UNM beats Texas

[Bball Girl]

I'm from New Mexico and yes, I'm a Tech fan. But what a thrill for UNM...as the announcer said for the 2nd year in a row to beat a ranked team from Texas. They beat Tech last year in the Pit too. And I'm always going to pull for UNM. This was a program that was suspended for a few years..they hired Don Flannigan a local high school coach who won numerous state championships.

I'm always going to pull for UNM except when they're playing Tech and even then I want to them to make it a close game.

The Pit is a tough place to play, but UNM turned it on in the 2nd half. Stephens had a terrific game as always...a double double and it sounds like Carey is the real deal.

[Jennifer]

77-70 is the final score

[Go Buffs]

The Pit is definitely a difficult place to play.

CU won there last year in the Preseason NIT, but it wasn't pretty. Coach Barry said the fans were yelling at her and the players all through the game. It was a good thing that we started 4 seniors last year!

[Bball Girl]

Thanks for the score...I got a bit excited.

Listening to the postgame show from UNM. Coach Flanagan has nothing but good things to say about UT's quickness and the way they ran their offense in the 1st half. Said he's been watching Stephens since she was 15 and she just gets better every year. UNM's ability to make the backcuts really made the difference.

He enjoyed watching Adams and Stephens battling each other. UNM has 1st/2nd rounds at the Pit this year...they'd like to be there.

Looks like the Mt West is going to have another good year with BYU, CSU and UNM.

[ldlbfn]

The game was close throughout. Texas is going to be very tough as the year goes on and the new players gel in games. Match up betwwen Jordan and Stacy was something. We do need a real good quick guard if someone wants to help. I do agree some with some Texas fans I talked to-UT probably took too many 3's after a hot start. Hit 5 of first 8 but only 2-16 after that. Attendance today was a very, very loud 11,484(I thought it looked closer to 13,000) in Albuquerque. Don't know how much effect that may have had on Texas' 28% second half shooting. It was sort of like one of those games that every player on both teams played so hard, it's tough one has to lose. The series will have at least two more games. Met several of UT's fans that were at the game-a very nice, classy group that came up.

[carolann]

I had to be content to listen to this game on the radio. "The PIT" claims another victim! It was a close game, and I don't doubt things might have gone the other way at home. I guess there was a reason that Conradt made it a point to tell the fans that the New Mexico game was not a 'must win'. She was looking for improvement from her team and she saw improvement. Conradt knows very well the current weaknesses of her team. Conradt has said that this team 'wants to be good and can be good but still has work to do'. Stacy Stephens had a very good game against a team determined to stop her. The rest of the non-conference season does not get easier with TCU and Tennessee at home and LSU on the road.

[two cents]

Along with Stanford and Tennesse, New Mexico gets to host four rounds of the NCAA tournament this spring. I know it's early to think about post-season play, but I can't help speculating that whichever team wins the Big 12 this year is likely to be slotted as a high seed in that region. It's impossible to project what kind of seed New Mexico will receive, but if they get through their own subregional, we can expect 'The Pit' to be sold out and rockin' for the regional.

If my team makes it, I'm hoping the Lobos are seeded on the other side of the bracket and have to go through another high seeded opponent first. It could be a rough arena to play in with a lot on the line. Not that being sent to Tennessee or Stanford would reflect any measure of kindness. Tennessee and New Mexico may harbor more intimidating crowds, but any team shipped to Stanford has to cope with the odd "sponginess" of the Maples Pavilion court, a somewhat unique home court advantage for the Cardinal.

Has there been any other year in which 3 of 4 regionals were hosted by teams likely to be in the tournament? All the more reason for conference teams to learn to win difficult games on the road. Collectively, so far, we're 8-9 on the road and 7-6 on neutral courts. And, of course, a few of those wins were cupcakes.

[carolann]

You're so right two cents about the NCAA tourney and learning to win on the road. Texas hosts zero games this year and so, to advance, may have to defeat a team on its own home court in the first or second round of the tournament. Last year's Texas team was about equal parts young talent, and senior experience and determination. This year's team has to develop the toughness.