The fans want a winner. They expect the Lobos to compete for conference titles and to cut down nets in Las Vegas. Since 2008 fans have seen four regular season conference titles and three conference tournament titles. Expectations are not met overnight. Last year’s Lobo team dealt with the loss of three of the top Lobos of all time, Cameron Bairstow, Alex Kirk and Kendall Williams. Then there was the injury to Cullen Neal. It became the Hugh Greenwood show and not much else as the three most important Lobos this season found themselves on the bench red-shirting. Minuets for Obij Aget and Sam Loogwood was the only thing that carried over to this year’s squad. 2015-16 is the new foundation for Lobo basketball. Elijah Brown, Tim Williams and Cullen Neal were those sitting out last season and now are the team’s top three scorers. Williams and Brown are putting together Mountain West player of the year type seasons. Neal is dealing with growing into a division one point guard. It’s a process. One that Craig Neal at times admits looks like it has gone off the rails, but one that is working. The Lobos had a terrible time in Hawaii. Brutal loss at home to Rice. Now they are finding ways to win and bet the better teams in the conference. UNM closed out a win at Boise State and at The Pit verse UNLV with ball handling and free throws. Simple but not in stressful situations late in games. They are growing. Now 2-0 in the middle of the ‘show me’ stretch of the schedule which sends them to San Diego State on Saturday. The Aztecs are 10-0 in conference play. They’ve won 160 straight games when they have led with five minutes remaining in the second half. They’re also the other team that’s been going back and forth with UNM winning conference titles. The rivalry is on. UNM has down what every team in the country sets out to do, improve game by game. The Lobos will face a physical, low scoring game at San Diego State. It’s another opportunity to show the fans what this team can be. One thing we know for sure, find a way to be tied or at least have a one-point lead with five minutes left in the game.
