The grueling Mountain West Conference slate officially kicks off tonight and it's the meat of the Lobos' schedule.
It's a time when winners are made, losers are forgotten and champions are crowned.
With the additions of the heralded transfers Troy DeVries and Danny Granger on Dec. 21, UNM (9-4) has reeled off of six victories in the duo's first seven games and for the team, seven victories in the past eight.
The only loss in that span came on the road at the hands of the then-No. 5 Demon Deacons of Wake Forest .
Tonight, in the MWC opener for both squads, the Lobos will take their confident, winning ways into the hostile environment of Laramie to battle their rivals, the Wyoming Cowboys.
"We're 9-4 and near the top of our league," UNM post David Chiotti said. "We're real confident going up against every team knowing that we have the talent to win every game. So, we've just got to prepare and get that done."
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Since the insertion of DeVries and Granger, the Lobos have experienced a dramatic turnaround. UNM transformed from a below average squad into a multi-talented team that could make noise well into the conference season.
All five Lobo starters are averaging double figures, led by Granger's 19.7 points and 10.3 rebounds a game.
DeVries is having a stellar start to his Lobo career as well. He is averaging 14.8 points and hustling to 4.8 boards a game, while dishing out 4.6 assists.
With the team rolling in sync for the first time in nearly two seasons, tonight's matchup gives the Lobos a chance to make a big statement. In doing so, UNM will have to fight off demons from the past and the present.
The Cowboys have won six straight against the Lobos in Laramie and the last time UNM won in Wyoming was in 1995.
UNM did not win a conference road game last season and the streak goes back to the Fran Fraschilla era.
Maybe it's mental, or maybe Laramie is just one tough place to play.
"Dave (Chiotti) tells me it's like a truck stop, or something like that," Granger said. "But, I hear they've got some crazy fans and it's real hard to win in their arena."
The Cowboys, who are coming off last year's 21-11 season and a berth into the post season, have started the season uncharacteristically sluggish. Without household names like Marcus Bailey, Uche Nsonwu-Amadi and Donta Richardson, this team has a new look and so far, the new look has not resulted in success.
After losing on the road to Middle Tennessee State and Denver, the Cowboys fell to a record of 7-6. But UNM head coach Ritchie McKay said the Steve McClain-coached team is always ready come conference time.
"Because of their losses on the road to Denver and Middle Tennessee State, we are going to be playing against an angry dog," McKay said. "When you play in Laramie, they are very emotional and their fans really get behind them. So we better come out with an effort that is indicative of who we are as a team."
This Lobo club has a chance to open some eyes in the conference and the country, but in order to do so it must win in its conference and its must do it on the road.
Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m. at Arena Auditorium in Laramie, Wyo. The game can be seen live on KRQE 13 and will be broadcast on KOB-AM 770.
