If there are any rules of chemistry in the sporting world, especially in the realm of college athletics, it’s that winning with a young team is nearly impossible.
But head coach Steve Alford’s Lobos are the exception to the rule in the college basketball table of elements.
The Lobos, 12th in the Associated Press poll and 15th in ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ poll, are 23-3 overall and 9-2 in the Mountain West Conference and are looking for their 10th straight conference win.
In the way of that is Wyoming, a team the Lobos will face today at The Pit.
“We are deserving of having a top-20 ranking,” Alford said. “We have talked about our youthfulness all year and that is kind of why I am shocked (with) where we are at, to be honest with you. But we talk about this, year in and year out, you are what your record is.”
The Lobos return to Albuquerque after two impressive road wins over UNLV and Utah, the latter coming in overtime.
Even more striking than UNM’s winning streak is what the Lobos have accomplished nationally.
UNM is one of only three teams, along with No. 2 Kentucky and No. 5 Syracuse, which is 5-0 against ranked opponents in 2009-10.
In the Ratings Percentage Index, the Lobos are No. 9 and in addition are 50th in strength of schedule, according to RPIRatings.com.
UNM is 7-2 against teams in the RPI’s top 50, which puts the Lobos in a tie with Kansas and trailing only Duke — yes, Duke — which has eight wins against the RPI’s top 50 teams.
The Lobos have beaten MWC counterparts BYU, UNLV and San Diego State, and, as it stands, the Cougars, Runnin’ Rebels and Aztecs are currently staring upward at the Lobos, who stand in first place, with fives games to go in determining who will win the league’s regular-season championship.
But Lobo guard Dairese Gary said he doesn’t want UNM to be caught off guard, especially against eighth-place Wyoming.
“We have a saying on the wall that you have to respect every team that you play, especially in this conference,” Gary said. “Because any given day, any team in this conference can give you a scare. And, you know, doing what we are trying to do, we have to take it one game at a time and win each game. We are not going to overlook anybody, because Wyoming — they could be as dangerous as BYU, UNLV or San Diego State.”
To the general public, however, Wyoming appears, on paper, to be an easy win for the Lobos.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
The Cowboys are the second-worst 3-point shooting team in the MWC, ahead of only Colorado State. Wyoming has hit only 60 trey balls in its 11 conference games, while UNM averages 7.3 3-pointers per game and has hit 80 during its
conference season.
The Pokes are also the most disinterested defensive team in the MWC, allowing 840 points, while only scoring 728, which is the worst in the conference.
Still, Alford said he needs the Lobos to stay on track against inferior foes, like the Cowboys.
“These guys have to stay grounded and stay very focused on what they got to do, because we have two huge home games this week,” Alford said. “They are
dangerous and are coming to us — if I am not mistaken — losing five in a row. Heath (Schroyer) has done a wonderful job of just keeping them playing with major injuries all year.”
