Fans mad about March Madness finish for UNM

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The national media is calling it the biggest upset in the NCAA tournament so far. Lobo fans call it just plain depressing.

“It's just upsetting… definitely,” says UNM senior, Joey Padilla.

“It was like a dagger in the heart,” says UNM freshman, Charlie Berger.

“They just couldn't pull it off,” says UNM graduate Shenise Cox.

They are all talking about “March Madness”—emphasis on “madness” for Lobo fans still reeling from Thursday night's shocking loss to Harvard.

Fans went from happily sporting their cherry and silver to just feeling blue.

“A lot of people had homework and tests and stuff they didn't do and the loss on top of that just makes for a bad mood for the day,” Berger says.

Seeded at number three in the tournament's west region, UNM was expected dominate over 14-seed Harvard.

The Crimson had never won an NCAA tournament game until Thursday night, winning 68 to 62.

“It was stressful,” Cox says. “The whole game was back and forth. It was intense the whole way through."

From television to newspapers, from New Mexico to Miami—the headlines won't seem to let Lobo fans forget it.

“I don't even think anyone was expecting to lose, and I think they're more shocked right now,” Padilla says.

Shocked or suffering from post-game depression, like UNM's Student Union Building tweeted Friday.

Despite the disappointment, fans say they still love their Lobos.

Team members arrived in Albuquerque Friday morning, looking just as upset as everyone else.

Even so, we found one woman still wanting to show her support. She showed up at the Albuquerque Sunport, hoping to greet the team returning from Salt Lake City.

“They're the heart of our town—the Lobo basketball team,” Shelly Hughes says. “It's what we have and what we love."

Unfortunately, she just barely missed the Lobos when the team flew in Friday morning.

We saw a few fans arriving at the Sunport from Salt Lake City Friday. They were a little too upset to talk to us on camera though.

Last year was Harvard's first NCAA appearance since 1946. The team lost to Vanderbilt.