Kitty Clark Fritz/Special to the Tribune

Dionne Marsh spent part of the offseason trying out for the USA Under-20 Women's National Team. The Lobos' leading rebounder and No. 2 scorer last season, she failed to make the U.S. roster, but the experience of playing alongside some of the nation's top collegiate talent ought to help Marsh. She'll be counted on to lead a team with 10 freshmen and sophomores on the roster.

Kitty Clark Fritz/Special to the Tribune

Point guard Amy Beggin backed up Katy Montgomery last season, so this year it's the sophomore's show to run. Beggin will be expected to play nearly 40 minutes per game for coach Don Flanagan after her primary backup, freshman Nikki Nelson, suffered a season-ending knee injury during the offseason.

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The biggest challenge facing the University of New Mexico women's basketball program is living up to its past.

The expectations each season are tied to the success of previous Lobos teams:

Six straight trips to the NCAA Tournament.

An average of 22 wins per season during the past 12 seasons.

Mountain West Conference titles. Three in the regular season. Five tournament titles.

Attendance figures in the top five nationally.

On and on.

Each year, the team coming next tries to surpass the team before it.

That's the duty of head coach Don Flanagan's teams - keep growing or face breaking the chain.

New faces replace familiar ones. The wins keep rolling in.

But does the 2007-08 version have the pieces in place to make it seven in a row?

Here's a look at the Lobos:

The breakdown

If the NCAA streak of appearances is going to remain intact - if the Lobos are going to make a deeper run once they get there - they are going to need help for their go-to player, Dionne Marsh.

The freshmen and sophomores must mature quickly to provide enough support to the experienced trio of junior Angela Hartill and seniors Marsh and Brandi Kimble.

Flanagan appears to have the depth to give 10 Lobos significant minutes if he so chooses. The second unit has beaten the first team in intrasquad scrimmages.

A few years back, that was uncommon.

"The first team used to whip the second team with one eye closed," Flanagan said. "That's not the case anymore."

This year's team faces the task of replacing the scoring of guards Katie Montgomery and Julie Briody.

Flanagan says the Lobos might not have the perimeter might to equal the Montgomery-Briody combination from 3-point range.

But these Lobos have a tougher, more physical edge to them.

They will need to pound the ball inside. Over and over.

Wear teams down.

Punish them with their size, strength and numbers.

"This is a different team, a much tougher team, for sure," Flanagan said.

The nonconference schedule should provide plenty of preparation for what appears to be a four- or five-way battle to win the league title.

UNM has a home date with No. 7 Stanford and a road game against No. 13 California.

The Lobos also host three tournaments, where they will be tested on back-to-back nights against solid opponents.

UNM was picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll behind Wyoming, TCU and BYU. Utah was picked fifth.

But that's usually the case with Flanagan's teams. They often overachieve.

They play stingy defense. They protect The Pit. They find a way to win big games. And they peak in March.

Go-to player

No debate here. Marsh is the star attraction. She spent part of the offseason trying out for the USA Under-20 Women's National Team. She failed to make the final roster, but the experience of playing alongside some of the nation's top collegiate talent ought to help Marsh.

And she's healthy for the first time in a long time.

Offseason surgery to repair a back injury has given Marsh renewed energy and a refreshed body to carry the Lobos, if needed.

At least early in the season, Marsh might need to take charge. Call for the ball. Know when to look for her shot and when to pass to open teammates when the inevitable double- and triple-teams come her way.

She'll need to stay healthy and motivated to increase the averages of 14.7 points and 6.3 rebounds she posted as a junior.

With games on the line, Flanagan won't hesitate to go to Marsh.

"Nothing's changed there," Flanagan said. "We've been relying on Dionne since she was a freshman."

X-factor

This isn't as clear for the Lobos. Could it be the warriorlike play of sophomore Eileen Weissmann? The emergence of a promising freshman like Jessica Kielpinski? How about the experience of junior transfer Amanda Adamson?

It's a close call, but Adamson's addition after sitting out last season gets the vote here.

Adamson's role isn't clearly defined yet, but the Syracuse transfer shows the potential to be a key contributor off Flanagan's bench.

The 6-foot Adamson has the size to post up smaller defenders much like former Lobo Abbie Letz. She has the midrange jumper and slashing ability to score in a variety of ways.

If she can increase her shooting accuracy from the perimeter, she could be a steady double-digit scorer.

"I just need to keep shooting, and keep looking to shoot," Adamson said. "Rebound. Play defense. Anything to help us get wins."

Something old

Amy Beggin isn't exactly an aged veteran. But the sophomore point guard will be counted on to play like one.

Beggin came off the bench to relieve Montgomery last season, and played well in spurts, especially during the postseason.

She returns in perhaps the biggest role for the Lobos, running the offense and hitting 3-pointers when she's open.

Beggin will be expected to play nearly 40 minutes every game for Flanagan after her primary backup, freshman Nikki Nelson, suffered a season-ending knee injury during the offseason.

"I'm prepared for whatever coach needs from me," Beggin said. "I realize I have to step up my play for us to do well. We have a lot of players on this team that can contribute. It's my job to make sure that happens."

Something new

Look what the blizzard blew in. Look for Kielpinski, the newcomer from North Dakota, to play a prominent role by the time league play begins.

If Hartill can't become the consistent scorer in the interior that Flanagan needs to take some of the pressure off of Marsh, Kielpinski could step into that role.

She has shown an aggressiveness in the low post that defies her youth.

"She never stops moving," Flanagan said. "She's going to be a good player for us. How soon depends on her."

Kielpinski has put up double-doubles in intrasquad scrimmages and isn't afraid of contact. If she can hone her post moves, watch out.

She's a bigger, stronger version of ex-Lobo Jennifer Williams, with the same knack for scoring junk baskets and using her soft shooting touch from close range.

Trib prediction

The Lobos will struggle at times to find scoring options besides Marsh, but Flanagan should have plenty of bench scoring to outpace teams. The defense will be among the nation's best - again - and a marquee win over Stanford in The Pit would open eyes around the country. UNM should fare better than their fourth-place preseason prediction. A runner-up showing in a well-respected and loaded MWC will get the Lobos back in the NCAAs. Expect a slight drop from last year's 24-9 team, but 22 or 23 wins would be a respectable showing for this pack of Lobos.