Lobos prepare to start NCAA Tourney run

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (KRQE) - The NCAA Tournament run for Coach Steve Alford’s 10th ranked University of New Mexico basketball team starts Thursday night as the Lobos face the Harvard Crimson.
    
The Lobos have size and depth.
    
Harvard doesn't have any starters over six foot seven and lack depth. That's the tale of the tape as the Lobos and Harvard start NCAA Tournament play.

“It is going to be difficult. We always take it one game at a time and never underestimate any team,” UNM guard Hugh Greenwood said.

As the Lobos and Harvard prepare for their NCAA showdown staying true to their identity is what both teams are talking about.

“You don't change things now. So if Harvard can play the way they have played all year and we can play the way we played all year, those would be keys for both of us,” Alford said.

“I don't think we're looking to surprise them. We just want to come out and play our game, do the things that have got us to this point,” Harvard guard Wesley Saunders said.

When talking about Harvard, Lobo players compared the Crimson four guard line up to Boise State and Air Force.

It something they have seen during conference season.

“It’s not going to be a problem for us,” UNM forward Alex Kirk said. We have seen it all year. We have guys like Nick and Chad who can come in and guard the smaller guys if need be.”

“As long as we come out tough minded like we did during the mountain west tournament, we will be just fine,” UNM forward Cameron Bairstow said.

During their Mountain West Tournament championship run, the Lobos held three opponents to only 50.7 points per game. They will be looking for more of that type of defense Thursday night.

Under Alford, the Lobos are 73 and two when holding opponents under 60 points.
    
Tip-off is approximately 7:50 p.m. mountain time on TNT.