ALBUQUERQUE — There is no replacing Roman Martinez.

And Dairese Gary won't even try.

But while 14,586 of Martinez's closest friends were chanting "Ro! Ro! Ro!" during a senior-night ceremony for the senior who played his last home game in The Pit on Wednesday, a 73-66 win over TCU that clinched an outright Mountain West Conference championship, Gary's mind wandered to next year.

"We don't look ahead too much, but I couldn't help but think a little bit about doing this all again next year and finishing off the way Ro is getting to finish off right now," said Gary, who will fill the role of the Lobos' fourth-year senior leader. "I know none of us can do exactly what Ro does, but he's taught me a lot about leadership on and off the court. We talk a lot. I know next year it will be on me to be that type of leader."

Of course that's assuming you buy into the notion Gary isn't already there.

Head coach Steve Alford said the coaching staff didn't want to put "undue pressure" on junior college transfer Darington Hobson entering the season since it was his first year with the team.

So he placed his team's fortunes on Martinez and Gary.

"The leadership really fell on those two guys," Alford said. "They were good friends, but those two guys have really developed a bond. (Now,) they're best of friends and I think their friendship has really filtered down into this team."

Hobson stepping into a third leadership role was just icing on the cake.

While the night was all about appreciating Martinez — Gov. Bill Richardson even signed a proclamation declaring it "Roman Martinez Day" — the success of the program for the 2010-11 season might hinge on Gary's ability to be the calming force Martinez has been all year.

Even with a freshly-cut MWC championship net draped around his neck and handshake after handshake coming his way, it was Martinez who took the time out of his celebration to talk about how this season's success has been about Gary, who scored 16 points.

"I came into this season worried about how much I'd have to score, how much I'd have to take on by myself as the only senior on the team," Martinez said. "But early on, the way he stepped up, and Darington (Hobson), too, I knew right way this team was in good hands even without me around.

"I'm glad I'm a part of all this right now and I'll be watching next year, but this team is going to be in great hands next year when I'm gone. Great hands."

As for the game, Gary had his usual clutch performance, scoring 16 points, dishing out four assists and hitting a game-high eight free throws.

"Dairese's ability to will your team — he's just a bulldog," Alford said. "He knifes his way and knocks four people over to get to the lane and get a basket. He makes some big free throws. He gets a huge defensive stop, whatever it may be."

That drive in big moments is something Gary says he's learned over several years watching his older mentor.

"You have to follow before you can lead," Gary said. "And I've been able to watch and learn from Ro about how to be a leader. There isn't anyone better to lead this team than him and next year, there isn't a better person I could have learned from to try and do the same thing."

Contact Geoff Grammer at 986-3060 or ggrammer@sfnewmexican.com. Read his blog at grammerschoolblog.com.