by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
Lobo players looking for a fresh start after a disappointing season last year have something that might redirect their attention.
The hiring of Steve Alford as head coach of the UNM men's basketball team means the Lobos can try to wipe the slate clean from last season's 15-17 record.
Lobo forward Daniel Faris said he wants to focus on next year and get acquainted with his new coach.
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"I just want to forget about this year," he said. "Not necessarily the players or the coaches, but this year was just disappointing on a lot of levels. I'm really excited for this new start."
Alford, who spent the last eight seasons as the head coach at Iowa, was named the Lobo coach at a press conference Friday.
Faris and many other UNM players were in attendance, and the overall indication was that most of the Lobos are happy with the hire.
"Everyone's emotions were high," guard Jamaal Smith said. "We're very excited to have a big-name guy come in, and we're looking forward to the season next year because of him. He's given us a boost of confidence."
Alford's credentials as a coach and a player are what Lobo players cited most when they gave their reasons for being excited about his hiring. He won two Big Ten Tournament Championships with Iowa and posted 20 or more wins in eight of his 16 seasons as a head coach.
As a player, Alford won a national championship under Bob Knight at Indiana in 1987 and played in the NBA from 1987-90. He also won a gold medal as part of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team.
UNM guard J.R. Giddens - who said he will return to the Lobos instead of declaring for the NBA draft - said Alford's list of accomplishments makes him want to work hard under the
new coach.
"Since he played in the NBA, that's great, because he's seen it," he said. "He has a gold medal. He's coached great players. He was under Bob Knight, so you know he's got great discipline."
The relationship between Giddens and former UNM head coach Ritchie McKay was highlighted as a part of last year's tumultuous season.
Giddens was kicked out of several practices last season and started some games on the bench, despite being the team's leading scorer. McKay suspended Giddens for two games late in the season.
How well Alford and Giddens get along this year could be a big factor in how much success the Lobos have in the season.
Giddens said he understands Alford will be hard on his players but doesn't anticipate any problems between himself and
the coach.
"It can be a happy marriage," he said. "I just go out there and play hard. I played for a very disciplined guy at Kansas - Coach (Bill) Self - and me and him didn't really ever bump heads."
Alford said he places a big emphasis on his players' character, and he doesn't give special treatment to anyone on his team.
"I told the team, 'You're going to learn right away what we expect of discipline. You're going to learn what I expect in a timely fashion,'" he said. "'If class starts at 8 o'clock, you better expect a coach to be there. If you're there at 8:05, you're not going to practice
that day.'"
As far as on the court, Alford said he expects the Lobos to be one of the hardest working teams.
He said individual skill isn't as important as preparation when it comes to building team success.
"I think playing the game is about understanding the game," he said. "One of the things we really look for in players is not just how they compete and not just their talent level, but how well do they know the game."
