Oct. 18, 2012

Albuquerque, N.M.--- The University of New Mexico, which ended the 2011-12 season as the only ranked team among schools in the Mountain of Pacific Time Zones, will start the 2012-13 on the outskirts of the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, as the team is the seventh team listed in the "Others Receiving Votes" category.

New Mexico picked up 10 votes total, and was just 51 votes away from the Top 25. UNM will have a chance to make an early impression on the voters as the Lobos will host Davidson on ESPN on November 12 in the 24-Hour College Basketball Tip-Off Marathon. UNM will then face good competition at the Paradise Jam, including potential matchups with teams such as George Mason, Mercer, Iona, or UConn.

The Lobos, 28-7 a year ago, return eight lettermen and three starters from last year's Third Round NCAA squad that tied for the second-most wins in school history. While UNM's triumvirate of guards return in starters Hugh Greenwood, Kendall Williams and Tony Snell, that total doesn't include Demetrius Walker, who was UNM's fourth-leading scorer and who played a vital role at the end of the season. The total also doesn't include 2010-11 starter Alex Kirk, who returns his 7-foot frame after sitting out last season while recovering from a back injury.

Four schools in the Mountain West earned recognition in the poll, with UNLV and San Diego State getting ranked 19th and 20th respectively. Colorado State received four votes. Two of UNM's opponents are listed in the "Others Receiving Votes" category are Saint Louis, who is the first team (26th in actuality), and Cincinnati (28th). Indiana was voted No. 1 with 21 first place votes and 761 total points, while Louisville, who knocked UNM out of the NCAA Tournament last year, is No. 2. Kentucky, Ohio State, and Michigan round out the top five.

The Lobos will host Victory in the first of two exhibition games on October 31 at The Pit at 7 p.m. before tipping off the season on ESPN at 11:59 p.m. on Monday night, November 12.

Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank
1. Indiana Hoosiers (21)	27-9	761	13
2. Louisville Cardinals (5)	30-10	738	4
3. Kentucky Wildcats (5)	38-2	718	1
4. Ohio State Buckeyes	        31-8	617	3
5. Michigan Wolverines	        24-10	605	22
6. North Carolina St. Wolfpack	24-13	581	20
7. Kansas Jayhawks	        32-7	563	2
8. Duke Blue Devils	        27-7	516	14
9. Syracuse Orange	        34-3	502	5
10. Florida Gators	        26-11	422	9
11. Arizona Wildcats	        23-12	411	NR
12. North Carolina Tar Heels	32-6	401	6
13. UCLA Bruins	                19-14	396	NR
14. Michigan State Spartans	29-8	391	7
15. Creighton Bluejays	        29-6	325	21
16. Memphis Tigers	        26-9	307	NR
17. Missouri Tigers	        30-5	289	11
18. Baylor Bears	        30-8	266	8
19. UNLV Runnin' Rebels	        26-9	203	NR
20. San Diego State Aztecs	26-8	196	NR
21. Wisconsin Badgers	        26-10	191	12
22. Gonzaga Bulldogs	        26-7	166	NR
23. Notre Dame Fighting Irish	22-12	122	NR
24. Florida State Seminoles	25-10	61	15
24. Texas Longhorns	        20-14	61	NR

Others receiving votes: Saint Louis 58, Virginia Commonwealth 40, Cincinnati 33, Murray State 30, Kansas State 13, Saint Mary's (CA) 11, New Mexico 10, Tennessee 10, Minnesota 9, Pittsburgh 9, Marquette 8, Stanford 7, Butler 6, Oklahoma State 6, Colorado State 4, Middle Tennessee 3, Drexel 2, Georgia 2, Miami-Florida 2, Saint Joseph's 2, Marshall 1.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The University of New Mexico hosted it's local 2012-13 Basketball Media Day on Monday, October 15, and between UNM's own LoboTV and the local media, UNM received plenty of coverage. Below are links to articles and video that are related to UNM's Media Day:

Lobo TV Interviews:
Head Coach Steve Alford: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfTyC6ncVVw&feature=plcp
Junior guard Tony Snell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQEtzj-pxL4&feature=plcp
Freshman forward Nick Banyard: Jamal Fenton: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O3QDGme4E4&feature=plcp
Sophomore guard Hugh Greenwood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQE4LWaLqt4&feature=plcp
Freshman guard Kory Alford: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P446FIE02Eo&feature=plcp

LoboLair.com Interviews
Freshman forward Nick Banyard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ls4gv8O5JZk"
Freshman guard Cleveland Thomas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MLM0HUs8vaw
Sophomore guard Hugh Greenwood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ydr1LjpLRi8
Sophomore center Alex Kirk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ojIVh5xOHjI
Junior forward Cameron Bairstow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4CmZOvNIPTA

KOAT.com Channel 7 Package
UNM Looks to four-guard lineup: http://www.koat.com/news/sports/New-Mexico-Lobos-look-to-4-guard-lineup/-/9153850/17007934/-/6bjlsfz/-/index.html

KOB.com Channel 4 Packages
Past and Present: http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s2802909.shtml?cat=10515&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=loboinsider
Strength in the guards: http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s2801745.shtml?cat=502&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=kobsports

KRQE.com Channel 13 package
Snell Ready to Lead Lobos: http://www.krqe.com/dpp/sports/tony-snell-ready-to-lead-lobos?ref=scroller&categoryId=10004&status=true

ABQ Sports Magazine Media Day Articles:
http://www.abqsportsmag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=15&Itemid=129

ABQ Journal Media Day Article:
http://www.abqjournal.com/sports/2012/10/16/lobos-ignore-media-basketball-predictions.html

Daily Lobo Media Day Article:
http://www.dailylobo.com/article/2012/10/guard-heavy-squad-looks-to-improve-on-last-years-victories

Lobos Men's Basketball

Printer-friendly format	Email this article