March 4, 2010
MWC Tournament Bracket
Lobos NCAA Selection Sunday Pit Party
When: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, March 14
Where: University Arena — The Pit; Entrance on east side only.
Cost: Free to all Lobo fans
MWC tickets: www.unlvtickets.com or 1-866-388-3267
By Richard Stevens — Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
Are you dying to find out what seed amazing 28-3 (for now!) Lobos are going to pull for the 2010 NCAA dance to The Final Four?
Do you want to find out at the same time — and in the same place — as the Lobos? And be on national TV while it’s all happening? Here’s your chance.
The Pit isn’t through with the Lobos and the Lobos aren’t through with The Pit. Alford and his Lobos are throwing a Pit Party and what would any Pit function be without UNM’s special fans?
The 2010 Mountain West Conference championship Lobos are inviting all New Mexico fans to attend an NCAA Selection Sunday Pit Party beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 14. The No. 8-ranked Lobos will be one of the teams featured live on the CBS production that unveils the 2010 NCAA Championship bracket to the world.
Yep, the Road to Indianapolis will make a Pit stop before it all begins.
“This is a special opportunity for New Mexico basketball to go national again and we want our fans there with us,” said Lobo coach . “We have the best fans in the nation and we don’t want any other team on that board to have more fans than we do for the live telecast.
“We’ll be in the national spotlight and we want the nation to see the passion that surrounds this program and makes it so special.”
The Pit will be rocking again on March 14 when the Lobos return from the Mountain West Conference in Las Vegas, Nev. New Mexico will join the nation’s top teams for NCAA Selection Sunday to find out their seed, their first-round opponent and their first-round site.
The Pit doors on the east side will open at 3 p.m. and you can bet The Pit will erupt one final time this season when the name “New Mexico” appears on the NCAA bracket. Here are a few highlights of the afternoon:
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— A quick welcome from coach Alford and senior Roman Martinez.
— Large-screen TV monitors will be set up around The Pit for the CBS NCAA Selection Sunday show that runs from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m..
— Concessions and Lobo Gear tents will be open, including official 2010 MWC Championship gear, T-Shirts and hats..
— Lobo spirit squads and band will attend.
There could be a few extras tossed onto the gala afternoon, too. Alford could be one of several coaches interviewed live on a CBS pre-Selection show that begins at 3:30 p.m. Alford also might go live for a CBS College Sports interview from 5
p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Lobos’ have played in 11 NCAA Tournaments. UNM last played in 2005 when the Danny Granger-led MWC tourney champions went to Nashville, Tenn., as a No. 12 seed and lost to Villanova, 55-47.
The first- and second-round sites for 2010 (March 18-22) are:
— New Orleans Arena, New Orleans
— Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, Rhode Island
— HP Pavilion, San Jose, California
— Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
— HSBC Arena, Buffalo, New York
— Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida
— Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
— Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane, Washington
The Lobos’ first shot at NCAA postseason came in 1968. The Lobos played two games in The Pit that year, losing to Santa Clara 86-73 and losing to New Mexico State 62-58. UNM also played in the NCAA tourney in 1974, 1978, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2005.
The Lobos’ highest seed was No. 3 in 1997. UNM beat Old Dominion 59-55 and lost to Louisville in a 64-63 heartbreaker. The Lobos had a No. 4 seed in 1998 and a No. 5 seed in 1999.
