All season long, UNM head basketball coach Steve Alford talked about building a program rather than just building a season.
So, if Lobo fans can look past the gut-wrenching end to postseason play, there should be plenty to get excited about in upcoming seasons.
In his first year as head coach, Alford turned a program that was last place in the Mountain West Conference into a third-place team that was on the verge of an NCAA Tournament berth.
The season ended with a thud when the Lobos fell 82-80 in overtime to Utah in the quarterfinals of the MWC Tournament, ending UNM's hopes of an NCAA appearance.
Instead, the Lobos were selected to play in the NIT Tournament, where they lost a tough 68-66 first-round game to California.
In both games, star guard J.R. Giddens put up last-second shots that rolled off the rim. It was a sour way for the senior to end his UNM career, but Giddens enjoyed one of the finest seasons that a Lobo has had in years.
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Giddens led the conference in scoring and rebounding and was named MWC Co-Player of the Year, along with Lee Cummard of BYU.
Fans will remember Giddens for his soaring dunks and aggressive defense, but the McDonalds High-School All-American also grew off the court.
It was just a season ago that Giddens referred to himself as "Superman" in news conferences, had issues in practices and school, and was suspended by then-head coach Ritchie McKay.
This year, Giddens was complimented for being a good teammate and leader by Alford and other Lobo players. He still had a personality but was quick to put team goals ahead of individual ones and credit teammates for his success.
Fellow seniors Jamaal Smith and Darren Prentice played big roles on a team that won 25 games, including eight road wins. The two shared a lot of minutes with freshman point guard Dairese Gary but made the most out of their roles.
UNM's body of work in Alford's first season was impressive, and there is a lot to look forward to ahead.
Filling up the shoes of the seniors - especially Giddens - will be no easy task, but the Lobos may have the right parts in place. Tony Danridge missed the entire season with a fractured leg but should provide a big lift if he comes back healthy for his senior year.
In his junior year, Danridge was named third-team all-conference. He averaged 12.5 points per game and shot 41 percent from 3-point range. He has an ability to get to the basket and finish with thunderous dunks, similar to Giddens.
If Danridge doesn't fill the entire offensive void left by Giddens, UNM has other players who aren't afraid to take big shots. Junior Chad Toppert was one of the most dangerous 3-point shooters in the conference. Fellow juniors Roman Martinez and Daniel Faris made big contributions offensively and provide solid all-around games.
The Lobos will not be lacking in experience with a senior class of Danridge, Faris, Toppert, Martinez and Monquel Peques and Johnnie Harris - who played a good amount of minutes this season as junior transfers.
UNM will also have a strong mix of youth. Gary was very efficient for a freshman point guard and has the potential to blossom into a star. Fellow freshman Jonathan Wills gained more minutes as the season went along, including starting most games down the stretch and will be a key part of next year's team.
If Alford can pluck a few gems out of his recruiting class, it should be a promising season for the Lobos.
It was a solid turnaround season for UNM, but one that will leave returning players hungry and motivated after the way it ended.
