Here is our Prediction Poll for the 2018-2019 MW Season. We are looking for more responses this year and decided to do a post on the website instead of just using Twitter. Both links are the same so you should be good to go at either spot.
Link below:
The Lobos extended their win streak to eight tonight with an 85-53 win over Sacramento State. The Lobos are now 9-1 and will look to close their non-conference schedule 11-1 with their games against Stephen F Austin (at home) and Long Beach State (on the road). There is plenty to talk about with this team right now, so here are my reactions from tonight’s game:
After dropping another home game to North Texas, the Lobos fell to 5-5 on the season and left plenty of questions and observations from my seat. This is the first of Zach’s Reacts, in which I will give his immediate post-game thoughts. Each paragraph will be a different topic and I hope that the order works.
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 time has finally come for year two of the Coach Paul Weir Era! After a promising first season, with the Lobo faithful buying into the Weir’s vision for the program, there is plenty of reason to be excited to the season to begin. There are a lot of interesting stories to watch as the season unfolds, as it promises to be a memorable one. Today, we look at some of the possible stories to watch, what we will have our eyes on, an overview of the roster, and how the Lobos could stand in the Mountain West and in the NCAA.
There is a lot to be said about what took place in Fort Collins in the matchup between UNM and CSU. As a quick summary, The Lobos fought hard after CSU took a 14-3 lead at the half, outscoring CSU 15-6 in the second half. Unfortunately, three of CSU’s points came as time expired, as they kicked a 26-yard field goal to win the game 20-18. Here’s what was on my mind as I was leaving the press box:
Lobos had their chances: The Lobos had a 4th and 1 at the 4-yard line in the second quarter with a chance to make it a 7-7 game. That didn’t happen though. Instead, the Lobos were unable to convert and didn’t score on the drive that went 75 yards. On the next series for CSU, they had a 4th and 1 from the 3 and were able to convert, setting up a touchdown to take a 14-0 lead. At the end of the first half, the Lobos had another solid drive, going 65 yards before stalling and having to settle for a field goal. That left the Lobos looking at a 14-3 CSU lead at the half. On the first drive of the second half for CSU, the Lobos had an interception that was taken back due to a penalty. CSU didn’t score on the drive, but that could have been a game-changing play. The Lobos had a 3rd and 5 with just over a minute left and could have sealed the 18-17 win if they had converted on the play, but a dropped pass gave CSU the ball back with a chance to win the game. In a game that ends on a field goal, there are always a number of moments that could have changed the outcome. This one was no exception.
What went right: The Lobos were able to find big plays in the passing game, with Umeh having a 52-yard reception and Lilly with a 23-yard TD reception. The Lobos should be able to find those plays more consistently in the last six games of the regular season. Aside from his fumble on the second play of the game, Tyrone Owens was able to break off a few really nice runs The Lobos will need to find a way to find Owens more space throughout the remaining schedule. Marcus Hayes again showed how special of a player he can be for the Lobos when he broke for a 53-yard punt return that set up the TD by Delane Hart-Johnson. Hayes also provided great play in the secondary, as he had 8 tackles and a pass break up. Hart-Johnson also showed great ball skills with multiple big catches on 3rd downs and a huge TD catch that gave the Lobos the lead. Sheriron Jones has taken off with the quarterback position and has shown great growth since being thrown into the fire against Wisconsin, leaving me excited to see his continued growth during the rest of the season.
What went wrong: It didn’t take long for the first miscue to show up in the game, when Owens fumbled the ball on the second play of the game to set up a quick TD for CSU. It was a play that was circled as soon as it happened and came back to bite the Lobos. I thought it was the right call to go for it when it was 4th and 1 at the 4, as if the Lobos convert they probably score a TD and momentum would have been on their side after the bad start to the game. But, as we saw, it didn’t pan out. A huge difference in the game was 3rd and 4th down conversions. On the game, the Lobos were 3 for 11 on 3rd and 0 for 1 on 4th while CSU was 7 for 18 on 3rd and 1 for 1 on 4th down. The Lobos will need to find a way to convert these situations to win these close games.
Bowl Chances: With the loss today the Lobos fall to 3-3 and 1-1 in MW play. The Lobos will need to win 3 of the final 6 games to become bowl eligible. The remaining schedule for the Lobos is Fresno State, at Utah State, SDSU, at AFA, Boise State, and Wyoming. They will play 4 of the top 5 teams in the MW during these 6 games, so finding 3 wins is going to be difficult. This team has a chance to get there, but have to think they are well below 50% at this point. Would have been nice to have this one (and Liberty, while we’re at it.)
Up next: The Lobos will return to Albuquerque to host Fresno State (4-1, 1-0 they play Wyoming tonight) next Saturday, the Lobos will have to find ways to get their big playmakers the ball and limit the opportunities Fresno State gets. It should be a good day for Lobo sports, so make sure to get a $2 ticket to the Cherry vs. Silver Men’s Basketball event on October 19th (Friday) and get a ticket for the Football game.
It’s rivalry week, as the Lobos head down to Las Cruces to take on the Aggies for the 109th meeting between these two programs. Historically, the series has been lopsided, with the Lobos having an all-time record of 70-33-5 against the Aggies. That in itself makes it seem less like a rivalry and more like when I would dominate Zach in basketball when we were kids (let’s see if he reads this). However, the last two years have seen the Lobos play sloppy games that resulted in close losses to the Aggies, so recently, things have felt a lot tighter.
This year, neither program feels like it’s in great shape. The Lobos have been subject to tough financial situations, some coach controversies, and just a rough season in the past year. The Aggies, on the other hand, won their first bowl game in forever right before they were set to get kicked out of their conference. Still, it’s a rivalry game and it means something regardless of how good the programs are. I’d certainly prefer to not lose to the Aggies for the third straight year.
UNM Women’s Basketball got better today, as high school senior guard Corina Carter gave Coach Bradbury and the staff a verbal commitment while on her official visit this weekend. Carter, from San Antonio, TX, is ranked as a Top-100 player in the 2019 class and will help the team from day one in a Lobo uniform at either guard spot. The news is great for Bradbury and staff as it gives them their first high-level true point in their first few years at UNM.
Carter joins Autumn Watts (2019 post) in the Lobos’ 2019 class, as the Lobos have four scholarships open for the class with Nunn, Lines, McClure, and Moore graduating after the 2018-2019 season. This is a start to a great recruiting class that could very well be locked in November. The Lobos have also had 2019 Forward Azaria Robinson (Alaska) and 2019 wing Adriana Avent (Sacramento, CA) visit UNM on official visits and I would consider the Lobos the favorite for both players. Talent is coming to UNM and it is an exciting time for Coach Bradury and Co. Don’t sleep on this program on the rise.
The Lobos took care of business last week, steamrolling Incarnate Word in the season opener by a 62-30 margin. They hit the road this week to play Wisconsin, which is something akin to racing an IronMan Triathlon after running an elementary-school jog-a-thon.
After a long, eventful offseason, Lobo Football starts back up this weekend with a home game against Incarnate Word. Going into the year, the team has to answer some huge questions. Can they bounce back from a down season? Can they recapture fan support? And can they make a bowl game this year? It’s going to be a very interesting season.
