The UNM men’s basketball team is going to need to make more room next to its 2009-10 Mountain West Conference regular-season championship trophy.
The Lobos acquired a cascade of accolades handed out by the MWC Monday, including a pair of All-MWC first-teamers and one All-MWC second-teamer.
“When you win the league and the way we did it, winning 14 straight and win it outright, you should get some accolades,” said Lobo head coach Steve Alford.
That’s not all, though, folks.
Of the biggest winners, junior-college transfer Darington Hobson was named MWC Player of the Year. Meanwhile, his coach, Alford, took home the MWC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year and is nominated to win the Jim Phelan Award, which recognizes the men’s national basketball coach of the year.
Alford coached UNM to a 14-2 conference record and tied the school record for most wins in a season (28).
Still, Hobson was the true runaway winner, pulling in the MWC’s Newcomer of Year award, in
addition to Player of the Year.
Hobson was reluctant to take credit for the feat, giving his version of an Oscar speech, including the many “thank yous” to all involved.
“It’s an award,” Hobson said. “The real reason why I got this award is because of my teammates and coaches. I wish I could break it down in pieces and give it to each and every one of them. It does feel good to know that all the hard work has paid off with everything that we have been through this year.”
Hobson is the first player in the history of the league to receive both the MWC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year awards in the same season.
He is the third UNM player to be selected as MWC Player of the Year. The previous two were Ruben Douglas (2002-03) and J.R. Giddens (2007-08), who shared the award with BYU’s Lee Cummard.
Hobson averaged 14.9 points and 4.8 assists per game and was the MWC’s leading rebounder, averaging 10.1 boards per contest.
Joining Hobson on the All-MWC first team is teammate and point guard Dairese Gary.
Gary, an Elkhart, Ind., native, earned his first all-conference team award and was recognized on the MWC All-Defensive team.
The Lobos’ only senior, Roman Martinez, was honored with a spot on the second-team All-MWC.
“I thought (Martinez) should have made it,” Gary said. “Ro has been carrying us all year with hitting big shots and making big plays that people don’t see on the stat sheet. I mean, I was happy that I was on (the All-MWC first team), but at the same time I was sad he was not on there with me.”
Hobson said he is frustrated with the voters’ decision to leave Martinez off first team all-conference and is willing to give up his spot on the team for Martinez.
“As soon as I saw it, I told Greg Remington to send the (MWC) an e-mail, telling them to take me off and put Ro on, because, I mean, there is no reason why Roman shouldn’t be on the first team. I am sorry it had to go that way but, Mountain West, if you see this, take me off and put Roman
Martinez on.”
