Dec. 4, 2009
“This is New Mexico State. We started talking about them in the locker room after the Cal game.” — Steve Alford.
By Richard Stevens — Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
The message from The Pit, sprouting up all glassy, shiny and high-tech around Lobo fans, is much like that old “Field of Dreams” message: “If you build it, they will come.”
And that’s surely going to be true. When The Pit is all buff and tuff beneath its modern look, the fans, the NCAA, the future will come to Lobo basketball.
But why wait for a couple tons of glass and growth, and several thousand square feet of expansion?
The Steve Alford Lobos of 2009-10 are throwing out another time-tested formula for putting butts in the bleachers. It’s called, “If you win, they will come.”
Alford’s young Lobos still have no clue that they are too young to be this good. Let’s not spoil it by telling them they are one of the youngest teams in D-I ball and playing without a true center.
Just let them go out and gun down the enemy like they have done seven times, like they did Wednesday against No. 25 California, and like they’ll probably do Saturday night against the New Mexico State Aggies in a game that is a complete sellout.
“We love our fans and we love our environment,” said Alford anticipating another “Pit” game.
A Pit sellout game probably wasn’t a lock going into this season. In part, because the young Lobos probably would take a few early-season lumps and, in part, because the facilities at University Arena are a bit airy.
The concessions and the restroom facilities are located outside The Pit during this $60 million face-lift. Parking has been pushed out a bit further due to construction, too.
But the love for Lobos is real and strong when it comes to facing a little inconvenience to watch a 7-0 Lobo team play those ornery Aggies from Cruces. So, would UNM be looking at a sellout Saturday, if Alford’s Lobos were 5-2? Who knows? Who cares?
The only thing certain about Saturday’s jump is that if you wanted to be a part of it, you should have purchased a ticket yesterday. Alford’s Lobos are the No. 1 draw in town and for a good reason. These pups can play and they do it with pack precision.
If you like pure athleticism, this is the team for you. If you like gunners, these guys shoot lights out. But if you also like fundamental basketball, hard-nosed defense, and unselfish team play, this team is for you, too.
Remember, Steve Alford was Indiana basketball, Bobby Knight basketball, long before he was a Lobo. The fabric of his coaching philosophy was woven around basic, fundamental principles of the game.
His Lobos do these things for at least two reasons: 1- They are good enough to do them. 2- They have no choice. “There are things coach likes us to do,” said Lobo junior point guard Dairese Gary.
Some of those things hinge around shot selection, defense, rebounding, team play and honoring the basketball. You do those things well, you win a lot of games.
Said Alford: “For a player, if you are really a player, it’s not about the name on the back of the jersey (an individual`s name). It’s a team sport and it’s about being a Lobo.”
Alford’s Lobos have won seven, lost none. The Cal win was big and not simply because it bumped up the win side of UNM’s record. It was big because of the way the Lobos faced Cal with no fear and did things in crunch time necessary to come out a winner.
“We learned how resilient we are,” said Alford. “Maybe they just don’t know any better. I thought we played pretty well (against Cal). I like how this team has been able to handle the adversity within the flow of the game.
“And one thing our guys aren’t afraid to do, they aren’t afraid to take a shot.”
That no-fear shooting comes from the coach, who kind of demands two things in this green-light philosophy: 1- It had better be a good shot. 2- Don’t take it if you’re pretty sure a better shot is a pass or two away.
The Lobos’ wins have come from doing a number of things right, but you have to respect the way this young team is disciplined enough not to waste scoring opportunities with bad shots. They also are savvy enough to drive-and-kick or drive-and-get-fouled.
The defense is decent, too, but Alford says that aspect of the game is still a work in progress.
Against the Aggies Saturday, there are at least three Aggies the Lobos need to work on: Jahmar Young, Jonathan Gibson and Rahman Hamidu.
“It starts with Young and Gibson,” said Alford. “And I think Rahman is a bit more polished inside than (Cal’s center).”
In Cruces, Young burned the Lobos for 26, Gibson kicked in 17 and Hamidu muscled for 14 inside. The Lobos jumped to a 52-36 halftime lead, fell behind by four in the second half, and rallied for the 97-87 win.
It was an up-and-down sprint in Cruces. It probably will be a similar tempo in The Pit. “We don’t mind a track meet,” said Alford. “We like track meets. The last thing we want to do is slow it down.”
Yep, Saturday’s rivalry should be up-tempo rowdy. Here’s another message appropriate for this game: The Pit might be a year away from being first-class, but there’s a first-class team down in that hole.