I didn’t have to listen to the post-game radio call-in show with Scott Stiegler on 770 KKOB after the UNM men’s basketball team lost to UNLV on Saturday.
I already could paraphrase what was going to be said about the Lobos dropping a heartbreaking loss to the Runnin’ Rebels, 63-62, in Las Vegas: It’s now time to give up on the season.
Those 2009-10 bandwagoners along for the 30-5 joyride have abandoned ship this season.
Fans that claim the Duke City is a “basketball town” have given up on the best act in the city.
Remember that this is a team that won back-to-back Mountain West Conference regular-season championships with the same coaching staff and a point guard who knows how to lead and win.
We know this season’s squad is young. Head coach Steve Alford has said that.
Regardless, every home game, whether it is No. 6 San Diego State or Cal State Bakersfield, should be sold out.
I just don’t understand how Albuquerque and the UNM area can hype something up so much — like the men’s basketball team — but remain incapable of filling the renovated Pit to capacity every single game.
Three of the Lobos’ 10 home games have had an attendance of more than 15,000.
The largest was against SDSU last Saturday when 15,411 fans showed up.
Too quickly, people discount the Lobos. It even happened during last year’s record-setting season.
I was upset last year to hear a caller phone in to 610 AM’s afternoon sports talk show, the Sports Bar.
After the Lobos had dropped their first two MWC games against UNLV and SDSU, the caller said he wouldn’t support Alford and the Lobos because there was a lack of effort.
At that point in the 2009-10
season, UNM had been nationally ranked and was 14-3 on the season.
Either I was watching the wrong team last year or that caller was high on something. He wasn’t high on life, that’s for sure.
The Lobos then reeled off 14 straight wins and a league
championship after losing to the Runnin’ Rebels at The Pit on Jan. 9, 2010.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
We still talk about last year’s squad as maybe one of the best seasons in the history of the program. I wonder where the lack of effort was in finishing 30-5 and a trip to the second round of the NCAA tournament?
Same goes for this year’s team — it might be young, but there is no lack of effort.
On Saturday, freshman guard Kendall Williams did everything in his power to propel the Lobos to victory.
With two seconds left in the game, Williams stole an inbound pass on UNM’s side of the court. He turned around and attempted an off-balance fade away. Williams missed the shot but was fouled.
Williams hit the first free throw but missed the second that could have sent the game into overtime.
So with the result, Lobos are 1-4 in conference play. I am making the best out of what is right now a shaky start to the New Year; UNM hasn’t been blown out recently.
If not for a freak last-second shot at Wyoming and one made free throw, UNM could have had two road wins in the MWC and be 3-2 in the conference.
Senior point guard Dairese Gary has played outstandingly and doesn’t deserve any blame for the Lobos’ woes. And he might be playing hurt, with as much of a beating as his body takes game to game.
You can’t win every game, and you can’t win every year.
And there are only a handful of teams in any sport at any level that can win a championship for the third straight time.
There is a lot of basketball left to be played, especially at home. The Lobos have six games left at The Pit.
Do your part, Albuquerque: Show up and cheer.
*Men’s basketball vs. TCU
Wednesday, 8 p.m.
The Pit
SCORE BOX:
UNLV: 63
UNM: 62*
