Lobo Basketball Coach Craig Neal said this week that he has sent a message to his team. Paraphrasing here, he said that the team is more important than any individual and he will not sell his soul for a couple of wins; he will not jeopardize what the program he has helped build over the past eight years. Honestly, I loved hearing that. I talk often about the difference between a good "team" and a good "program". Good teams have a great year or two and then things go south. Good programs have sustained success with the lean times much less lean than other programs. This team is 11-5 this year, 3-1 in conference play in what many Lobo fans consider a lean year. I'm glad this coach doesn't care who the player is… that player or players will do things the right way or they won't play. Craig and Steve Alford started something when they first got here. They had a guy who was a supposed be a superstar player who had a history of not getting along with coaches and not doing that were best for the program. They instilled discipline, left that player in Albuquerque when the rest of the team took an overseas trip, demanded things (academically, socially and basketball wise) from that player. In the end, that player, J.R. Giddens became a star again, and a firstound NBA draft pick. Do things our way, or you don't play! I'm glad Craig is sticking to his guns.
