Oh, what a compelling sense of familiarity.
Last time against San Diego State, the UNM men’s basketball team (20-3 overall, 6-2 in the MWC) was 15th in the nation.
This time, the Lobos are ranked — what else? — 15th in the nation.
“There’s a lot of irony,” said Lobo head coach Steve Alford. “We were ranked 15th in the country a month ago going into the game and they beat us in their building. UNLV came in here and beat us at home, and we dropped out of the rankings. Here we are four weeks later where we’re 15th in the country again. We get to try and redeem ourselves a little bit.”
What, if anything, is different about Saturday’s matchup with the Aztecs?
For one, it’s at The Pit.
Two, forward Roman Martinez would argue, the Lobos are more educated, having lost to the Aztecs 74-64 at their place.
“We learned a lot from that game. It really woke us up,” he said. “Losing two straight games in conference really showed us that we have to prove ourselves
every week.”
Three, UNM is riding a six-game conference tear.
“To win six in a row in this league is a grind,” Alford said.
Winning seven is even more so.
But?
“This team’s pretty good at learning from mistakes,” Alford said.
We’ll see.
For what it’s worth, the Lobos opened Mountain West Conference play with San Diego State. Eight games into league play, UNM begins its eight-game backstretch — again with the Aztecs.
Alford hopes the Lobos don’t get tweaked on the stretch.
“It’s no secret what they do. They’re very good in transition and they’re one of the best rebounding teams in the country,” he said.
No doubt, Saturday’s game will be played five-on-five, but it will definitely be four-on-four, too — the Lobos’ four leading scorers, Darington Hobson (15 points per game), Martinez (13.9), Phillip McDonald (11.3) and Dairese Gary (11.3) going bucket for bucket with the Aztecs’ Kawhi Leonard (11.9), Malcolm Thomas (10.8), D.J. Gay (10.2) and Billy White (10.4).
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Not as if Alford needs to remind himself about the importance of this game. The Aztecs, at 5-3 in the MWC, are trailing one game behind the Lobos.
Unfortunately for the Aztecs, Tim Shelton, who has missed the last five games, won’t be able to go on Saturday. He’s only played in nine games all season.
“You just feel sorry for him. Big-time talent,” Alford said. “He’s one of those guys that’s a tireless worker. You never like anybody getting hurt or missing games. Boy, he’s had his share of missing games because of illness and injuries. I don’t think it affects our prep or their prep.”
Not at all.
All UNM is focusing on is coming out sturdy and indestructible, Martinez said — not letting the Aztecs dictate the pace or brutishly bully the Lobos.
“(Last time) they out-toughed us. They really did,” Martinez said. “They got to all the loose ball(s). Hit their free throws. They out-rebounded us. They really went at us. Teams come after you when they understand that you’re ranked. There’s a little something extra (in the tank).”
Still, Alford believes the Lobos’ tank is full.
“To win six in a row, I think our demeanor’s a little bit different,” he said. “Will that make a difference in Saturday’s game? I don’t know.”
One thing’s for sure, Alford said.
“They’re either leaving here tied with us,” he said. “Or they’re leaving here two games behind.”
