Proud...but worried...

[MacLobo]

So, I'm super proud of what the Lobos have accomplished so far this year, and every single guy is performing beyond where I thought they would be this year. I have to say that Alford has done an AWESOME job in just 3 short years so far.
However, in the past 3 games, we've had big double digit leads, and in each of those 3 games, we've seen those leads go away. Hopefully Alford will remind the boys of this, and this trend won't bite us in the butt down the road....i.e. Texas Tech.
I will say though, that I guess it's better to give up a double digit lead than to not have one at all!
Oh, and let's give credit where credit's due...we wouldn't be where we were if it wasn't for Richie McKay recruiting Ro! (totally kidding on that last statement)

[LIDOakaLJT]

Oh, I'm sure Coach Alford and crew are using every bit of it to remind their players that you can't take anyone (any team) for granted....you need to play all 40 minutes!!! :-)


GO LOBOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[loopsups3]

Mac, teams are worried about US now, just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride man!!

[bigolobo]

This has honestly been one of the best days ever for us Lobo fans. That being said, I think us fans need to take a deep breath and not drink too much of the koolaid.

The team has performed so well that I think everyone is dreaming of a sweet 16 run. The bottom line though is that all of us would have been ecstatic at the start of the season just making the tourney. The team is looking much better than that but lets not get carried away though with our expectations. It would be nice to go 15-0 and crush it in conference play, but no matter what this program is on the uptick. Let's not get too nitpicky and just enjoy the ride :)

[allometry]

Look at how these teams (we're playing) are executing their game. Each and every team is not a super team; they can be beat.

Take a look back at the Cal game. Going into this game, people were worried. However, what we saw was a Pac-10 team that could be cracked. These guys hustled and played hard ball against the Lobos, but our athleticism and spirit won.

Teams coming into The Pit worry about just playing in The Pit, but now they also have to worry about a beat-down from a top ranked team.

Should we be cautious about TTU and teams like them? Of course and what I'm saying is to remain confident and remember what brought the team success: skill, talent and superior leadership.

None of the games we played were handed to us and there have been lessons along the way (Hawaii, SD). We've also been rewarded by playing hard, earning wins over #25 Cal and #16 TAMU.

Worrying won't get you anywhere. Remain cautious and know your opponent. The Lobos need to have the fans behind them to remind them that they are a confident, bad a$$ team that CAN DO anything they set out TO DO!

[Wolfen1]

Here's a little song I wrote, gonna sing it note for note

"don't worry be happy".

Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring, enjoy the successes of today. Whatever this team faces ahead, they will face it together.

[COLOLOBO]

"we wouldn't be where we were if it wasn't for Richie McKay recruiting Ro!"
You are absolutely correct McKay did recruit Ro and he also recruited three good seniors from the year before and the year before that it was Giddens. This proves that McKay had a good quality and that was spotting good talent.
Alford has many good qualities and two that stand out are developing (coaching) and recruiting players!

[MichLobo]

I think because of the last two games we are going to end up having the best press breaking team in the MWC. you could see it got better already from the SD game to the TA&M game. Its astonishing how this team keeps getting better and better.

[allometry]

I think because of the last two games we are going to end up having the best press breaking team in the MWC. you could see it got better already from the SD game to the TA&M game. Its astonishing how this team keeps getting better and better.

That's all from the coaching staff. Alford and Neal will not accept regression from these guys. Hold them to a higher standard, push, push, push. The guys have learned to expect more from themselves, practicing, playing hard, working hard. Anyone come to mind right off the bat? BUTTA -- Look at that guy's game from SD to TAMU!

Alford cares about this team. He protects them from outside influence and keeps em focused. One example off the top of my head is SG post game int. with SA:

SG: What did you tell Butta?
SA: Just a little coach / player chat.

SG: What did you say to him?
SA: Just a little coach / player talk.

No drama. Just basketball!

[ajaylobo]

So, I'm super proud of what the Lobos have accomplished so far this year, and every single guy is performing beyond where I thought they would be this year. I have to say that Alford has done an AWESOME job in just 3 short years so far.
However, in the past 3 games, we've had big double digit leads, and in each of those 3 games, we've seen those leads go away. Hopefully Alford will remind the boys of this, and this trend won't bite us in the butt down the road....i.e. Texas Tech.
I will say though, that I guess it's better to give up a double digit lead than to not have one at all!
Oh, and let's give credit where credit's due...we wouldn't be where we were if it wasn't for Richie McKay recruiting Ro! (totally kidding on that last statement)

I look at this as a positive. That just means that we have not put it all together for a full 40 min. just yet. And we have still managed to win games. It's a good thing to have areas that you still need to improve in. Its incredible to think that we have yet to see the top of the mountain with this team. A deep run in the ncaa's looks more and more realistic with this group. Enjoy the ride all.

Go LOBO'S

[LoboWizard]

The nature of college basketball is the Lobos are bound to lose games eventually.

It's just the nature of the beast.

What we do have, however, is a Lobo team that has built a sweet resume for getting an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament. Barring a complete melt-down and with a good MWC regular season showing, it will be hard to ignore the Lobos come selection time.

