March 2, 2013
Recap |
Final Stats |
Notes |
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Photo Gallery 2
UNM Senior Chad Adams
On this game…
“I would say this is a typical game for us. We come out and we like to throw punches, if you know what I mean. We like to battle and this year we have come out with a W. I wouldn’t say it is much of a change.”
On the last home game…
“I would say that it is bitter sweet being on the court and everything. Somewhere around the two minute mark I looked around and took it all in. It is really bitter sweet and I am going to miss it. I will miss coming down the ramp, seeing my teammates and playing for the fans. It is good to move on though.”
On what this New Mexico team is about…
“I think our identity is a collective thing. We don’t have just one main player that the nation can focus on and say is our best player. It is a collective group of people that work together everyday. Any day one of us can go off and that is the good thing about our team. We are a defensive team and don’t mind not scoring many points. We just need to come out with that W. Sometimes when defense is your niche you are going to have ugly games offensively.”
On the next two games…
“Our motivation is always there and we love to win. Like coach says, this is a winning program. We are always motivated to get on the court during that next game. We want to go and win this title outright and be the outright champions. We want to have good momentum going into the conference tournament. We have to come out and play like our backs are against the wall.”
On how far this team can go…
“We would love to make history and make the sweet 16, that would be amazing. We are always shooting to go further than the year before. We are looking to do big things once the tournament comes around. We want to get a good seed and that is what we are focusing on. We are trying to rack up as many wins as we can before tournament play. Hopefully, we can do big things.”
On Coach Alford…
“He has established a winning program. Since Coach Alford has got here he has started winning. He is a winning coach and has a winning attitude. Everything about Coach is winning. He doesn’t put up with nonsense and makes sure that everyone falls into line. He is a great example. I fought his authority a little bit when I got here and everything has worked out. I stuck with it and we came out on top of it, four times now. It is a winning program.”
On the memories of playing basketball…
“There are so many. Honestly, this is my greatest moment and being able to win the championship on my home court. This will be something that I will remember all of my life.”
On plans after graduation….
“I hope to keep playing basketball. I need to look into it and maybe play over the water. Hopefully, I will be able to keep playing and use my degree down the line. I am a world renowned chef, just so you all know. One of these days I hope to open up a restaurant somewhere. I have got some skills. I love to cook and if I open up a restaurant it will be a really big menu. I cook for the team. The team likes junk food, fried food and things like that. We all cook, even Emanuel. We have competitions every now and then, everyone loves to eat.”
Senior guard Jamal Fenton
On whether the game was a typical Lobo game…
“I wouldn’t say that. I would just say it meant a lot for all of us, especially the seniors, me and Chad. Like Coach Alford always tells us, just play every game like it’s your last. You always have to respect your opponent, and we respected them. We just played a little harder than them tonight.”
On comparing this team to previous teams…
“I think the sky’s the limit. My freshman year, we went 30-5. That was a pretty good team. I think this team, as a senior, we have better chemistry than that team my freshman year. So I think we’ll do well and go far and deep in the tournament.”
On whether this was a bittersweet moment…
“I wanted to leave on a good note, so winning a championship… I’ll be the first boy in my family to graduate from college, which is pretty good for my family. So I would just love to leave like that.”
On what he will miss the most…
“The fans, the ticket season holders, the student section, just my teammates and playing for Coach Alford and Coach Neal. That’s what I’ll miss the most.”
On what Coach Alford means to him…
“He’s just been a good mentor. He gets on you if you don’t bring it every day of practice, and that converts to the real world. That’s what he teaches us. We come in as boys and he coaches us to men. And everyday is a life lesson to learn with him.”
Wyoming Head Coach Shyatt
On Leonard Washington…
“From what I am told his back is giving hime problems. He hung in there though. I have no idea how serious it is. I just want to make sure that he isn’t put in harms way.”
On the game…
“I feel differently about this game. I don’t feel like we hung in there. I feel like we had this game exactly where we wanted it with 7 minutes to play. If we dropped a couple shots or perhaps got a foul or two we could have won the game. I thought that “hanging in there” is 11 or twelve points like San Diego State did.”
On playing the Lobos on their home court on senior day…
“I am really proud of our guys in that they understood how they could beat the Lobos on their court on a night of celebration that they have been bragging about. What I was most concerned with was our mind set and understanding how to make it happen. Let’s just say that they Lobos have more tools and more talent, I wanted them to understand how to beat them today. I thought they played with a good amount of understanding.”
On foul trouble and free throws…
“I knew that this question would be coming and the best and most appropriate way to answer it would be that Coach Alford, his staff, the personnel that they have put together and this crowd deserves more attention than my comment. I don’t think that my wife would want to know if I got fined.”