Sizing up the UNM men's basketball team's opponents in the Mountain West Conference is fairly easy.
In fact, it's all about size.
The University of Wyoming, which was picked to win the Mountain West by conference coaches before the season, returned a trio of bruising, athletic bodies in 6-foot, 8-inch forward Josh Davis - a first team all-conference selection last year - 6-foot, 10-inch center Uche Nsonwu -Amadi and 6-foot, 9-inch forward Ronell Mingo, who combined for the bulk of the Cowboys' points and rebounds a year ago.
Then there's the University of Utah, picked to finish second.
Senior Phil Cullen and junior Britton Johnsen both check in at 6-feet, 9-inches and both are deadly from the outside.
The Utes actually did not lose a starter from last year, but 6-foot-10 center Chris Burgess, who would have strengthened their inside game, injured an ankle in a game against the University of Texas earlier this year and is expected to be out for the whole season.
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That leaves the Lobos, picked to finish third.
UNM's plan to beef up its inside game this year to contend with the big boys of the conference has had limited success. Sophomore Patrick Dennehy has shown he has potential, but has been foul prone at times, while junior college transfer Moustapha Diagne has been saddled with a chronic foot condition.
Freshmen Chad Bell and Jamaal Williams have made solid contributions but it's yet to be seen whether they can handle the many experienced post players in the Mountain West.
UNM head coach Fran Fraschilla seems optimistic when considering this prospect.
"I think that playing against the Gonzagas and the Stanfords and the Cals, with quality big guys has really helped our young guys," Fraschilla said. "So in that sense, they are battle tested. As good as our league is, I don't think we'll see a more physical, well-coached, well-disciplined team than we did against Gonzaga."
Although Wyoming has raced out to an 11-4 record and is already 2-0 in conference play, and Utah has performed to expectations with its 11-3, 1-0 record, Brigham Young University that has been the biggest surprise in the non-conference season.
The Cougars, picked to finish sixth in the eight team league, are also 11-3 and own probably the most high-profile win, an 81-76 overtime victory over Stanford University, which defeated the Lobos earlier this year.
Add to that list San Diego State University, which has posted a 10-5 record and the Lobos at 10-4, and the Mountain West begins to look like a strong league with no clear favorite.
"The watchword on Mountain West basketball this year is balance," Fraschilla said. "People expected San Diego State to improve; they have. A lot of people didn't expect BYU to be as competitive; they are. Wyoming is Wyoming, Utah is Utah. At 10-4 we're about where we thought we would be, so we're going into a very balanced league."
It's generally agreed that the Lobos have the most talented guards in the league.
Shooting guards Senque Carey, Eric Chatfield, Ruben Douglas and Tim Lightfoot and point guard Marlon Parmer are all capable of taking a game over, and each has had his turn doing so this year.
"We're supposed to have the best backcourt in the conference," Douglas said. "We've got to play like it every night."
And even as the Lobo frontcourt is seemingly inexperienced, they have at least one player - Dennehy - who has fought in the Mountain West trenches and can speak for the strength of the big men across the board.
"I just tell my teammates that it's going to be war every night," Dennehy said. "There's a lot of big men around the league and it comes down to blocking out, getting that rebound we need and not getting tooled in the post. You've got to be able to hold your ground."
