"I think that's a good way to look at it," fourth-year CSU coach Tim Miles said. "It's an important game for us. I know we haven't beaten New Mexico since (Lobo coach) Steve Alford and his staff have been there (in seven games). It's important that we change that.
"And this game's really important in terms of which teams are going to get at-large consideration in the NCAA Tournament. That's not lost on us." The MWC, the fourth-rated conference in college basketball according to computer rankings, is sure to get at least two teams in the tournament. After that, it's up in the air.
The resurgent Rams are already being called an NCAA Tournament "lock" by some league analysts who believe up to five MWC teams will make it. But it doesn't take a locksmith to figure out there's still a combination of things that need to occur first.
Same goes for New Mexico, but the Lobos could get a major boost tonight, perhaps even jumping in front of Colorado State.
Despite the Rams' higher Ratings Percentage Index than the Lobos (CSU's is 42; UNM's is 68), a loss to New Mexico would make it hard for the tournament committee to pencil in CSU ahead of UNM.
A Lobo win, and the teams would be tied in the league race. And the Lobos would have a better overall record with a sweep of the Rams in the regular season, having won 68-61 last month in the Pit.
"It's a big game both ways," Alford said. "They win, they gain a split (with UNM) and they get their 17th win overall and are probably on their way to assuring themselves a winning record in the league.
"We get a win, and we get a sweep. Come three weeks from now, we potentially could be tied, so that becomes big." While sixth-ranked San Diego State (24-1, 9-1) and seventh-ranked Brigham Young (23-2, 9-1) continue to distance themselves from the rest of the league, that No. 3 spot could be huge. UNLV (18-6, 6-4), which plays host to SDSU tonight, is in that mix.
After tonight, the Rams and Lobos have similar schedules. Both play the two powerhouses on the road, and both get UNLV at home.
"I think only three are getting in (from the MWC), and I think whoever gets third alone gets in," Miles said. "I'm not buying all the hype about four or five teams, not unless another wins the MWC tournament." Alford delivers more of the company line, but added that falling into a fourth seed or lower would hurt his team's chances, "because it would likely mean you're playing a road game against UNLV in the first round of the (MWC) tournament" in March.
For now, the Lobos have to worry about beating the Rams on the road.
And this is not the typical CSU gang. The school that hasn't had a winning league mark since the inaugural year of the MWC (1999-2000), went winless in conference in 2008 and was 4-28 in MWC play over 2008 and 2009, is on the heels of a brilliant turnaround.
Credit Miles, a coach who got through that 0-16 MWC campaign of 2008 much like former NFL football coach John McKay did when his Tampa Bay Bucs lost 26 straight in 1976 and 1977 -- with patience, grit, and wit.
"They hired me to make history in men's basketball. We knocked that out in season one," said Miles, whose humor is one of the reasons The mtn. show "Season Pass" focuses on CSU basketball, behind the scenes.
Today, the cameras are sure to see the serious side of CSU as it tries to slow the Lobos, who have won four straight.
Besides the coaches, the player matchups are also interesting, maybe the key one being between inside bashers Drew Gordon of UNM and Andy Ogide of CSU.
"I'm looking forward to it; he's a great player and a great athlete," said Gordon, who had 16 points and 18 rebounds in a 68-57 home win against Wyoming on Wednesday. "I'm assuming we have high respect for each other. I know I do with him." Lobo freshman guard Tony Snell, who hit five 3s against Wyoming, is hoping to continue his hot streak and Alford is hoping to continue to boost his team's NCAA chances.
"I told the team, San Diego State and BYU are the only other teams to win four games in a row in this league, so we've done some good things," Alford said. "Especially after losing three in a row, to be able to do what we've done has been impressive. "We're playing a team that's been playing very, very well, and they've had seven days to get ready for us. It's a pretty pivotal game in February." Today Men: UNM at Colorado State, 7 p.m. TV: The mtn. (Comcast 276, DirecTV 616, no Dish) Radio: KKOB-AM (770) Today Women: Colorado State at UNM, 2 p.m. Radio: KNMLAM (610) To see more of the Albuquerque Journal, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.abqjournal.com. Copyright (c) 2011, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com.
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the ITEXPO East, February 2-4, 2011 Miami Beach Convention Center, FL.
No comments:
Post a Comment