ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Optimism is building in Portales as the Eastern New Mexico Men’s Basketball Team prepares to tip off its season on Friday, entering the year ranked No. 16 nationally in NCAA Division II. The upcoming campaign marks the third season under head coach Daven Võ, who returns a talented core from a Greyhound squad that won 26 games last season.
Võ says having eight returning players, including key contributors Austin Abrams and Maurice Austin, gives his team a strong foundation heading into the new season. “I feel great in the fact that we have got eight guys, a majority of the team coming back from a 26-win season,” Võ said. “It feels really good to have my point guard and one of our leading scorers, Austin Abrams and Maurice Austin.”
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The Greyhounds have also added new talent to the roster, with Võ pointing to the leadership of his returning players as a major factor in helping the newcomers adjust and find their roles. Eastern New Mexico will open the season with a challenging matchup against New Mexico Highlands on Friday. The Cowboys, coached by former University of New Mexico assistant Scott Waterman.
While the focus remains on taking the season one game at a time, the Greyhounds have their sights set on a much bigger goal: bringing a championship banner back to Portales.
Võ points to the program’s 2024 Lone Star Conference Tournament championship banner as a reminder of what the team hopes to accomplish. “Right there, right up there is the 2024 LSC Tournament Championship. Brent Owen in his last year got that, and we want to hang a banner,” Võ said. “We want to either win a regular season championship, a conference tournament championship, a regional championship, or a national championship.”
For Võ, the goal goes beyond winning games. He wants this group to accomplish something that will leave a lasting mark on the program. “That’s something that we talk about quite a bit, is winning a championship and doing something lasting,” Võ said.
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The Greyhounds will get their first opportunity to take a step toward that goal Friday when they travel to face New Mexico Highlands. Tip off Friday is 5pm and the game is available to watch with a subscription on the RMAC Network.
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