ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Cullen Neal had been expecting to visit Ohio State on a recruiting visit this week, so he never made arrangements for a tuxedo rental and never had plans to attend the University of New Mexico men’s postseason basketball banquet Thursday night at the Embassy Suites.
Neal’s plans in one respect changed this week; he committed to enroll at Mississippi for the next school year and canceled his trip to Ohio State. But he still didn’t attend the banquet, feeling his presence would distract from the team and the event.
Neal’s absence from the event falls in line with the pattern of recent years.