Howling With The Lobos: Green Bay Preview

What: New Mexico Lobos vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix

When: Wednesday November 13^th, 2019 at 7 p.m. Mountain

Where: DreamStyle Arena a.k.a. The Pit in Albuquerque

Coverage: The Mountain West Network (themw.com/watch), UNM Lobo Radio Network (770 AM/94.5 FM KKOB in Albuquerque)

Series: This is the first ever meeting between New Mexico and Green Bay

Breakdown:

Most Lobo fans might only know about the Packers when it comes to Green Bay. However, the city does have a university that plays in the Horizon League. The Phoenix are 1-1 on the season. They lost their season opener to Purdue, 79-57, then beat Division III Wisconsin-Stout on Saturday, 115-64.

The Lobos, on the other hand, are 2-0 for the third consecutive season after wins over Eastern New Mexico, 92-71, and Cal State-Northridge, 97-70. The Lobos will be looking for their first 3-0 start under Paul Weir, and will be looking for their first 3-0 start since the 2016-17 season.

It’ll be Legen---dary:

Tonight’s contest is a part of the Legends Classic. This is known as a Campus Game of the tournament. The Lobos will play in the actual tournament part on November 25^th and 26^th in Brooklyn. This coming Saturday’s game against McNeese State will also be a Campus Game for the Legends Classic.

Speaking of Legendary:

The Lobos offense has been pretty legendary in the first two contests of the season. The Lobos have shot 60% from the field in both games and have had five players score in double figures in each contest. The Lobos have also had over 50 points in the paint in both contests, with 52 against Eastern New Mexico and 56 against CSUN.

The Lobos front court might have a little tougher of a go tonight as the Phoenix sport four players who are 6-foot-8 or taller.

In Keeping with the Legend theme:

Lobo legend Gary Colson will be at the game tonight. Colson is going to be honored as the Lobo Legend of the Game, the season long program by the UNM Hall of Fame to recognize and honor past Lobo Legends.

What about Green Bay:

Just like the Lobos the Phoenix boast an offense that loves to spread the scoring around. Guard Kameron Hankerson scored 14 points against Purdue but had just 11 points against Wisconsin-Stout. PJ Pipes and Cody Schwartz had six and zero points respectively against Purdue, then had 17 points each against UW-Stout. Amari Davis, a freshmen guard, had 10 points against Purdue and 15 points against UW-Stout.

So, as fans can see, the Phoenix scoring can come from just about anyone on any given night. The Lobos defense has been able to clamp down on the opposition’s best players in the previous contests. This one, though, might be a little tougher to do since there isn’t one key player that the Lobos can zero in on.

Prediction:

For many Lobo fans, this may be the first time they’ve heard of the Green Bay Phoenix, but the fans should know this isn’t a team that should be messed with. The Phoenix boast nine players who are a junior or senior, along with their freshmen phenom Davis. That experience could give the Lobos fits. Considering the height of the players on both sides, this might very well be a physical style of game. In the end I think this game will be closer than the first two the Lobos have played this season, but until they prove me wrong, I’ll stick with them. I got Lobos 85 Green Bay 76.