Saint Louis coach says Lobos should win the Mountain West

Rick Majerus was appreciative after his return to the Duke City.

The fifth-year Saint Louis coach said New Mexico’s 64-60 win on Saturday against his Billikens (12-2) was the type of game that will help both teams down the road.

He also said he’s looking forward to the Lobos’ return trip to Saint Louis next year, and would like to see the series continue beyond the current two-year contract.

	Tuesday Houston Baptist at UNM, 7 p.m. TV: My50 Radio: KOB-AM (770)

“I definitely want to do it, no question about it,” he said. “I’ll play anybody. I can’t see playing Our Lady of the Harbor. You’re better off playing good teams.”

Saturday’s game was intense, well-played and came down to a few key plays in the final seconds in front of more than 15,000 wild fans in the Pit.

Majerus said he was very impressed by the Lobos (12-2), who won their 10th straight game.

Then again, the guy who spent 15 seasons coaching the heck out of the Utah Utes has always been impressed with the Lobos – and the program.

“They’re good, they’re a really good team,” Majerus said. “They should win this (Mountain West Conference) league, now that Utah’s out of the league and BYU’s out of the league.

“In the old days, I always thought this (UNM coach) was the best job in the league, and I still think it is. You look at the crowd, you look at the city. I mean, you’re the pro team. You’re the Lakers of New Mexico. I don’t mean that in any way, but it is what it is. Like Kentucky’s the pro team in Kentucky.”

Majerus went on to say the Lobos are “unbelievably athletic,” especially senior post Drew Gordon. He said UNM coach Steve Alford has done a great job recruiting and the Lobos should make it to this year’s NCAA Tournament – and make it many times in down the road in the reconfigured Mountain West.

“I don’t follow the league like I used to, but with Utah and BYU, you’ve got the hammer out of the league,” he said. “You’re the hammer, and decisively. You’re the knockout punch. I don’t even know who would be close.”

He was asked about Pit atmosphere, and chuckled.

“I knew that (it would be loud), it wasn’t like I hadn’t been here before. … This is one of the best places in America to play if you’re the home team, and one of the worst if you’re not. That’s good.

“You look at a lot of these games, like Southern Cal, Arizona State (two teams the Lobos beat on the road this season) – hell even for their league games the stands are half full. But people here appreciate ball, there’s a great tradition here.

“It’s a great place to live, great place to play. I don’t know why these guys didn’t get in the Pac-12. If I’m the Pac-12, I’m taking these guys ahead of Colorado, I think. They could have a good football program here. You’ve got to get a good coach.”

Majerus, whose Utes went to the NCAA Tournament 10 times during his 15 seasons, has yet to get the Billikens there, but could be on his way this year.

He says that one of the toughest things about coaching college ball in Saint Louis, unlike Albuquerque, is the competition for fans.

“We’re contending against three pro teams,” he says. “We’ve got the (NHL’s) Blues, the NFL (Rams) and we’ve got major league baseball. And if you think the Lobos are big, come and take a look at the Cardinals in baseball.”
— This article appeared on page B1 of the Albuquerque Journal