SAN JOSE, Calif. – It’s an improbable but not impossible task facing the Montana Grizzlies as they cap off opening night of the East Region of the NCAA Tournament against eighth-ranked University of New Mexico Thursday night.
The amazing second-half run by Montana, making up a 20-point deficit to claim the Big Sky Conference Tournament title and subsequent automatic post-season bid is fresh in the minds of the Grizzlies – so are New Mexico’s remembrances of its loss in the Mountain West Tournament in San Diego State last week.
The matchup is reminiscent of 2006, when the Grizzlies wore the tournament’s Cinderella slipper for a day after upsetting nationally ranked Nevada in the tournament’s first round in Salt Lake City before being sent packing by Boston College.
But while the Wolfpack was a top-15 team sporting an outstanding player, the Lobos feature four All-Conference players who all average in double figures.
Picked to finish fifth, after an 0-2 league start, New Mexico reeled off 14 consecutive wins to repeat as Mountain West Conference champion only to lose to San Diego State for the second time this season in the league tournament, the first Lobo loss in nine weeks.
After winning a school record 29 games, the third-seeded Lobos are ranked eighth in the AP poll and the third seed is their highest ever.
If you are into matching comparative scores, New Mexico trounced Northern Arizona 96-57, a team the Grizzlies defeated three times by an average of 18 points.
They dropped Colorado State twice, while Montana fell to the Rams 62-61 in Fort Collins and both teams easily defeated UC-Riverside. Montana has quite an end-of-the season streak of its own, winning nine of 11 games and 12 of its last 15.
Darrington Hobson is a key cog in the New Mexico attack who is vying to become the first Lobo player to lead the team in points (16.2), rebounds (9.3) and assists (4.6) the entire season.
Earlier in the week, the JC transfer from Eastern Utah University predicted an Elite Eight appearance for the Lobos but in Wednesday’s press conference he emphasized respect for Montana in general and guard Anthony Johnson in particular.
“He’s a big-time player,” he said, “but we have to beat Montana as a team.”
The Lobos, who have used the same starting lineup in all 33 of the team’s games, have a single senior, Roman Martinez, on a roster that features eight underclassmen.
Coach Steve Alford said the team’s youth and lack of depth have been a concern all season but has not prevented his team from being the only one in the nation to win six games over Top-25 opponents.
“They just continue to amaze,” he said.
As for Johnson, who scored a Grizzly record 42 points in the tournament win over Weber State, Alford threatened to have detour signs erected to keep him away from HP Pavillion.
“He can take over any game,” he said. “He can get you a lot of points in a hurry.”
Montana coach Wayne Tinkle compared the Lobos to Washington, Boise State and Fresno State, two of whom the Grizzlies defeated in the non-conference season.
He emphasized a tougher schedule prepared Montana to have the success they have enjoyed.
“Our intent was to make some magic happen,” he said.
Game time is set for 7:40 p.m. MDT or 30 minutes after the completion of the Washington-Marquette game. Winners play Saturday.
The game can be heard on KOFI 1180 AM in Kalispell and KERR 750 AM in Polson.