A new season brings new hopes, dreams, and expectations for Lobo Men’s Basketball Fans. This post mostly focuses on the first two. We’ll take a quick look at the non-conference schedule, make some bold predictions, and fill out our preseason MW ballots. Let’s do this.
The Schedule
Unlike most years, the Lobos won’t have the added bonus of an MTE tournament this year, which a) doesn’t let them take a trip to someplace cool for the holidays and b) does hurt the ceiling of the schedule for this year. That being said, I really like what Coach Weir was able to piece together. While there won’t be any big name schools on the schedule this year, there will be a whole lot of teams that will be in the 50-150 range of schools. That sort of depth could create an enticing resume for the NCAA Tournament, assuming that the Lobos are able to take care of business. Here is the non-conference schedule:
Nov. 6 at Cal State Northridge
Nov. 10 Exhibition Northern New Mexico
Nov. 13 Iona
Nov. 17 New Mexico State
Nov. 24 UTEP
Dec. 1 at Bradley (MWC/MVC Challenge)
Dec. 4 at NMSU
Dec. 7 Saint Mary’s (Staples Center)
Dec. 11 Colorado
Dec. 16 Central Arkansas
Dec. 18 North Texas
Dec. 22 Penn
Dec. 30 at University of the Southwest (NAIA) Hobbs, NM
There is no one on that schedule that the Lobos can’t beat and most of those games feature opponents that the Lobos should beat. The key stretch is the first four games in December, starting with Bradley and ending with Colorado. If the Lobos can pick up three or four wins there, they will keep their hopes alive for an at-large bid.
Zach’s Bold Predictions:
- Lobos will win either the MW Regular Season or MW Tournament
- Lobos will make the NCAA Tournament
- Lobos will have the highest Offensive Rating in the MW
- Lobos will have 4 players shoot at least 38% from 3.
- Lobos will have 3 players shoot better than 85% FT
- Anthony Mathis will have 120+ 3-Pointers
- Anthony Mathis will average 18+ points per game
- Dane Kuiper will average 4+ assists
- Lobos will have 3 players named All-MW (two on first, second, or third, one on honorable mention)
- Lobos will score over 100 points in 6 games
- Lobos will be ranked in the Top 25 at some point during the season
- Lobos will have 425+ 3-pointers
- Makuach Maluach will average 15 points and 5 rebounds a game
- Vance Jackson will average 13 points and 7 rebounds
- Carlton Bragg will average a double-double
- Lobos will average over 13,500 a game
MW Preseason Ballots
Zach’s Picks:
- Nevada
- UNM
- SDSU
- Fresno State
- CSU
- Boise State
- UNLV
- USU
- WYO
- AFA
- SJSU
Player of the Year:
Caleb Martin, Nevada
Newcomer of the Year:
Carlton Bragg, UNM (Going on a limb here)
Freshman of the Year:
Bryce Hamilton, UNLV
First Team All-MW:
Caleb Martin, Nevada
Cody Martin Nevada
Jalen McDaniels, SDSU
Anthony Mathis. UNM
Deshon Taylor, Fresno State
Coach of the Year:
Paul Weir, UNM
Jono’s Picks:
- Nevada
- UNM
- SDSU
- Boise State
- UNLV
- Fresno State
- WYO
- CSU
- USU
- AFA
- SJSU (Would drop them lower if I could)
Player of the Year:
Caleb Martin, Nevada
Newcomer of the Year:
Vance Jackson, UNM
Freshman of the Year:
Jordan Brown, Nevada
First Team All-MW:
Caleb Martin, Nevada
Jordan Caroline, Nevada
Deshon Taylor, Fresno State
Jalen McDaniels, SDSU
Justin James, WYO
Coach of the Year:
Eric Musselman, Nevada