Preseason Rankings: No. 27 Artesia Bulldogs
The 2015-2016 season has officially started and today we start our countdown of the top 50 programs in New Mexico Big School Division (6A-4A).
More: Preseason Rankings Home | Rankings 72-51 | Preseason Preview Page
Head coach Mike Mondragon has put his stamp on the program and year two could be promising after a 14-17 season along with an Elite Eight on is resume.
Overview: The Bulldogs almost played for the Final Four last season losing by a single point to the Espanola Valley Sundevils in the Elite Eight. Head coach Mike Mondragon has been regarded as one of the top up and coming head coaches and this could be a year that he puts himself on the top of that list. The Bulldogs do graduate some key prospects from that team and will have to fill those voids. Justin Houghtaling returns for his senior season after scoring 7 points per game along with 7 rebounds per contest last season.
Last Season
Record: 14-17, 3-6
Home Record: 5-7
Away Record: 5-5
Post Season: Elite Eight; Lost to Espanola Valley (52-51)
Points per game: 53.5 (1661)
Points against: 55 (1708)
Realistic Prediction: No other team peaked at the right time like the Bulldogs and much of that carry over led to the low ranking of 28 on the preseason list. The Bulldogs are typically a preseason team that you would find higher around the 40's. This might be a season they jump into the Top-25 early or be a middle of the pack 5A team. If you can't tell, I like Mondragon's teams (Moriarty and Artesia), they play hard, they know his system and they give everything. This team has athletes and could see them more in the 15-19 win mark, even with a strong schedule that they typically play. Elite Eight for now again but I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the Final Four.
District Champ: 71%
Playoff Team: 97%
Elite Eight: 79%
Final Four: 49.49%
Title Game: 19%
Returning Players: The star quarterback for the Artesia football program, Houghtaling was mentioned above but this team also has point guard Ethan Duff returning creating a 1-2 punch that could have this team playing a day longer in March.
Roster
Carlos Carrasco (2016)
Justin Houghtaling (2016)
Carlos Caldera (2016)
Caleb Brewer (2016)
Ethan Duff (2017)
Tanner Harris (2017)
Josiah Waller (2017)
Bruce Bates (2017)
The 2015-2016 season has officially started and today we start our countdown of the top 50 programs in New Mexico Big School Division (6A-4A).
More: Preseason Rankings Home | Rankings 72-51 | Preseason Preview Page
Head coach Mike Mondragon has put his stamp on the program and year two could be promising after a 14-17 season along with an Elite Eight on is resume.
Overview: The Bulldogs almost played for the Final Four last season losing by a single point to the Espanola Valley Sundevils in the Elite Eight. Head coach Mike Mondragon has been regarded as one of the top up and coming head coaches and this could be a year that he puts himself on the top of that list. The Bulldogs do graduate some key prospects from that team and will have to fill those voids. Justin Houghtaling returns for his senior season after scoring 7 points per game along with 7 rebounds per contest last season.
Last Season
Record: 14-17, 3-6
Home Record: 5-7
Away Record: 5-5
Post Season: Elite Eight; Lost to Espanola Valley (52-51)
Points per game: 53.5 (1661)
Points against: 55 (1708)
Realistic Prediction: No other team peaked at the right time like the Bulldogs and much of that carry over led to the low ranking of 28 on the preseason list. The Bulldogs are typically a preseason team that you would find higher around the 40's. This might be a season they jump into the Top-25 early or be a middle of the pack 5A team. If you can't tell, I like Mondragon's teams (Moriarty and Artesia), they play hard, they know his system and they give everything. This team has athletes and could see them more in the 15-19 win mark, even with a strong schedule that they typically play. Elite Eight for now again but I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the Final Four.
District Champ: 71%
Playoff Team: 97%
Elite Eight: 79%
Final Four: 49.49%
Title Game: 19%
Returning Players: The star quarterback for the Artesia football program, Houghtaling was mentioned above but this team also has point guard Ethan Duff returning creating a 1-2 punch that could have this team playing a day longer in March.
Roster
Carlos Carrasco (2016)
Justin Houghtaling (2016)
Carlos Caldera (2016)
Caleb Brewer (2016)
Ethan Duff (2017)
Tanner Harris (2017)
Josiah Waller (2017)
Bruce Bates (2017)
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