Jason Hooten didn’t need much time this offseason to learn how hard it’s become for mid-majors to land a date with a high-major program. The New Mexico State coach keeps making the calls, but the answers usually come back the same way: no.
That’s why Saturday’s trip to face No. 15 Gonzaga at McCarthey Athletic Center means so much to the Aggies. It’s a rare opening for a program like New Mexico State, and Hooten made it clear this week that the game matters on more than one level.
“We were at a point in time where we needed a game like this financially,” Hooten said. “… I want to thank those guys for playing us, because it’s been really hard for us over the last two years since things have changed with the NET, it’s hard for these high majors to schedule good mid majors anymore.
“So it was awesome on their part to want to do this, because it was something we really needed. On the flip side, obviously a tough challenge for us. It’s a game that will definitely improve your team and these are the kind of games where if you don’t already know what to work on and improve on, you definitely will after a game like this probably.”
The matchup is just the second all-time meeting between Gonzaga and New Mexico State, and it comes at a time when scheduling these kinds of games has become a tougher sell. Hooten said he’s still trying to line them up every offseason, but the response from high-major schools has changed as the NET has become such a central part of the NCAA Tournament picture.
Since Hooten arrived at New Mexico State in 2023-24, the Aggies have played only three high-major opponents. They didn’t get one on the schedule last season.
Gonzaga, though, stepped in, and the Bulldogs will still have plenty of high-level tests in their nonconference slate. Saturday’s game may end up being one of the more demanding ones outside that group.
The Aggies enter at 1-0 after a 73-66 win over Division II Western New Mexico on Tuesday, but that opener came with some real complications. Senior guard Gabe Warren, who had been the team’s most consistent player in preseason work, suffered a season-ending ACL injury after just nine minutes. Seventh-year senior guard KK Robinson also played under a minutes restriction and is still being brought along carefully.
“We have so much to work on and improve on,” Hooten said. “I knew it was going to be a tough game (against Western New Mexico), just because in our scrimmages we had a little bit of everything but still we just hadn’t had our whole team together,” Hooten said.
“So you’re trying to mix and match offense and you’re trying to mix and match positions. It’s kind of been wild and bizarre.”
New Mexico State was picked sixth in the preseason Conference USA poll, and Hooten knows the challenge only gets steeper from here. Gonzaga, meanwhile, comes in at 1-0 after opening with Purdue and will face at least 10 high-major opponents in nonconference play.
Hooten also has a connection to Gonzaga assistant Stephen Gentry, dating back to Gentry’s time working under Brad Underwood in the Southland Conference. And he knows exactly what kind of team he’s walking into.
“They’re tall and big and just really, really skilled,” Hooten said of Gonzaga. “I think coach Few has always done that. He’s always done a good job of recruiting really talented and skilled players, because they play the game the right way and they’re probably always one of the top offensive teams in the country.”
For New Mexico State, the frontcourt will be tested immediately. The Aggies are leaning on 6-8 forward Mark Lavrenov and 6-9 forward Leopold Levillain, who is handling the ‘5’ spot this season.
Levillain transferred from Long Beach State and previously played for the U-21 team at Cholet Basket in France. Gonzaga guard Nathan De Sousa also came through Cholet’s youth and senior teams before college.
Lavrenov, who averaged 9.9 points and 7.0 rebounds last season at Sacramento State, opened with 17 points and 10 rebounds against Western New Mexico. He’s expected to draw Braden Huff, who could be looking to bounce back after going 4 of 11 from the field in Monday’s opener against Purdue.
“It will be a great challenge for Mark to get to play against great size and length,” Hooten said. “Guys that are very established on that level.
I know Mark though. Mark’s a tough kid and he plays really, really hard and passionate.
I know he’ll be ready enough for the challenge.”
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