No NBA? No problem. UNM basketball is here.
The first game of the season is less than two weeks away, and full-time practice began over the weekend.
After an average 22-13 season, including an 8-8 conference record and a second-round loss to Alabama in the National Invitational Tournament in 2010, this year’s squad is looking to match the success of the 2009-10 team.
“We’re just as talented as the 30-5 team and more experienced,” senior guard Phillip McDonald said.
The Lobos return 10 players who saw action last season, including three seniors: McDonald, Drew Gordon and A.J. Hardeman.
“We have a lot of experience this year,” McDonald said. “This is the first time in a long time we have three seniors on the team, and I feel that we’re going to have high expectations because of that.”
The high expectations began last week when the Mountain West Conference predicted the Lobos to win the conference this season.
Even with the loss of team leader and guard Dairese Gary, head coach Steve Alford said his backcourt is the deepest part of the team.
“The competitiveness that’s going to happen in our backcourt should be a lot of fun to watch,” Alford said. “We’ve got some really good strength that I hope by committee, we can make up from a little bit of strength and physicality that Dairese played with.”
Kendall Williams, Hugh Greenwood, Jamal Fenton, Tony Snell, Dominique Dunning, Chris Perez and Kory Alford make up the guards that will be asked to step in and fill the leadership, scoring, distributing, and defensive gap Gary left behind.
Gary will still be on the sidelines as a graduate manager for the Lobos. He will be the first person to have that position at the University, and will mentor the guards on the team.
Gary’s season ended last year with a torn ACL injury. This season, the Lobos are suffering due to other key players’ injuries.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Center Alex Kirk underwent back surgery in early August to relieve a herniated disk. Alford said his recovery has been slow and hopes he can still play this season, but redshirting is also possible.
“That’s asking a lot, Alford said, “for a 7-footer to come back and really make the difference that I think Alex wants to do.”
Cameron Bairstow is another big man who’s going to start the season hurt. Bairstow is battling a foot injury and will be limited in practice and games.
For a large part of last season, McDonald played through an elbow injury he sustained on his shooting arm during an exhibition game, which affected his performance throughout the season.
“I really appreciate what he did last year because I know he wasn’t but about 75 percent all year,” Alford said.
McDonald has suffered lingering injuries for two consecutive seasons. This season he said he feels better.
“I feel pretty healthy right now,” McDonald said. “I’m feeling close to 100 percent. We’re not quite there, but I’ll be right there pretty soon.”
Despite the injuries and the absence of Gary, the team does have experience and chemistry that can produce a lot of wins.
“We have a real talented team,” Williams said. “We have a really good chance to live up to the hype, so it’ll be fun.”
