Jan. 17, 2005
This week’s featured Lobo is freshman Sean Phaler. Phaler is in his second year with the Lobo men’s basketball program after sitting out last season as a redshirt. Phaler is a 6-9, forward from Anaheim Hills, Calif., who posses a sweet stroke from 3-pt. range and has a knack for scoring. He is currently averaging 3.6 ppg and 1.3 rpg for New Mexico. Phaler has actually scored 57 points in just 77 minutes of action. He is third on the team in 3-pt. FG%, hitting 43.5% of his attempts from behind the arc. Phaler has quickly become a fan favorite at The Pit and is gaining more and more playing time as the season goes on.
Here are some of the questions you submitted for Lobo freshman Sean Phaler.
Sean, I am on a basketball team. What can I do to keep the ball from getting stolen. (Patrick – Albuquerque)
Hey Patrick! The best thing to do to keep from getting the ball stolen is work on your ball handling skills. But if you really need to just hold the ball as tight as you can with your elbows up and don’t let anyone get near the ball.
Sean, I love your game! You bring a different kind of excitement to Lobo Basketball. How would you compare your style of play now to when you were in High School? (Eddie – Albucracky)
Thanks Eddie, fans like you make me enjoy New Mexico more everyday! That’s a good question. In high school I had a different role than I do now at UNM. In high school I could not be as aggressive because I was more of the main guy who the team counted on, but on this year’s team my role is different so I am able to be aggressive and bring energy off the bench.
Sean, it is so much fun to watch you play! Besides basketball, what are some of your hobbies or interests? (Marilyn – Albuquerque)
Hello Marilyn thanks for the comments, I appreciate it! I have a few interests outside of basketball. First off, I have a huge passion for cars and fixing up cars, and making them look as nice as possible. Another obvious interest is tattooing, as you might have been able to tell already. Lastly, I guess, just trying to enjoy every minute that I have in college because I know it will be the best time of my life and cherish the relationships that I have with my friends.
Hey, what’s up Sean? I want to play for UNM someday too. I was wondering, was it hard for you to get to that level? (Steven Luna – Albuquerque)
Hello Steven. Good luck in your pursuit to become a lobo, I wish you the best of luck. As for your question it does take a lot of work to become a Division 1 college player. I don’t know exactly what kind of player you are but what worked well for me is that I made sure that I would become the best shooter when I was younger. Just make sure that you work at your skills as much as possible and as frequently as possible at a young age because it will pay off later.
Sean, How did you become such a crowd favorite? (Farmington, N.M.)
I don’t really know how it happened. I guess the crowd just likes the energy that I bring off the bench. You would have to ask the crowd to get the real answer to that question.
Hey Sean, What is your favorite thing about playing in The Pit? (Tammy – Rio Rancho)
Hello Tammy that is a really easy question to answer. Favorite thing about playing in The Pit is, hands down, the fans. Even last year when I didn’t play I enjoyed the fans, and now that I am playing it really means a lot to me to have such awesome fans. I am really lucky to be a part of a team with fans like you guys, who make every game enjoyable.
How does it affect you when the fans at The Pit call you “bones?” (Gabe)
Hey Gabe! I guess it doesn’t really affect me any way anymore. I have been labeled with so many names because of how skinny I am. I like some of the creativity that is thrown my way. With names like popsicle sticks, rail-thin, painfully thin, oh so skinny, supermodel thin, so I am definitely used to it now.
Hi Sean! What is your secret for your high percentage shooting? It sure is exciting when you enter the game! (Cecilia Pounds – Albuquerque)
Thanks Cecilia, I am glad I could make the game more exciting for you! I guess it’s not really a secret for high percentage shooting. When I was younger I tried to make my shot as perfect as possible, and just shoot all the time. And now I still work on getting shots to keep up what I have worked on my whole life.
Sean, Which tattoo is your favorite and why? (Dug Ward – Durango, Colo.)
Hello Dug, that is a good question, but I can’t give you a direct answer. Every time I get a new tattoo that one is my new favorite, and then it fades off and I end up liking all of my tattoos the same. My tattoo artist, Lucky, does amazing work, so every time he does something new I enjoy that one a lot.
What do you like most about LOBO hoops? (Marcos – Albuquerque)
Hey Marcos, the thing I like most about lobo hoops has to be the fan support that the Lobos get. I get blown away so many times about how crazy the fans are in New Mexico. I will definitely cherish that for all of my life.
Hey Sean, I was wondering if you’re a fan of the New Mexican chile yet? (Andre – Albuquerque)
Hey Andre, that is an interesting question! Unfortunately it is really hard for me to acquire a taste for the chili. I have tried many times and am made fun of by my Albuquerque friends, but I just can’t handle the chili being so hot.
Sean, how many tattoos do you have and what do they mean to you? (Mike S. – Albuquerque)
Hello Mike! Currently I have three tattoos; (right arm, left arm, and stomach) I have wanted tattoos my whole life so some of them are just because I enjoy having artwork on my body, and some have meanings. The tattoos that have meanings are really deep and really basic meanings, but some of them are there because I enjoy having ink.