the Region V tournament.
This season, NMMI returns six sophomores while bringing a solid group of international recruits.
Sophomore Furaha Cadeaux de Dieu averaged 8.9 points per game last season which included 12 games where he tallied double-digit scoring figures.
The 6-foot-8 Rwanda native grabbed 158 rebounds and tallied 27 assists.
Other returners to keep an eye on include sophomores John Mapiou, Jeremiah Barr and former Roswell High standout Tarren Burrola.
Mapiou shot 60 percent from the free throw line last season while average 5.5 points with 105 rebounds and 25 assists.
Freshman and Ecuador native Luis Riascos Varon along with transfer and sophomore Khaleb Wilson-Rhouse who averaged 13.5 points per game at Bryant & Stratton College in Buffalo, N.Y. are just a few of the new faces that will make an impact this season.
New Jersey native and 6-foot-7 freshman Andrew Bennett has made a huge impression with his inside game and freshman Dylan Knight out of The Hun School of Princeton in New Jersey will be another newcomer to keep an eye on.
"This is a solid bunch of guys — solid citizens, and pretty talented, too," Schooley said. "The group as a whole I'm very pleased with. They're dedicated good students and working hard in the weight room.
"We've had a little time to over prepare almost. It's time to play. We're getting really tired of beating on each other in pods. They need an opportunity and they deserved it."
After the tourney, NMMI will return to Levelland for a game against Otero Junior College on Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m. CST, before jumping into WJCAC play.
"Now we're going to have to just hit the ground running and we don't have a lot of time to change and adjust," Schooley added. "They're doing the best they can with what we've got."