Daniel Faris didn't check into Heartbreak Hotel after the UNM men's basketball team's 72-71 defeat at the hands of UCF on Saturday at The Pit. But he did consider drowning his sorrows in syrup - at Waffle House. "I might go," he said. "Or I might just go to sleep.
Spike after spike, bruise after bruise, it's Gayle Tripp's job to dive in front of volleyballs hit at up to 65 mph. "You have to be fearless - no reservations and balls to the wall," Tripp said. "I sacrifice my body, my face and my arms to step in the middle of the court and find a way to pop the ball up.
Down 6 with 50 seconds left in game, the University of Central Florida's Golden Knights seemed finished. The UNM men's basketball team was about to hand the Golden Knights another chink in their armor with a second loss - but the Lobos couldn't hold on to the lead Saturday night, dropping the game 72-71.
Chances are, when UNM's star guard has more fouls than points, the Lobos lose, right? That wasn't the case on Thursday night. UNM coasted over Grambling State 96-50 at The Pit. Despite scoring just 3 points - and committing four fouls - Tony Danridge dished out a career-high eight assists.
Phillip McDonald may not have the size, stature or star power of J.R. Giddens, but the freshman shooting guard is doing his part to help fill Giddens' shoes. McDonald helped the UNM men's basketball team rout the Grambling State Tigers on Thursday at The Pit with his 15-point, 10-rebound performance.
The UNM women's basketball team collected win No. 200 at The Pit against the Idaho State Bengals on Sunday. UNM entered Sunday's matchup with a combined record of 29-11 against teams from the Big Sky Conference. And thanks to a 77-43 whitewash over Idaho State, the Lobos improved to 30-11.
After winning two games at home this weekend, the UNM men's soccer team's hope of getting an NCAA tournament bid is still alive - for now. Finishing the season at 11-6-2, the Lobos will find out in today's selection show if they will make the tournament.
There is a spike in the speed of the game as the opposition decides to employ some full-court pressure. But for Amy Beggin, things slow to a crawl. She can clearly see all the passing lanes open up. The thing is, not everybody can. Yes, you can teach players the fundamentals - how to keep their heads up, how to maneuver through the death traps in a press.
When Tony Danridge takes the court, he's in his comfort zone. Turn-around jumpers, fadeaways, breathtaking dunks - Danridge did it all against Southeast Missouri State as the Lobos coasted past the Redhawks 102-58. But as soon as someone asks Danridge to gauge his performance, he prefers to take a seat on the bench, so to speak.
When most people see a game-winning goal punched into the net, they don't think of a successful high-pressure medical procedure. UNM forward Chris Wright does. As the senior's soccer season comes to a close and he prepares to begin his medical career, Wright draws many similarities between being the leader of a soccer team and becoming a doctor.
It's the last gasp - but all the UNM football team can do is exhale in disgust. For the first time in eight years, the Lobos aren't bowl-eligible at 4-7 overall and 2-5 in the Mountain West Conference. UNM was the lone MWC team that was bowl-eligible every year since 2001.
It's easy to describe the UNM men's basketball team's season in one word: uncertainty. Take six freshmen, three seniors, sophomore point guard Dairese Gary and multidimensional junior Roman Martinez, and then subtract J.R. Giddens, Jamaal Smith and Darren Prentice.
The UNM women's soccer team saw its season come to an end Oct. 5, as the Lobos fought hard but fell to UNLV in an overtime shootout. With the loss, UNM finished 8-5-6 overall and 3-3-1 in the Mountain West Conference. UNM broke through in the 70th minute on a goal by Alexis Ball to tie the Runnin' Rebels 1-1, but the Lobos didn't find the back of the net again.
Public relations quotes are a dime a dozen. But if you're lucky, you'll get a few gems in your time working in the journalism industry. So far, I have about three that I consider golden: "You guys are the experts," Rocky Long said, referring to the media.
Michelle Corrigan sprinted across the finish line last weekend in San Diego, inching past a BYU opponent to solidify the first Mountain West Conference Championship in UNM women's cross country history. But Corrigan wasn't racing for first place, second place or even third place individually.
If you ask Steve Alford, it would appear that the men's basketball team has 99 problems. Thing is, all of them appear to be good problems - or at least problems with viable solutions. Problem No. 1: finding a defensive specialist to replace J.R. Giddens, who led the Lobos with 47 steals and 39 blocks last season.
Despite having a passion for basketball, Lobo freshman Sara Halasz has worked to get where she is. It's not enough that her favorite basketball player is WBNA star and former Connecticut Huskie great Diana Taurasi, or that her favorite movie is "Love and Basketball.
This season might be a rebuilding year, but the UNM women's basketball team has history on its side. For the past 11 seasons, there hasn't been much to cry about - or, for that matter, in the last 13 seasons under head coach Don Flanagan. UNM enters this season looking to capture its sixth Mountain West Conference title in the last seven seasons.
It's no wonder his number is 33. Whenever the UNM men's basketball team is in dire need of a 3-point field goal, all head coach Steve Alford has to do is draw up a double-screen play for Chad Toppert. The sharp-shooting guard does the rest, nimbly navigating through a maze of picks.
A string of bad luck has plagued the UNM football team this year - from injuries piling up to tough, heart-wrenching losses. But maybe a late-season voyage to Las Vegas - the bad-luck capital of the world - might include a change in the cards for UNM. For sure, the Lobos don't want to be left pondering the ifs, something they were forced to consider last week in a loss to No.
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