Dan Dakich Show: Podcast with Coach Alford
Feb. 15, 2010
Wednesday: Lobos vs. Wyoming, 7 p.m., The Pit / Bob King Court
Radio: 770 KKOB-AM / Lobo Radio Network
TV: CBS College Sports (Comcast 274, DirecTV 613, Dish 152)
Online: Recap, live stats at GoLobos.com
New Mexico moved up three spots to No. 12 in this week’s Associated Press poll. It’s the program’s highest AP ranking since being 12th on Jan. 18, 1999. UNM has been ranked eight weeks this season since making its debut at No. 19 on Dec. 14. UNM jumped to No. 15 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll. It was 19th last week.
League-leading New Mexico (23-3, 9-2 MWC) aims for its 10th straight victory Wednesday when it hosts Wyoming (9-16, 2-9 MWC). The Lobos have not lost since Jan. 9, a 74-62 setback at home to UNLV.
Tip-off Wednesday is 7:02 p.m. Mountain Time from The Pit / Bob King Court in Albuquerque. The game will be televised nationally on CBS College Sports, channel 274 on Albuquerque Comcast, 613 on DirecTV and 152 on Dish Network.
After starting 0-2 in the MWC, New Mexico has won nine straight conference games for the first time since a 10-game run in 1977-78. The Lobos enter the week a half game ahead of BYU (23-3, 8-2 MWC) in the MWC standings. The Cougars play at Colorado State Wednesday and at Wyoming on Saturday.
MEMORABLE ROAD TRIP – Two venues and cities the Lobos have had little previous success turned out to be fruitful last week. Victories at UNLV and Utah moved New Mexico into the top spot in the MWC standings.
UNM quieted No. 23/25 UNLV 76-66 as it beat the Rebels at the Thomas and Mack for only the second time in their past 13 games. The victory was also the Lobos’ first against a ranked team on its home floor since winning at 2nd-ranked Arizona 70-68 on Dec. 21, 1999.
Before Saturday, the Lobos were 6-52 all-time against Utah in Salt Lake City. UNM escaped with a 68-65 overtime victory as Steve Alford becomes the first New Mexico head coach to beat the Utes twice on their home floor.
LOBOS’ TOURNAMENT RESUME LOOKS STRONG – Through games of Sunday, Feb. 14, UNM was ranked No. 9 in the Rating Percentage Index (RPI), according to ESPN Insider. That’s the highest ranking among the nine MWC schools. BYU is No. 23, UNLV 36 and San Diego State 40. Four other Lobo opponents are in the top-37: Texas A&M (13), Cal (24), Dayton (32) and Texas Tech (37). UNM went 4-0 in those games. More impressive facts about the Lobos:
RPI of 9 and strength of schedule of 50
9 straight wins and 9-1 in last 10 games
8-2 in road games and 9-2 in games away from Albuquerque
3-0 record against teams ranked 1-25 in the RPI
4-2 record against teams ranked 26-50 in the RPI
4-0 record against teams ranked 51-100 in the RPI
7-2 record against teams ranked 1-50 in the RPI, tied with Kansas for 2nd-most in the nation; Duke has 8