Front Page  sports

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Alford: Lobos Get 'Job Done' in School

By Mark Smith
Journal Staff Writer
       University of New Mexico men's basketball coach Steve Alford may have had trouble getting his incoming freshmen academically eligible, but they apparently have adjusted well to college life.
    While individual grades aren't made available, the Lobos' team grade-point average was, and it was 3.2 for the summer.
    "They really got the job done," Alford said. "We had a 2.7 GPA last year (for the fall and spring semesters), which was the third highest in team history, and the summer was really good. We're starting to clean up this academic mess we inherited, and having Duane (Broussard) on board will help even more."
    Broussard, a former assistant under ex-coach Ritchie McKay, was recently hired as director of operations. One of his main duties is working with the players on their academic issues.
    Alford said freshmen Phillip McDonald, Nate Garth, A.J. Hardeman, Will Brown and Curtis Dennis all took summer classes. So did all seven veterans, including 2007-08 redshirt freshman Kem Nweke.
    Hardeman, Brown and Dennis all had trouble getting academically cleared by the NCAA in the spring. All finished their high school eligibility in the 2006-07 season.
    Fall signee Isaiah Rusher has still not been cleared. Alford said he hopes Rusher will be eligible by the second semester this December.
    Alford said UNM's three seniors, Daniel Faris, Tony Danridge and Chad Toppert, are all on pace to graduate this school year and junior Roman Martinez is on schedule to get his degree in 2010.
    "I'm a lot more excited about academics now than at this time last year," said Alford, who was hired in the spring of 2007. "...This is a great accomplishment considering the number of new guys we had in summer school. It is also a credit to the hard work from our vets setting an example for the younger guys. Our program is starting to turn the corner academically, but we are not there yet."
    SCHEDULE COMPLETE: The Lobos will open their Mountain West Conference season on Jan. 3 at UNLV, the league releasing the schedule on Friday.
    The Lobos follow that with a home game against UTEP before playing MWC games the rest of the way.
    UNM officially opens its 2008-09 campaign at home against Southeast Missouri State on Nov. 14.
    It plays an exhibition game here against Western New Mexico on Nov. 8.
    MORE TV IN 2009?: UNM fans who were frustrated by not seeing certain games last year on the tube shouldn't have that problem this go-around.
    On Friday, sports information director Greg Remington said Lobo Sports Properties and local station KASY (channel 50) are negotiating to pick up non-TV scheduled games.
    "It's pending approval of the Mountain West Conference and the television partners," Remington said.
    ETC.: Alford said Nweke is still recovering from his knee surgery in the spring, but he should be ready to start working out in two to four weeks.
    ...The coaching staff will play in a golf event Sunday to Tuesday in Ruidoso with the program's 6th Man boosters club.
    ... Alford has required his freshman to be on campus Monday. Veterans are due back Friday. Classes begin Aug. 25.
    UNM WOMEN: The Lobos will have plenty of national exposure in 2008-09 with six games televised on either The Mtn. or CBS College Sports networks. All six will be home games.
    The TV schedule won't allow fans to see any Lobo road games, but it will serve to promote UNM's program.
    "We always want the opportunity to be on national television," coach Don Flanagan said. "Having six home games is a big advantage for our fans and recruits. This will give us a chance to showcase our crowds, the atmosphere and our arena."
    The Mtn. will air New Mexico's home games against DePaul, New Mexico State, Texas Tech and Brigham Young. CBS College Sports will carry the TCU and Utah games at the Pit.
    The MWC released its portion of the women's basketball schedule on Friday. The Lobos open conference play Jan. 7 against visiting UNLV.
   
    Alford: Lobos Get `Job Done' in School
   
    Team's GPA Is 3.2 In Summer Session
   
    ALFORD: Academic ‘mess' is being cleaned up
   
    UNM BASKETBALL
   
   
       

---