by Adrian Doerfler
Daily Lobo
The UNM men's basketball team has had mixed results in its first competition under head coach Steve Alford.
The Lobos left May 25 for a week-long trip to the Bahamas, where they are playing three exhibition games against Bahamian club teams and one game against the College of the Bahamas Caribs.
On May 26, the Lobos earned a 73-71 win over the Bahamian Select team. On May 27, UNM fell to the Select 76-71.
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The NCAA allowed the Lobos 10 days of practice for the
scrimmages.
The new staff has brought an intensity and hard work ethic to the Lobo program, Lobo forward Daniel Faris said.
"Man, we've been in boot camp," Faris said during a May 25 practice. "I don't know if necessarily for the Bahamas, but they're just trying to break us in with 10 days of two-a-days. It really hasn't been a joke at all."
The trip gives the new coaching staff a chance to acquaint themselves with the players and allows the players to develop solid team chemistry.
"We're looking forward to getting to know our coaching staff, as well as each other," forward Roman Martinez said. "At the same time, come together as a team, play some games, hopefully win some and have some fun."
Guard J.R. Giddens, last year's lead scorer, did not make the trip because he had to attend an intersession class.
"It's going to be hard with only eight players," associate head coach Craig Neal said. "But a lot of guys are going to get a chance to play that might not have gotten the chance if we had 12 guys. It's an evaluation period for them, and it's an evaluation period for us. So we're excited about it."
Alford was absent from practice on May 25 for personal reasons, but he joined the team upon arrival in the islands.
The Lobos never got game tape or scouting reports on the Bahamian competition, but they are ready for quick-moving, high-fitness games, Martinez said.
"I'm expecting the teams to be athletic and have a lot of up and down, fast-paced style of play," he said.
The Lobos won't have another practice until October, and by then, the team will have a new look.
Alford has signed two top high school prospects - guards Darrington Hobson and Dairese Gary - and two junior college big men - 6-foot-10-inch, 256-pound Monquel Pegues and 6-foot-8-inch, 250-pound Johnnie Harris.
The Lobos also signed guard Jonathan Wills.
Even though the trip is a chance for the returning players to impress their new coach, it is also a chance to enjoy their hard work.
"Besides the basketball, I'm looking forward to sliding down those slides in the Atlantis Hotel," Faris said. "I'm getting myself ready for that."
