Fans from across the state will pack The Pit and the Rio Rancho Events Center this week to watch their favorite teams vie for a blue trophy at the boys and girls state basketball tournaments.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den,” Will Webber and a dapper James Barron zero in on the quarterfinals matchups that catch their eye, including 3A boys showdowns involving Santa Fe Indian School versus Navajo Prep and Cobre against Bosque.

The guys also chat a bit about the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team, which will likely need to win the Mountain West Conference Tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament.

In the second segment, Will and James chat with St. Michael’s graduate Estevan Sandoval about his journey from student manager at UNM to assistant coach at the University of North Dakota. Sandoval discusses his close ties with newly named UNM athletic director Ryan Berryman as well as what he learned under Craig Neal and Paul Weir.

Check back Thursday evening for a bonus episode of "The Sports Den" as Will and James discuss the state semifinals and finals. 

Fans from across the state will pack The Pit and the Rio Rancho Events Center this week to watch their favorite teams vie for a blue trophy at the boys and girls state basketball tournaments.
In the latest episode of &ldquo;The Sports Den,&rdquo; Will Webber and a dapper James Barron zero in on the quarterfinals matchups that catch their eye, including 3A boys showdowns involving Santa Fe Indian School versus Navajo Prep and Cobre against Bosque.
The guys also chat a bit about the University of New Mexico men&rsquo;s basketball team, which will likely need to win the Mountain West Conference Tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament.
In the second segment, Will and James chat with St. Michael&rsquo;s graduate Estevan Sandoval about his journey from student manager at UNM to assistant coach at the University of North Dakota. Sandoval discusses his close ties with newly named UNM athletic director Ryan Berryman as well as what he learned under Craig Neal and Paul Weir.
Check back Thursday evening for a bonus episode of "The Sports Den" as Will and James discuss the state semifinals and finals.&nbsp;

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.   
The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.&nbsp;&nbsp; The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of&nbsp;The Santa Fe New Mexican.

The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.  

The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of&nbsp;The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Will and James talk state hoops and chat with St. Mike's grad Estevan Sandoval on his coaching journey

The seedings are set and the most anticipated high school sporting event of the year is about to tip off.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron take a look at all the brackets in the state basketball tournament before switching gears to chat with Highlands baseball coach Steve Jones about his return to Las Vegas.

The North is well represented in the state tournament, sporting contenders in a at least a few of the brackets. Will and James spend some extra time discussing the Class 3A boys bracket, where top seed St. Michael’s could face Santa Fe Indian School in the semifinals and fellow district foe Robertson lurks on the other half of the bracket. James also expresses his disagreement with the seeding in the 3A bracket.

Before the break, the guys touch on University of New Mexico men’s basketball. The Lobos still have a chance to finish atop the Mountain West if they can beat Colorado State and league leader Utah State in their last two regular season games.

In the second segment, Will and James have a chat with their old pal Steve Jones. The longtime New Mexico Highlands baseball coach left the school in 2014 to start the NAIA program at Texas A&M-Texarkana. Last year, he was an assistant coach on a LSU Shreveport team that went a record-breaking 59-0 and won the NAIA national championship.

Jones shares what it was like to coach on the unbeaten squad and talks about his decision to return to Las Vegas to try to revive the Cowboys program.

The seedings are set and the most anticipated high school sporting event of the year is about to tip off.
In the latest episode of &ldquo;The Sports Den&rdquo; podcast,&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;sports writers Will Webber and James Barron take a look at all the brackets in the state basketball tournament before switching gears to chat with Highlands baseball coach Steve Jones about his return to Las Vegas.
The North is well represented in the state tournament, sporting contenders in a at least a few of the brackets. Will and James spend some extra time discussing the Class 3A boys bracket, where top seed St. Michael&rsquo;s could face Santa Fe Indian School in the semifinals and fellow district foe Robertson lurks on the other half of the bracket. James also expresses his disagreement with the seeding in the 3A bracket.
Before the break, the guys touch on University of New Mexico men&rsquo;s basketball. The Lobos still have a chance to finish atop the Mountain West if they can beat Colorado State and league leader Utah State in their last two regular season games.
In the second segment, Will and James have a chat with their old pal Steve Jones. The longtime New Mexico Highlands baseball coach left the school in 2014 to start the NAIA program at Texas A&amp;M-Texarkana. Last year, he was an assistant coach on a LSU Shreveport team that went a record-breaking 59-0 and won the NAIA national championship.
Jones shares what it was like to coach on the unbeaten squad and talks about his decision to return to Las Vegas to try to revive the Cowboys program.

A state basketball tournament bracket breakdown, plus a chat with Highlands skipper Steve Jones

We’re entering the most wonderful time of the year for New Mexico hoops fans with the beginning of postseason play as prep teams position themselves to make a run at a blue trophy.

