Next stop for the UNM men’s basketball team: Utah.
After losing 87-77 to No. 6 San Diego State, the Lobos head on a two-game road trip that starts Wednesday.
Head coach Steve Alford said the Utes are playing more up-tempo this season.
“With their makeup and the identity of who they are, they are trying to play faster,” he said. “They have mixed defenses more, and have predominately been man in the past. Now they mix in zone, 2-3 zone, 2-2-1 press (defenses) and trap a little more.”
The Utes just earned their first Mountain West Conference victory Saturday with a 68-61 home win against Wyoming.
Utah head coach Jim Boylen said UNM can beat Utah at many different aspects on the court.
“They are a very tough, physical team,” he said. “(Drew) Gordon is starting to play (like) who they thought he would be. Dairese Gary has been a guy that has hurt us with his toughness and physicality, too.”
Just as quickly, though, Boylen pointed out that the Lobos and Utes have shared a lot of growing pains this season.
The Utes are two years removed from a share of the MWC regular-season championship, while the Lobos are the defending back-to-back titleholders.
“I think they have a young developing team, too,” he said. “But, you know, we have a lot of respect for New Mexico, and we’ve had a lot of great games with them.”
And with a looming Saturday trip to Sin City to face UNLV, the Lobos are in a must-win situation. The loser of Wednesday night’s game will have one win in conference play. The Utes could drop to 1-4, while the Lobos could drop to 1-3. For UNM, reaching the .500 mark could salvage the MWC season.
The good news for the Lobos is Alford said UNM hasn’t struggled playing on the road. They have struggled in other areas.
“It’s the last four-minute game of each half that we have struggled with,” he said. “We’ve got to be able to concentrate and focus through the entire 20 minutes of each half, and I think that is what we have to work on.”
One thing the Lobos have going for them: UCLA transfer Drew Gordon is beginning to live up to the hype.
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Against a powerful SDSU, Gordon shined under The Pit lights. Gordon averaged 11.4 points per game and nearly nine boards per contest. Against the Aztecs, Gordon nabbed 14 rebounds and posted 23 points.
Gordon and Gary combined for 47 points in the 10-point loss to the Aztecs.
Gordon said he and Gary, and his other teammates, are clicking on the court.
“I rely on my teammates fully,” he said. “It’s a new experience for me being out on the road because I had to sit for a full year, and I have no idea how these schools really play. I have talked to Dairese a lot, and I have basically talked to all of the upperclassmen to get a feel for it.”
With Utah on the slate, Gordon said he is still looking to become a reliable threat.
“If it wasn’t exciting, or if it wasn’t fun,” he said, “I wouldn’t do it.”
