Iowa fans turn your heads, Alford has New Mexico rolling

The most polarizing figure in Iowa sports history left amid cheers and catcalls nearly three years ago. Now, Steve Alford has his New Mexico club rolling to a 10-0 start while his former Iowa team (3-7) has its worst 10-game start in 70 years.

Alford's New Mexico squad upset No. 16 Texas A&M to burst to its first 10-0 record since 1995-96. It's likely the Lobos will be ranked for the first time since 1999 when No. 25 New Mexico bowed out of the NCAA Tournament to Connecticut, just five days before Iowa lost to UConn in the Sweet 16.

The Lobos have just one senior in Roman Martinez, who averages 17.3 points a game. Two other players average in double figures as well. Former Iowa recruit Dairese Gary, who was released from his scholarship when Alford left for New Mexico, averages 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists a game.

Alford has analysts like Dick Vitale singing his praises on Twitter. Alford told the Houston Chronicle after beating Texas A&M, his program is moving forward on a national scale.

“People are going to start realizing we are New Mexico,” Alford said. “We're winning ball games. And I always want our guys to have chips on their shoulders.”

In 2007, New Mexico finished 15-17 and 4-12 in Mountain West play. Alford has taken the Lobos to 24 and 21 wins and a pair of NIT appearances the last two years. In his last two seasons at Iowa, Alford's Hawkeyes were 25-8 and 17-14.

Alford's New Mexico teams are 26-1 when scoring 80 or more points. Iowa has scored 80 points just once under Alford's successor, Todd Lickliter. And that was an 80-51 win against Prairie View A&M last week when Lickliter was in the hospital.

In a game of six degrees (and nine days) of separation, New Mexico beat California 86-78 on Dec. 2. California beat Iowa State 82-63 on Dec. 5. Iowa State beat Iowa 81-71 on Dec. 11.

Lastly, New Mexico has an RPI of 29; Iowa 202.