With its first winning season since 2021-22, the Santa Fe High girls basketball team has put itself in the mix to compete at state in Class 5A. The Demonettes are looking to improve their seeding with a strong showing in their district tournament.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports reporters Will Webber and James Barron speak with Santa Fe High girls basketball head coach Nate Morris about his squad’s strong season and how he has been working to get his players to believe they can compete with top teams.

Morris discusses the upcoming postseason path for the Demonettes and shares what he feels have been the strengths of this year’s squad.

The guys also ask Morris about his playing days on the University of New Mexico football team and his opinion on what coach Jason Eck has done to energize the program.

In the second segment, Will and James offer some thoughts on local prep basketball teams as they head into district play and speak a bit about a critical stretch for the UNM men’s basketball team’s hopes to make the Big Dance.

We&rsquo;re entering the most wonderful time of the year for New Mexico hoops fans with the beginning of postseason play as prep teams position themselves to make a run at a blue trophy.
With its first winning season since 2021-22, the Santa Fe High girls basketball team has put itself in the mix to compete at state in Class 5A. The Demonettes are looking to improve their seeding with a strong showing in their district tournament.
In the latest episode of &ldquo;The Sports Den&rdquo; podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports reporters Will Webber and James Barron speak with Santa Fe High girls basketball head coach Nate Morris about his squad&rsquo;s strong season and how he has been working to get his players to believe they can compete with top teams.
Morris discusses the upcoming postseason path for the Demonettes and shares what he feels have been the strengths of this year&rsquo;s squad.
The guys also ask Morris about his playing days on the University of New Mexico football team and his opinion on what coach Jason Eck has done to energize the program.
In the second segment, Will and James offer some thoughts on local prep basketball teams as they head into district play and speak a bit about a critical stretch for the UNM men&rsquo;s basketball team&rsquo;s hopes to make the Big Dance.

'We’re respected now:' Coach Nate Morris talks Santa Fe High girls hoops as team eyes postseason run

After each home game at the Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena, the men’s basketball players at Eastern New Mexico University make the rounds to shake hands and visit with the Greyhound faithful. Head coach Daven Võ says the fans’ relationship with the team is a big reason why ENMU leads the Lone Star Conference in attendance and has created an intimidating atmosphere for visiting opponents.

While embracing a small-town culture, Võ has assembled a tight-knit group that is reaching new heights. Winners of nine straight games, the 21-3 Greyhounds sit atop the Lone Star Conference standings and are now No. 9 in the Division II rankings. It’s the highest ranking for the program in the NCAA era.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Võ joins Santa Fe New Mexican sports reporters Will Webber and James Barron to speak about his team’s impressive run.

Võ says the squad’s success largely stems from its continuity, as it returned eight players from last year’s team that went 18-11. The roster includes players from four countries and states across the U.S., but Võ says the centerpiece is 6-foot-9 senior forward Jose Murillo. The Albuquerque Highland graduate is among the conference leaders in points, rebounds and blocks this season.

In the second segment, Will and James talk about the upcoming state wrestling and swimming tournaments before touching on Will’s recent curling experience and James’ planned participation in the New Mexico Senior Olympics Winter Games.

After each home game at the Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena, the men&rsquo;s basketball players at Eastern New Mexico University make the rounds to shake hands and visit with the Greyhound faithful. Head coach Daven V&otilde; says the fans&rsquo; relationship with the team is a big reason why ENMU leads the Lone Star Conference in attendance and has created an intimidating atmosphere for visiting opponents.
While embracing a small-town culture, V&otilde; has assembled a tight-knit group that is reaching new heights. Winners of nine straight games, the 21-3 Greyhounds sit atop the Lone Star Conference standings and are now No. 9 in the Division II rankings. It&rsquo;s the highest ranking for the program in the NCAA era.
In the latest episode of &ldquo;The Sports Den&rdquo; podcast, V&otilde; joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;sports reporters Will Webber and James Barron to speak about his team&rsquo;s impressive run.
V&otilde; says the squad&rsquo;s success largely stems from its continuity, as it returned eight players from last year&rsquo;s team that went 18-11. The roster includes players from four countries and states across the U.S., but V&otilde; says the centerpiece is 6-foot-9 senior forward Jose Murillo. The Albuquerque Highland graduate is among the conference leaders in points, rebounds and blocks this season.
In the second segment, Will and James talk about the upcoming state wrestling and swimming tournaments before touching on Will&rsquo;s recent curling experience and James&rsquo; planned participation in the New Mexico Senior Olympics Winter Games.

Will and James talk state hoops and chat with St. Mike's grad Estevan Sandoval on his coaching journey

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