For members of the UNM men's basketball team, which opens Mountain West Conference play tonight against the Air Force Academy, the bitter memory of a loss on the Falcons' home floor a year ago remains clear in their collective memories.
The Lobos were not supposed to have lost that Feb. 10 game, which was the final loss in a four-game losing streak, nor are they supposed to lose tonight. UNM (10-4, 0-0 in the Mountain West) is clearly deeper and more talented than Air Force (6-8, 0-1). But that won't prevent the Lobos from preparing as if they are facing Gonzaga University again.
"We can't overlook Air Force because they beat us up there last year," UNM guard Ruben Douglas said. "We thought they were a cupcake team, but they've got to be respected."
The Falcons are known for employing a structured, patient offense that uses up nearly all of the 35-second shot clock on every offensive possession. Opposing teams usually claim that Air Force is relentless in wearing down its opponents with screens and cuts to the basket that can embarrass even the best defensive teams.
"There's all these back door cuts and flare screens," post Cody Payne said. "They're similar to Dartmouth. They don't have their talent level - I'm not trying to say they don't have any talent - but they have a real disciplined offense."
Air Force have dropped two games in a row, while the Lobos just had their eight-game winning streak snapped last Monday in a 95-90 loss to nationally ranked Gonzaga.
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Tonight's game might be one of the few that the Lobos play in which their frontcourt is expected to dominate.
The Falcons' tallest contributor - Tom Bellairs at 6-feet, 7-inches - will have to contend with UNM's taller front line of Dennehy and Chad Bell. And though 7-foot post Moustapha Diagne, who missed a stretch of three games in non-conference action, is not expected to play as he continues to suffer from a chronic foot condition, Dennehy expects the Lobos to have their way inside.
"Offensively for us, we're taller and bigger than them," Dennehy said. "They play a match-up zone or a man switching zone and we're going to try and take advantage of that and open up the middle."
The Lobos may face another notable absence on the floor Monday night. Junior point guard Marlon Parmer was booted from practice Thursday by coach Fran Fraschilla and did not practice Friday either. Friday, Fraschilla said Parmer's situation was a team-related issue and did not have anything to do with academic or legal problems. Parmer did not practice Saturday and was not expected to practice Sunday. Fraschilla said Sunday night he would not make his decision about whether Parmer will play public until tonight.
"I'll make a decision based on how I feel," Fraschilla said. "We've had two great practices; the guys are working real hard."
Fraschilla also said he did not expect Parmer's absence to be a permanent one.
"I wouldn't anticipate that," Fraschilla said. "But nowadays, who knows? Based on my conversations with him, I'm hoping that he just understands the things we're trying to accomplish."
ESPN.com's Andy Katz reported Sunday that Parmer's poor attitude is disrupting the team and has kept him from practicing and starting tonight. Katz reported that Parmer will meet with coaches during the next two days but "he might not be welcomed back."
Tonight's game will be televised on ESPN and starts at 10 p.m. The game also will be braodcast on 770-KKOB (AM) radio.
