Fans react to Lobo's No. 3 NCAA seed

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Lobo fans wasted no time welcoming home the returning champs, and heading to the Pit Sunday afternoon to find out what's next for the Lobos.

Team members say they have the best fan base, and those fans showed in their numbers Sunday when everyone learned who the Lobos will match up with in the NCAA tournament.  

Thousands of Lobos fans lined up around the Pit early Sunday afternoon. The flow of fans spanned all generations, and appeared never-ending, as each of them filed inside to hear where the Lobos would be in the NCAA tournament.
     
The Mountain West champs are the first team in Mountain West history to win back-to-back regular season tournament titles. They returned home from Las Vegas Sunday after beating the University of Las Vegas 63-56, and were welcomed by a howling crowd.    

Some fans said they hoped for a number one seed, others expected a number two, and some fans told KRQE News 13 they expected to travel to Texas.

When the announcement was made, the crowd erupted in cheers as the Lobos were declared a number three seed in the West regional bracket, set to face number 14 seeded Harvard in Salt Lake City, Utah.

"It was lower than I thought it would be but its still a good seed," said Lobos fan, Erasmo Valdiviezo.

After 29 wins this season, Lobos fans are ready for the match-up. It's their 14th NCAA tournament appearance, and third trip in four seasons under head coach Steve Alford.

"A third seed is still good, we're going to Salt Lake City, and possibly a third round game with Arizona," said Christian Montaño. "And they're kind of our rivals and they're right next door to us, and we've always had a good game with them."

Lobos fan Chuck Reynolds said he's been a fan for years, and had his niece standing by at home to reserve plane tickets online. "We really deserve a second seed but we'll have to match up with the Harvard Crimson, and we'll have fun playing them," he said after the announcement. "My wife and I are going to Salt Lake City."

Several fans KRQE spoke with Sunday said they plan on making the trip for the NCAA tournament on Thursday. The Lobos haven't made it to the Sweet 16 in the current bracket format.