Excited Lobos, fans head to MWC

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Lobo basketball players, coaches and fans are expecting an exciting week in Las Vegas, Nevada.
   
The Mountain West Conference tournament begins this week.   
    
Head Coach Steve Alford said Monday that it is going to be a tough fight.

The team heads out at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon.
    
Excitement has been building all season and the excitement continues among the players and Coach Alford, even though the team lost Saturday against Air Force.
    
Going down by one-point in the final seconds of the game handed the Lobos their fifth loss overall of the season.
    
Still, the team is heading into Vegas as Mountain West Conference champions.
    
At Monday morning's news conference, Coach Alford says the team doesn't look at Saturday’s game as a loss for the Lobos, but a win for Air Force.     
    
Positive thinking is clearly part of the prep-work as the team heads for Las Vegas Monday.
    
Coach Alford also summed up their chances by saying whether they play Wyoming or Nevada their confidence is high against either team because they have taken on both within the last 10 days and know what to expect.

“We’ve just got to be who we are. We've been consistent all year, we've got to play well, just like everybody else in this tournament, you're not going to advance unless you play well,” Alford said. “This is not a mediocre league; this is arguably the best league in the country.”
    
The excitement will no doubt continue on this big week for the team even though Monday morning's national ranking has the Lobos dropping from 12th to 15th.
    
Wednesday's game will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.