Blog

GAME PREVIEW

WHAT: No. 8 New Mexico (27-3, 13-2 in the MWC) vs. TCU (13-16, 5-9)
WHEN: Wednesday, 6:32 p.m.
WHERE: The Pit (sold out)
TV: The mtn.

NUMBER TO KNOW
0: All-time victories by TCU in Albuquerque. Don't expect that to change anytime soon.

WHY TO WATCH
Easy, it's the last time to watch New Mexico senior Roman Martinez get floor burns at the Pit.

It should be an emotional night for a lot of Lobos fans. In my limited amount of time covering UNM, I can't think of a more beloved athlete. Not only is Martinez one of UNM's best players -- he's one of only three Lobos ever to score 1,000 points, grab 500 rebounds and hit 150 3-pointers -- but he also is the unquestioned leader and glue of what may be the best UNM team ever. This is on top of being an academic All-American and a semifinalist for a character award named after John Wooden.

Even without all these accolades, Martinez is the type of player fans love. He's almost always at an athletic disadvantage, yet throws himself on the floor and seems to live for Lobos basketball the way fans do. Growing up in El Paso, the grandson of a former New Mexico State standout, Martinez knows how much basketball means here.

As a Lobos fan, this game would be worth attending just for one last chance to cheer for Martinez.

OPPOSING PLAYER TO WATCH
C Zvonko Buljan
6-foot-9, 235 pounds
12.6 points, 8.5 rebounds per game

Buljan isn't the opposing player you watch because he's a sure NBA star or a freakish athlete.

Buljan is the guy you love to hate.

No active player has more career double-doules that Buljan (17, including two in a row), so he's all over the floor -- and usually in the middle of controversy. Buljan flops and pesters opponents with an elbow here or a forearm there.

You may remember he drew the ire of UNM coach Steve Alford last year, in an unexpectedly competitive game. Alford spent a lot of time barking at Buljan and after the post fouled out the coach reportedly said, "Good. You’ve been a (expletive) all night.”

VIEW FROM PRESS ROW
Is Steve Alford sorry?

As you've no doubt heard or seen, Alford was engaged in a heated confrontation with BYU's Jonathan Tavanari. The climax: Alford call Tavernari a ... well, it rhymes with glass bowl.

In three separate media interviews Alford, it doesn't seem the coach thinks he did anything wrong. Initially (probably before Alford learned video existed of the incident), Alford talked about it to a national writer and made it seem as though all the fiery words came from Tavernari.

Then Alford said he didn't think he deserved a reprimand (the conference thought differently).

Finally somebody asked Alford directly if he had apologized to Tavernari -- Tavernari sought out Alford after the game and offered a gushing unrequited apology to the Lobos coach.

Alford's response: "We talked. We talked afterwards. He apologized for his deal, and I’ve already spoke to coach Rose on my behalf. As far as we’re concerned, that’s over with.”

So, no apology?

Will Alford's behavior change? Doesn't seem like he thinks that's necessary. We won't have to wait long to find out because if anybody can bring the vitriol out of Alford it is TCU's Buljan.