catherine
03-10-2010, 03:59 PM
http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030910aad.html
Stevens: Lobos Want To Add MWC Tourney Trophy To Their Spoils
UNM opens at 12 noon (PT) On Thursday with Wyoming-Air Force winner
Senior Roman Martinez says the Lobos' plan in Vegas is to add a MWC tourney trophy to UNM's season of spoils.
March 9, 2010
MWC TOURNAMENT CENTRAL -- MWC AWARDS
UNM Conference Tournament Notes
Thursday: Lobos vs. Air Force or Wyoming, 1 p.m. (MT)
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas
On The Air: 770 KKOB/Lobo Radio Network; The Mtn. (Comcast 276, DirecTV 616)
GoLobos.com: GameTracker, game story, stats
By Richard Stevens -- Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
The victors from New Mexico have a trophy room filled with enough spoils and riches to make buccaneer Jack Sparrow envious, but the Lobo team noted for unselfish play and honest effort still has a greedy streak that needs to be scratched.
Yep, there is still something else to reach for, still another way to spoil the day for their Mountain West Conference brothers.
The symbolic war spear the Lobos carry into Las Vegas' Thomas & Mack Center is topped by the 2010 MWC trophy and decorated by a string of individual honors, but there is still room atop that weapon for another gaudy trophy.
"We want to win a tournament championship," said senior Roman Martinez.
Sure. Why not? The Lobos ran away from the MWC during the regular season by stringing out an impossible 14 straight league wins.
Lobo coach Steve Alford nabbed Coach of The Year honors, Darington Hobson was Player of The Year and First Team All-MWC, Dairese Gary was First Team and All-Defensive Team, Martinez was Second Team and Phillip McDonald was Honorable Mention.
"They got some love they deserve," Alford said of his Lobos. "But our program understands that holding that trophy up after the TCU game is what it's all about."
The regular-season team trophy means "team." The trophy waiting in Las Vegas and the automatic NCAA bid that comes with it also means "team."
But let's face it: If the Lobos add the 2010 MWC tourney title to their treasure chest, the MWC needs to fall down in a "Wayne's World" parody, wave their arms in submission and shout, "We're not worthy."
Is it really possible to win the MWC title, win at UNLV, at Utah and at BYU, string out 14 consecutive wins and then top it all off with a three-game sweep in Vegas? If so, keep these Lobos away from the blackjack tables. Vegas can't afford the hit.
"This thing gets harder and harder as we advance."
Lobo coach Steve Alford
"This thing gets harder and harder as we advance," said Alford. True, but it's impossible to toss the word "impossible" in front of these special Lobos. They don't know that word -- not in their vocabulary.
They have stepped into gyms across the MWC, smiled at the line of challenge scratched out in the dirt in front of them, and stepped across that dare. In a way, there will be eight teams scratching out a challenge at the Vegas Thomas & Mack. The Lobos come to Vegas as a targeted team: the No. 1 seed, nationally ranked (No. 8/10), an NCAA lock.
If a team can beat these All-Everything Lobos, that team will be noticed.
The Lobos will open the MWC tourney at 12 noon (PT) Thursday battling the winner of Wednesday's 2 p.m. (PT) tip between Wyoming and Air Force. But you can bet that Lobos also are in the back of the mind of Aztecs, Rams, Cougars, Horned Frogs, Rebels and Utes.
Who are these guys from New Mexico? How can one of the youngest teams in the nation, a team with one senior and no true center, roll through the MWC with 14 straight wins? And if we beat `em and don't win the MWC tourney, will that get us an at-large NCAA bid?
"We still have to play with that chip on our shoulder," said Hobson.
A chip on the shoulder might be a good thing to have when there is a bulls-eye on your back. New Mexico stands between several teams and that coveted NCAA bid. Martinez admits there was more pressure in the past when UNM went to Vegas in chase of an NCAA bid.
Said Alford: "The emphasis for us going into the conference tournament is (NCAA) seeding."
This year the Lobos (28-3) are an NCAA lock and BYU (28-4) also should go NCAA dancing. The Lobos should come out of the MWC tourney with a No. 2 or No. 3 seed. If they go all they way, can they grab a No. 1 seed? If they lose early, will they fall to No. 4? Arguably, the best bets for at-large spots are UNLV (23-7) and San Diego State (22-8). But is there room in the MWC for four NCAA bids?
