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NCAA Tournament Cheat Sheet: Getting to know New Mexico

Mountain West Basketball Tournament - Championship - UNLV v New Mexico

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 16: Anthony Marshall #3 of the UNLV Rebels defends against Cameron Bairstow #41 of the New Mexico Lobos during the second half of the championship game of the Reese’s Mountain West Conference Basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 16, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. New Mexico won 63-56. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)

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Read through the rest of the Cheat Sheets here

Conference: Mountain West

Coach: Steve Alford

Record: 29-5

Rankings and Ratings:

- Kenpom: 16
- RPI: 2
- AP/USA Today: 15/14

Seeding?: Our Dave Ommen had New Mexico as a No. 2 seed playing dangerous Iowa State in Saturday’s bracket projection.

Names you need to know: Kendall Williams (13.5 ppg, 5.0 apg), Alex Kirk (12.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.8 bpg), Tony Snell (12.4 ppg, 38% from deep)

Stats you need to know: 2. Number of times the Lobos play in-state rivals New Mexico State even though they don’t have to. This year, Alford’s boys won both meetings.

How’d they get here?: The Lobos handled a tough UNLV team 63-56 to claim a hard-fought Mountain West title.

Outlook: With a quality backcourt, Alex Kirk in the blocks, and a good supporting cast, the Lobos can easily make the Elite Eight, if not the Final Four.

How do I know you?: Behind the Big Three of Williams, Snell and Kirk stands 6'9" Aussie Cameron Bairstow. The 250-lb. junior is capable of getting a double-double every night, and should be a crucial part of any postseason run the Lobos make.

Eric is the editor of Storming the Floor. He tweets @stfhoops.