I guess it's because I'm a local sports writer that people have asked me what I think about Steve Alford being hired as the new University of New Mexico men's basketball coach.

I quickly tell them "yes."

When people start complaining, as a few columnists for Albuquerque newspapers have done, I'm remaining optimistic about Alford's chances here. "He's undefeated so far," I tell them. "Let's give the guy a chance."

At 42, he should have a lot of coaching left in him, maybe enough to stay at UNM beyond the end of his current six-year deal.

Named "Mr. Basketball" in Indiana after averaging an incredible 37.7 points a game as a senior, he played for Bobby Knight at Indiana and helped win the NCAA championship almost 20 years to the day before he was hired at UNM. After a short career in the NBA with Dallas and Golden State, he began his college coaching career.

Alford took Manchester College from a 4-16 mark in his first season (1991-92) to a sterling 31-1 record in his final season (1994-95), then moved to Southwest Missouri State and led that small school to NIT and NCAA appearances.

He became the head coach at Iowa in 1999.

But football rules the Hawkeyes' roost, and Alford should be a fine fit for Lobo Nation, where, as soon as the Lobos football team loses a game, fans start asking, "When does the basketball season start?"

I found myself hoping the Lobos would lose as the 2006-07 season wound down, just to hasten Ritchie McKay's exit. I think he brought in too many thugs, believing he could rehabilitate them.

It didn't work.

Although I didn't go to any games in 2005-06, I saw the Lobos peak this year when they beat the Aggies at The Pit to improve to 5-0. People already were talking NCAA and Sweet 16, but that's the way Lobos fans are. Then the team did a 180 and never recovered after back-to-back drubbings in Las Cruces and El Paso.

Here's what I'd like to see Alford do at UNM:

• Get the Lobos into the NCAA no later than his third season at the helm;

• bring in quality "student-athletes" with good moral character, guys that'll actually graduate;

• maintain a good rela-tionship with the media, not being paranoid about closing practices or dodging the media after a loss;

• take pride in his new job and be active in the community; and

• get The Pit rockin' again.

, ostensibly be bringing in top-notch foes. (We don't want Simon Fraser in here again.)

You see, I'm unlike other Lobos fans. I'm not proclaiming that we need a Sweet 16 appearance for him to be a success.

We've got to give him time to get some recruits; some of the nation's best have already committed for 2007-08, so we need to be patient.

I don't think my requests are too much for the 975 K he's hauling in.

That's more than I make.