That might be a close call and neither the Aztecs nor the Rebels want to fall out in the semifinals and wait on the whims of the NCAA Selection Committee. If the Aztecs beat Colorado State on Thursday, they'll likely play the Lobos at 6 p.m. (PT) Friday. If the Rebs get past Utah, they'll likely play BYU at 8:30 p.m. (PT) Friday.
Those could be semifinal classics, but the Lobos carry their one-game-at-a-time mentality into Thursday's battle. And why not? The Lobos have been slapped out of the MWC in the opening round for the past two years. And all but two MWC teams will be playing with back-to-the-wall desperation.
"We'll be focused," said Alford. "This team is hungry and focused. What's been amazing about this team is how they have handled pressure."
Maybe the best thing about grabbing the No. 1 seed for this tourney is you bypass the meat and the parity of the MWC in the first round. You get to open with teams that obviously struggled through the season.
The bad news is those bottom feeders are hungry and knocking off New Mexico would place that proverbial feather in their hats. But are they good enough to stop this runaway Lobo train?
UNM beat Air Force 73-50 in Colorado Springs and 59-56 in The Pit. The Lobos whipped the Cowboys 70-68 in Laramie and 83-61 in The Pit. Those two close games should help Alford get his Lobos' attention for Thursday`s opening game.
Air Force plays out of the Princeton offense and attempts to wear on a team's defensive patience. The Falcons like the backdoor cuts, like the dribble-drive layups, and need to hit the 3-point bomb.
"In Game Two, Air Force controlled the tempo," said Alford. "We have to get the game in the 70s. We don't want the game in the 40s or 50s. That favors them."
The Cowboys just attack. They are up-tempo, pressure and aggressive. "Wyoming is bigger and more athletic," said Alford. "It's more about dribble-drive defense and not allowing them to get to the free throw."
Said Martinez: "This first game, we need to take seriously. Every game will be a battle."
Said Gary: "We are going to be aggressive no matter who we play. We're going to come in with a swag (swagger)."
That makes sense, too. The Lobos have been walking into gyms with a swagger all year. So far, it has worked out nicely.
Editor's Note: Richard Stevens is a former Associate Sports Editor and sports columnist for The Albuquerque Tribune. You can reach him at rstevens50@comcast.net.
Stevens: Lobos Want To Add MWC Tourney Trophy To Their Spoils
UNM opens at 12 noon (PT) On Thursday with Wyoming-Air Force winner
Senior Roman Martinez says the Lobos' plan in Vegas is to add a MWC tourney trophy to UNM's season of spoils.
March 9, 2010
MWC TOURNAMENT CENTRAL -- MWC AWARDS
UNM Conference Tournament Notes
Thursday: Lobos vs. Air Force or Wyoming, 1 p.m. (MT)
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas
On The Air: 770 KKOB/Lobo Radio Network; The Mtn. (Comcast 276, DirecTV 616)
GoLobos.com: GameTracker, game story, stats
By Richard Stevens -- Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
The victors from New Mexico have a trophy room filled with enough spoils and riches to make buccaneer Jack Sparrow envious, but the Lobo team noted for unselfish play and honest effort still has a greedy streak that needs to be scratched.
Yep, there is still something else to reach for, still another way to spoil the day for their Mountain West Conference brothers.
The symbolic war spear the Lobos carry into Las Vegas' Thomas & Mack Center is topped by the 2010 MWC trophy and decorated by a string of individual honors, but there is still room atop that weapon for another gaudy trophy.
"We want to win a tournament championship," said senior Roman Martinez.
Sure. Why not? The Lobos ran away from the MWC during the regular season by stringing out an impossible 14 straight league wins.
Lobo coach Steve Alford nabbed Coach of The Year honors, Darington Hobson was Player of The Year and First Team All-MWC, Dairese Gary was First Team and All-Defensive Team, Martinez was Second Team and Phillip McDonald was Honorable Mention.
"They got some love they deserve," Alford said of his Lobos. "But our program understands that holding that trophy up after the TCU game is what it's all about."
The regular-season team trophy means "team." The trophy waiting in Las Vegas and the automatic NCAA bid that comes with it also means "team."
But let's face it: If the Lobos add the 2010 MWC tourney title to their treasure chest, the MWC needs to fall down in a "Wayne's World" parody, wave their arms in submission and shout, "We're not worthy."
