Jan. 29, 2010

New Mexico-TCU Game Release in PDF Format

Saturday: Lobos at TCU, 4 p.m. MST
Radio:770 KKOB-AM / Lobo Radio Network
TV: CBS College Sports (Comcast 274, DirecTV 613, Dish Network 152)
Online: Recap, live stats at GoLobos.com

By Richard Stevens -- Senior Writer/GoLobos.com

If the attitude of Darington Hobson is reflective of all Lobos -- and it probably is -- then Lobo fans probably have nothing to worry about when pondering whether Lobos will be "up" for TCU in the wake of a Pit-rocking win over Brigham Young.

Hobson is cool, calm, focused and thinking only about stomping on some Frogs Saturday in Fort Worth.

"The BYU game is behind us now," said the talented Lobo junior. "We still have a lot more games to play and we are thinking about a championship. TCU is going to be a tough place to win at. We have to use each other, as a team, to get us going."

Hobson's one-game-at-a-time mentality is the cliché that all coaches hope their players buy into because it really is an attitude that matters. If UNM goes 1-1 this week in the Mountain West wars, the Lobos have made a step forward only to follow that progress with a step backward.

That's not a good way or a smart way to defend a crown. "I think our guys understand that the BYU game is huge, but it becomes larger in the scope of things, if you can back that up with a road win," said Lobo coach Steve Alford.

"Our guys have played consistently hard, consistently unselfish and those are traits you want to take on the road."

Hobson reflects those unselfish traits, too. His scoring numbers have dropped since MWC scouting reports have targeted him as a versatile inside-outside threat that can inflict much damage on a defense. So, Hobson concentrates on other ways to help his team.

"Our swagger, anyone can tell, is our effort." Lobo Darington Hobson

"It's not about me. It's about the team," Hobson said. "We've won five straight. If I'm not scoring, I can impact the game in other ways: defensively, rebounding, getting my teammates the ball."

Hobson crashed the boards for 14 huge rebounds vs. BYU. He leads the Lobos in scoring, rebounding and assists. No Lobo has ever finished the season on top of all three of those categories.

When you add rebounds and assists to your resume of stats, it means you are willing to work hard and it means you are willing to share the ball at the expense of your own stats. It means your team wins.

The Lobos end the first half of the MWC race at TCU and take a five-game win streak into Fort Worth. If the Lobos jump on the Frogs, they will finish no worse than a game out of first place behind BYU. The Cougars have a tough challenge at Utah. There's a fair chance UNM could end the first half tied for the lead.

TCU isn't considered a bully on the MWC block, but the Frogs are quick enough and athletic enough to defend their home court. The Frogs are 8-4 in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. They are 10-11 overall and 2-4 in league. The Lobos are 19-3 and 5-2.

There was a sweet sound for Lobos a year ago in Fort Worth when the Lobos ran the TCU floor with the Horned Frogs. It was the sound of Lobo jump shots tickling the nets -- time and time again.

Although it's almost possible to hear a pin drop in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum during Frogs' game, it was almost impossible not to hear the New Mexico shots drop in 2009. The Lobos shot an amazing 70 percent in the second half and blew out the Frogs 69-52. UNM shot 57.1 percent for the game. The Frogs surely remember that game.

"It's pretty much just what they had last year with guys getting older and getting better," Alford said of TCU.

A key aspect of the game will be if Zvonko Buljan plays for TCU. He did not play at Colorado State for personal reasons. TCU lost 63-57. The 6-foot-9 senior gives the Frogs an intimidating body inside and he`s TCU`s No. 2 scorer with a 13.4 average.

The Frogs` main gun on the edge is 6-2 Ronnie Moss, who scores at a 13.8 clip and has 132 assists on the year. TCU's 6-6 Edvinas Ruzgas averages 12.7 as a slashing wing with an outside touch.

It would make things easier on UNM, if Buljan did not play. The Lobos likely will throw Dairese Gary at Moss. "That's my bulldog," Alford said of Gary.

Another key for the Lobos will be the production off the bench. The Lobos dropped their first two MWC games and were standing in an 0-2 hole. The UNM bench averaged 8.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in those losses. Those numbers jumped to 21.2 and 11.0 during the five-game MWC win streak. Nate Garth has scored 29 points and Will Brown has scored 29 points with 27 rebounds.

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"Our bench has been critical," said Alford, who said the biggest difference in the 0-2 Lobos of MWC play and the 5-2 Lobos has been that production off the pine. "Our freshmen and sophomores are doing a good job coming off the bench."

Alford says the win over BYU returned his young team's swagger. Hobson says, "Our swagger, anyone can tell, is our effort."

A win at TCU will make the Lobos a 20-game winner at an early spot in the season. The Lobos are ranked No. 23 in The Associated Press poll. "Every team wants to be ranked," said Gary. "That`s a good thing. But that's not our main focus right now. Our focus is the conference race and trying to win a championship."

Another road win only helps UNM's resume when NCAA invites go out. But Alford and his Lobos are not thinking about the road to Indianapolis. They have only one road on their minds this weekend -- the road to Fort Worth.

Editor's Note: Richard Stevens is a former Associate Sports Editor and sports columnist for The Albuquerque Tribune. He can be reached at rstevens50@comcast.net.

Lobos Men's Basketball

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