by Daniel S. Archuleta
Daily Lobo
David Chiotti's plans for the UNM men's basketball team this season are straightforward.
"Our expectations are to start off this preseason good, get ready for league and be Mountain West champions again," he said.
Chiotti, along with Mark Walters and Tony Danridge, was chosen as a team captain and will share the load in leading the Lobos to another MWC crown.
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Walters, Chiotti's roommate, said the Lobos' big man will get to have his way with opponents this season.
"He's phenomenal," Walters said. "He's so smart and strong on the post. He could do whatever he wants."
Head coach Ritchie McKay said Chiotti has gone from zero to hero faster than anyone he's ever had under his wing. "He's done a great job in our program," he said. "He's improved on a daily basis like nobody I've ever coached, and I think that he is prepared to have a great senior year."
With all that talent comes expectations, and no one is expecting more than McKay this year.
"Dave's consistently a good scorer, a good rebounder," McKay said. "He's got to be a good defender this year for our team to be successful, and he has to make clutch shots."
Chiotti said his demeanor off the court is much different than his aggressive style when competing.
"I'm pretty relaxed, and I'm kind of quiet," he said. "Unless you really know me."
That other side of Chiotti comes out when he comes down The Pit ramp.
"I'm more physical," he said. "I demand a lot from my teammates, and I'm a lot more aggressive than I would be in real life."
Chiotti said his ability to lead and his experience are two of the biggest factors in his success.
He and Walters are the only leftovers from the Fran Fraschilla era that ended four years ago.
"This is my fourth year playing for coach McKay," he said. "I know what our team needs to become successful."
Passing on the knowledge he learned is also something Chiotti takes pride in.
"I just go out there and try and be another coach," he said. "I give what I learn from playing for four years."
The Lobos were picked to finish fifth in the Mountain West Conference even after winning the title last year, but Chiotti's not letting it bother him.
"You can't look into that too much," he said. "We realize that it's kind of a slap in the face, but we are just going to use it as motivation to work harder and prove people wrong."
A milestone is in sight for Chiotti this season. He could become the 12th player at UNM to score 1,000 points and grab 500 rebounds.
Chiotti has 790 points and 424 rebounds in 88 games, but individual accolades are far from this senior's mind in his last season as a Lobo.
"My senior year, I want it to be special," he said. "I want to have as much fun as we did last year, and that's just winning games and getting back to the tournament."
