1Leadership. Donovan Dent, Mountain West Player of the Year, averages over 20 points per game. Head Coach Richard Pitino is the conference’s Coach of the Year. If the dynamic duo can ignite their team, they may have a run in order.
2.Frustration. Dent ripped off 18 points in the second half of New Mexico’s loss to Boise State in the MWC Tournament after he was held to just five points in the first half. If he’s as frustrated by UNM’s tournament loss as he was about his own first half performance, he has the ability to cement himself in tournament lore.
3.Experience. The Lobos boast two redshirt seniors and two juniors in their starting lineup. Maturity and wisdom reign supreme and often eclipse younger talent in this tournament.
Clutch history. One of those redshirt seniors, Mustapha Amzil, hit a game-winning buzzer beater as a freshman at Dayton in 2021 against No. 4 Kansas during a Thanksgiving tournament. Can he bookend his collegiate career with tournament magic?
4.Conditioning. No team higher than New Mexico in the NET is higher in elevation. That is, the Lobos oxygen deprivation in Albuquerque (over a mile high) will keep them fresher than their opponents.
Steven Miller
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