Is it really possible to win the MWC title, win at UNLV, at Utah and at BYU, string out 14 consecutive wins and then top it all off with a three-game sweep in Vegas? If so, keep these Lobos away from the blackjack tables. Vegas can't afford the hit.
"This thing gets harder and harder as we advance."
Lobo coach Steve Alford
"This thing gets harder and harder as we advance," said Alford. True, but it's impossible to toss the word "impossible" in front of these special Lobos. They don't know that word -- not in their vocabulary.
They have stepped into gyms across the MWC, smiled at the line of challenge scratched out in the dirt in front of them, and stepped across that dare. In a way, there will be eight teams scratching out a challenge at the Vegas Thomas & Mack. The Lobos come to Vegas as a targeted team: the No. 1 seed, nationally ranked (No. 8/10), an NCAA lock.
If a team can beat these All-Everything Lobos, that team will be noticed.
The Lobos will open the MWC tourney at 12 noon (PT) Thursday battling the winner of Wednesday's 2 p.m. (PT) tip between Wyoming and Air Force. But you can bet that Lobos also are in the back of the mind of Aztecs, Rams, Cougars, Horned Frogs, Rebels and Utes.
Who are these guys from New Mexico? How can one of the youngest teams in the nation, a team with one senior and no true center, roll through the MWC with 14 straight wins? And if we beat `em and don't win the MWC tourney, will that get us an at-large NCAA bid?
"We still have to play with that chip on our shoulder," said Hobson.
A chip on the shoulder might be a good thing to have when there is a bulls-eye on your back. New Mexico stands between several teams and that coveted NCAA bid. Martinez admits there was more pressure in the past when UNM went to Vegas in chase of an NCAA bid.
Said Alford: "The emphasis for us going into the conference tournament is (NCAA) seeding."
This year the Lobos (28-3) are an NCAA lock and BYU (28-4) also should go NCAA dancing. The Lobos should come out of the MWC tourney with a No. 2 or No. 3 seed. If they go all they way, can they grab a No. 1 seed? If they lose early, will they fall to No. 4? Arguably, the best bets for at-large spots are UNLV (23-7) and San Diego State (22-8). But is there room in the MWC for four NCAA bids?
That might be a close call and neither the Aztecs nor the Rebels want to fall out in the semifinals and wait on the whims of the NCAA Selection Committee. If the Aztecs beat Colorado State on Thursday, they'll likely play the Lobos at 6 p.m. (PT) Friday. If the Rebs get past Utah, they'll likely play BYU at 8:30 p.m. (PT) Friday.
Those could be semifinal classics, but the Lobos carry their one-game-at-a-time mentality into Thursday's battle. And why not? The Lobos have been slapped out of the MWC in the opening round for the past two years. And all but two MWC teams will be playing with back-to-the-wall desperation.
"We'll be focused," said Alford. "This team is hungry and focused. What's been amazing about this team is how they have handled pressure."
Maybe the best thing about grabbing the No. 1 seed for this tourney is you bypass the meat and the parity of the MWC in the first round. You get to open with teams that obviously struggled through the season.
The bad news is those bottom feeders are hungry and knocking off New Mexico would place that proverbial feather in their hats. But are they good enough to stop this runaway Lobo train?
UNM beat Air Force 73-50 in Colorado Springs and 59-56 in The Pit. The Lobos whipped the Cowboys 70-68 in Laramie and 83-61 in The Pit. Those two close games should help Alford get his Lobos' attention for Thursday`s opening game.
Air Force plays out of the Princeton offense and attempts to wear on a team's defensive patience. The Falcons like the backdoor cuts, like the dribble-drive layups, and need to hit the 3-point bomb.
"In Game Two, Air Force controlled the tempo," said Alford. "We have to get the game in the 70s. We don't want the game in the 40s or 50s. That favors them."
The Cowboys just attack. They are up-tempo, pressure and aggressive. "Wyoming is bigger and more athletic," said Alford. "It's more about dribble-drive defense and not allowing them to get to the free throw."
Said Martinez: "This first game, we need to take seriously. Every game will be a battle."
Said Gary: "We are going to be aggressive no matter who we play. We're going to come in with a swag (swagger)."
That makes sense, too. The Lobos have been walking into gyms with a swagger all year. So far, it has worked out nicely.
Editor's Note: Richard Stevens is a former Associate Sports Editor and sports columnist for The Albuquerque Tribune. You can reach him at rstevens50@comcast.net.