What a difference a year makes.
Last year, when the UNM women's basketball team members gathered to watch the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, they sat nervously hoping they wouldn't be passed over.
This season, having returned home with the MWC tournament title and automatic bid to the Big Dance in hand, their nails were safe - these Lobos knew they were in. They also knew that they'd have the opportunity to play at least four games in The Pit.
The only nerves they might've felt came from finding out which team they'd play in the first round.
The answer came quickly, as ESPN focused immediately on the Midwest region - the region The Pit had been assigned when sites were announced last year.
Less then ten minutes into the show, the bid came up, followed by a cheer.
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UNM, the sixth seed, will face the University of Miami in Florida, the 11 seed, on Saturday at University Arena. The other game Saturday features the three seed, the Mississippi State University, versus Manhattan College, the 14th seed. Times for the four games at The Pit will be announced latter this week.
Lobo players and coaches said they were happy with their seeding.
"We'll take it," senior Tiffany Scaglione said with a smile and laugh. "I think it's a good seed for us. Especially having the games at home, it obviously will help us a lot. We're going to run with it."
Fellow senior Cristal Garcia agreed, saying the home court advantage is an advantage.
"I think we have good chance of coming out of it with a win," she said. "Playing at home is going to help us a lot. We have a lot of confidence at home."
Miami finished seventh in the Big East Conference with an 18-12 record over and an 8-8 mark in conference play. The Hurricanes, who lost 65-59 in the Big East tournament to eventual Big East champion Villanova, were regarded as a bubble team by many - including ESPN's selection show broadcast team.
UNM athletic director Rudy Davalos said the Hurricanes are a tougher match-up for the Lobos that they appear on paper.
"Miami comes from a good league," he said. "Their record is a little deceptive because they play Connecticut and all those teams."
The Big East received seven bids to the NCAA tournament - the most of any conference.
The Mountain West Conference received three bids to the Women's NCAA Tournament. Brigham Young University, which lost to the Lobos in the MWC championship game, is the 11 seed in the Mideast region. The Cougars play the University of Colorado in Bolder, Colo. Saturday.
The University of Utah, the MWC regular season champion, is the ninth seed in the Midwest region. The Utes play DePaul University in Raleigh, N.C. on Sunday. If it wins its opening round game, Utah would face number one seed and tournament favorite Duke University.
Should UNM win both games this weekend and make it to the Regional semifinal, they could face regional foe Texas Tech University.
But UNM assistant coach Yvonne Sanchez said the team isn't looking beyond its first round game
"We just want to focus on Miami right now and try get that one," she said. "Mississippi State and Manhattan are on the other side of the bracket. So within our bracket there are four very good teams. Those are first. Then we can look on after that."
MWC MEN : The Mountain West men also received three bids to the NCAA Tournament. Utah, the ninth seed in the Midwest region, play the eight-seeded University of Oregon on Friday in Memphis, Tenn. BYU, the 12th seed in the South region, play the third-seeded University of Connecticut Thursday in Spokane, Wash. The Utes and Cougars tied for the MWC regular season title.
Colorado State University, the MWC tournament champions, are the 14th seed in the West region. The Rams play third-seeded Duke Thursday in Salt Lake City, Utah.