Hopefully, we can appreciate how far ahead of schedule we really are and not have a complete crisis by Lobo fans when they do finally lose that first game.

Just smile and enjoy the ride!!

[BoRealist]

As long as this team continues to approach each up coming game the same way they approached Texas A&M the sky is the limit. We can beat anyone on the schedule. Will that happen??? Maybe.

[alamolobo]

SDSU just beat up on Arizona, UNLV has quality wins and Utah is last in the conference at 5-5 not to mention that BYU has only one road loss. If every conference game is not a sellout some folks are going to miss some really good basketball and the rest of the OOC games look great. It is a grate time to be a LOBO,. This year I am buying the whole package for the MWC tournament.

[MacLobo]

I'm not saying I'm worried that the season is going to fall apart. I'm just saying that's not a trend I would like to continue (it gives me heartburn). Like I said, they've surpassed all my expectations already!

What would you say is the reason for 3 game trend?

After the Aggie game, I said, no big deal, we fall asleep after completely dominating for the entire game. After the SD game, I wasn't too sure what to say. After the A&M game, I started wondering why this is becoming a trend...

[UNMfan]

Youth.

[judas_priest]

We sometimes forget that the teams we play have excellent performers too. Several of those 3s that aTm drained on us were from far out with a Lobo defender in the shooter's face. We didn't make a mistake on those plays - they just hit difficult shots. Sloan is one hell of a player and some of the comeback can be attributed to his skill and effort. If we can applaud those drives by Fenton and Gary and not think they were due to defensive lapses by the Aggies, why do we not recognize that A & M has very good players who can make brilliant moves?

[LoboLaw]

I'm not saying I'm worried that the season is going to fall apart. I'm just saying that's not a trend I would like to continue (it gives me heartburn). Like I said, they've surpassed all my expectations already!

What would you say is the reason for 3 game trend?

After the Aggie game, I said, no big deal, we fall asleep after completely dominating for the entire game. After the SD game, I wasn't too sure what to say. After the A&M game, I started wondering why this is becoming a trend...

We're also not a GREAT defensive team just yet - no surprise there this early in the season, and I do think that we've been able to step it up in clutch situations (hence the fact that we haven't actually "blown" a big lead since the game at NMSU). I think we've got a number of guys on the team who get a little rattled when we have little in-game scoring slumps, and that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy as they start playing a little sloppy.

Regardless, the Cal game was super important for me because the lead changed a number of times, we were never fully in control until the final seconds, and the team just kept on grinding. Even though the outcome was very much in question for the bulk of the game, our guys did not fold, they did not quit, and they made a win happen. I would love to complete a blowout win like we had lined up the other night against A&M, but A&M is a good team, we had some slip-ups, and we STILL WON THE GAME. Honestly, I think that if we hadn't had the tough test against Cal in The Pit prior to being challenged on the road like that we might have folded; but they'd been in a tight game against a ranked opponent and, consequently, knew how to win in Houston. Learning how to win games is so so so crucial for conference play, and I think this team is gaining valuable experience in that department.

[loboray]

If we don't sell out every game for the rest of this season, I'll be very disappointed and wonder if the ABQ fans deserve this program.






.

[Lobos_jc]

...However, in the past 3 games, we've had big double digit leads, and in each of those 3 games, we've seen those leads go away. Hopefully Alford will remind the boys of this, and this trend won't bite us in the butt down the road....i.e. Texas Tech....

I look at BB as a game of a series of runs...if the Bos can limit the opponents runs vs. ours, we win! It's true at every level of the game. On the rare occasion that the game is played with minimum runs from either side (e.g. the Cal Bears game), it's critical that the Bos play ALL 40. Alford uses 4-minute benchmarks throughout to instill winning those mini-contests probably due to media timeouts to discuss/challenge/adjust.

IMHO, any decent team that's down WILL make a charge at the deficit. What I find most impressive is that the Bos have been able to finish out on top each time! A true testament to the floor leadership of Ro, Darrington, and Gary; with Alford/Neal preparing and downright out coaching all of our opponents this year.

Man, this has been an E-TICKET RIDE this season!!!!

[Burro lobo]

Some of this worried talk reminds me of Denver Bronco Fans back when they were winning the AFC but losing the Super Bowl, I heard Denver fans that actually didn't want the Broncos to win the AFC, because they would just lose in the Super Bowl, now that was crap and the Broncos went on to prove it! Don't fear the Lobos are still learning who they are and they are Good! Enjoy the ride and watch them get better and better, this is a young team that is fun to watch, they are just building the foundation still. The last two years we hadn't even started playing good defense yet, these guys are still learning, I love being a Lobo Fan right now! Enjoy the ride game by game.

[Bret]

...and Im worried that......

My computer is going to explode.
That Garrish wont ever learn to spell.
That Alford will leave.
That I wont wake up tomorrow.
That Jimmer has to live the rest of his life being called "Jimmer" (Actually Im not really worried about that -- just makes me laugh).

GET OVER IT!!!!! AND ENJOY!!!!!

[Duke]

"It's always something....." (Roseanne Roseannadanna)