Looking back at last
year’s Lobo
basketball team Coach Steve Alford,
turned around the New Mexico program from
worst in the MWC to a solid third place as the Lobos finished the
2007-08
season with a 24-9 record and a trip NIT. The Lobos were led by JR
Giddens who
previous to Alford coming to UNM was thought of us a “problem child,”
in comes
Alford and Giddens quickly bought in to what Alford put on to the table
allowing him not only the chance to become an All-Conference player,
but a
first round draft pick for the Boston Celtics.
JR Giddens
For
a first year coach to have
that kind of success there is no doubt that expectations are at an all
time
high. I just want to ask are fans expectations a little unrealistic for
this
team? And more importantly, if Coach Alford’s team does not have as
good of a
year this season and it seemingly had last year and those unrealistic
expectations aren’t met will Lobo fans quickly become complainers? This
town is
notorious for having unreal expectations for their beloved New Mexico Lobos
basketball program,
and when those expectations aren’t met Lobo fans are also notorious for
quickly
turning on their coaching staffs.
I’m not say we shouldn’t be
excited, but I’m not to sure as fans we do not want to ask to much out
of this
team. Yes, they are very talented and very athletic, however, they are
also young
and inexperienced at the collegiate level. With three seniors and
only one
junior, experience is in short supply, and I believe that big time
success
depends on how fast this team comes together and gels as one. If they
come
together fast the sky is the limit, but if takes awhile and a few
losses pile
up will those that complain start to call for Coach Alford’s head.
I really think it isn’t
unrealistic to compete for a MWC championship in regular season and/or
tourney,
receive a bid to the NCAA,
and 20 plus wins. These things are very possible and are very exciting.
I think
it is even possible with things going right the Lobos would start
receiving
votes if not crack the Top 25. That would be a super season,
however, I
do get a little uncomfortable when I hear people talk about Elite 8,
Final Four….
This is unrealistic type of talk that can kill a program and derail the
bandwagon before it really gets going, when those unrealistic
expectations are
not met.
Like
I said, I don’t want to
dissuade anyone or temper their excitement for this year’s Lobo hoops
season as
Coach Alford really built a nice foundation last season, and if fans
can get
behind Coach Alford and continue to build this program those
expectations that
seem so unrealistic today might just be realized in a couple of very
short
years
Dream Big! Do Big!
With that said, let me put down
some of my predictions for the upcoming hoops season.
Starting Line Up:
D. Gary
P. McDonald
T. Danridge
R. Martinez
D. Faris
First off the Bench:
C. Toppert, W. Brown, N. Garth
Sleeper(s)
AJ Hardman, C. Dennis
Season
predictions:
24-6(13-3)
2nd in MWC regular season, go down in Finals of MWC Tourney
to UNLV.
An NCAA birth as a 7 seed and 1st round victory.
My
bold prediction we go undefeated in the Pit this year!
Southeast Missouri State, at Creighton, Grambling State, UCF, Cal State Northridge, at
Virginia Commonwealth, Southern Miss,
at SDSU, Mississippi, Oral Roberts,
at Texas Tech, New Mexico State,
at NMSU at UNLV, UTEP, Air Force,
Brigham Young,
at San Diego State,
at TCU Colorado
State, at
Utah, Wyoming, UNLV,
at Air Force at Brigham Young, San Diego State, TCU,
at Colorado State, Utah,
at Wyoming
Wins- Black
Losses- Red
I would love
to hear your predictions! Go to our
message board and post your thoughts on this year’s Lobo hoops team!