Thomas was held to his worst game as a Lobo, scoring just one point. [5], Roy Johnson, nicknamed "Old Iron Head", was fundamental to the early development of Lobo athletics. [115] The Lobos were ranked #23 and received a seven-seed to play Kansas State. [136] The team meandered to a 1311 record but then won four straight, including over #21 Utah. The Lobos returned to the NIT, losing to eventual champion Virginia Tech and finishing 216. [97] In the NIT, the Lobos knocked off Oregon, Oklahoma State, and Hawaii to make the Final Four in New York. Fran Fraschilla coached at New Mexico for three seasons, compiling a 5541 (.572) record with three NIT appearances. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Former Lobo women's basketball player Miranda Sanchez died Monday. The Lobos slumped to a 4236 record over the next three seasons. He played professionally for eight seasons then coached in the NBA for eight more before joining Alford at Iowa. There were a multitude of reasons for this. The Lobos were among the top 12 in the nation in scoring for Ellenberger's final three years, topping a hundred points 25 times and registering six of the school's top eight single-game scoring totals. Colson had also clashed with Koenig in a contract dispute and had gone over his head to resolve the issue. The Lobos added transfer Ruben Douglas from Arizona before the 200001 season, but other key recruits were sidelined by injury and disciplinary problems. [23] The #21 Lobos received a five-seed in the NCAA tournament facing Long Beach State. The Lobos averaged 63.7 ppg, their lowest output since 195859, while holding opponents to 59.2 ppg, the lowest since Bob King's early years. [23] He averaged 16 points and five rebounds a game as a Lobo, also leading the team in assists and steals. [43] After a string of road losses, the Lobos recovered to win six of seven and secure the WAC championship in a strong season for the league when five of eight teams were ranked at some point. Senior Willie Banks, an Albuquerque High product, led the team along with junior guards Ike Williams and Steve Logan and center Khari Jaxon. [23] All five starters averaged in double figures, but the team had little depth and relied heavily on Granger. [75][76] The team slipped to 65 before winning eight out of nine, gaining a share of the WAC lead. [36][39][56] The team played at a frenetic pace and led the nation in scoring at 97.5 points per game. The team entered the year #18 and would remain ranked throughout the next three seasons. [89] Knight acknowledged that he had seriously considered the offer but eventually declined, stating that he did not have the energy that would be required. Fan criticism had reached a crescendo and attendance at The Pit had been dropping significantly. Former New Mexico Lobo men's basketball standout Rob Robbins, left, and his daughter, Hannah, a rising star on the Arizona prep scene, are shown. [153], An early objective for Alford was to change the culture of the program regarding discipline and academic focus. Brown compiled career averages of 19.9 points and 6.9 rebounds a game. Thomas tallied 1,931 points and 1,032 rebounds in his career, the first player in WAC history with over 1,800 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 200 blocked shots. [23] He was selected as the ninth pick overall in the 1967 NBA draft by the Cincinnati Royals, but he chose to play in the fledgling American Basketball Association (ABA), becoming one of its greatest all-time players. [110][111] Bliss stated, "[a]s a coach, I have never compromised more of my offensive principles than while coaching Greg Brown. The current roster is comprised primarily of UNM alumni including: Jamaal Smith (2006-08) J.R. Giddens (2006-08) Phillip McDonald (2008-12) Darington Hobson (2009-10) The Lobos again returned to the NIT, beating Pepperdine and Oregon before losing in the quarter-finals to Ohio State, a team they had beaten earlier in the season, finishing with a 2214 record. The selection committee granted the WAC three spots in the field, but the Lobos were left out, a disappointment that would linger through the following season. They lost to St. Louis in the semi-finals, then in overtime to Penn State in the consolation game to finish the season 2014. He became the fourth leading scorer in school history at the time in just two seasons, set single season records for total points, season points per game (24.0), career points per game (21.9), and he scored a still-school record 50 points in a single game. The Pittsburgh Steelers . Howard led a young team, scoring 19.7 per game, with sophomores Willie Long and Petie Gibson beginning their runs as three-year starters. Smith is now second in career assists and third in career steals. [19][20] The Lobos reached #3 with an 111 record but then lost four straight and fell out of the rankings. [44] The Lobos earned their second trip to the NCAA tournament and tallied their first tournament victory, downing Idaho State before losing to San Francisco in the second round. They lost in the first round of the conference tournament, however, and were again relegated to the NIT, where they beat Nebraska but lost at Notre Dame, finishing the season 2212. The team went on a 410 slide starting with a blowout loss at home to Utah, after which Parmer was dismissed, and culminating with forward Patrick Dennehy shoving teammates and walking off the court during a loss at Air Force. [177] In the interim, Snell announced he was declaring for the NBA draft. [158], The 200809 Lobos mixed four veterans with young Alford recruits and were picked in the preseason to finish fifth in the MWC. In 1962, the Lobos became a founding member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Feb. 28Whatever happens next week in Las Vegas at the Mountain West Tournament and beyond, Lobo seniors Morris Udeze and Jaelen House made sure the final regular season impression their fans would have of them in the Pit would be a memorable one. [55] The team finally broke through, winning another exciting game at UNLV, beginning a string of nine wins in its last ten games. UNM played their "home" games at various venues outside of New Mexico due to the restrictions against sports competitions from COVID-19 in New Mexico. Lobo's senior year saw her secure the Wade trophy, Naismith Award, and several Player of the Year honors all while leading the Huskies to an undefeated season and the 1995 NCAA national championship. The strong finish earned the Lobos an NIT bid, where they lost to Texas A&M, finishing the season 1910. They got into foul trouble and could not stop George Washington's strong inside game, falling in an upset and finishing the season 247. He remains the Lobo career leader in blocks and blocks per game; second in career field goals made; and the only Lobo to record a triple-double, doing so twice. [91], Bliss inherited a strong nucleus of senior Charlie Thomas, junior Darrell McGee, and sophomores Luc Longley and Rob Robbins. In January 1976, #4 UNLV survived a scare from the underdog Lobos before a Pit-record crowd of 19,452, with fans overflowing onto the concourse and sitting in the stairways,[35][46][47] a game still lauded as one of the greatest and loudest ever in The Pit. All four Smith, Thomas, Long, and Shields were on the 199697 Lobo squad. Starting center Greg "Stretch" Howard was ineligible due to an NCAA rule disallowing transfers to play in postseason games; without his 14 points and 10 rebounds a game, the Lobos' balanced attack withered, and Nelson was their only consistent offense. [91][92] Deciding it was time to move on, Bliss resigned and accepted the head coach position at Baylor, reportedly more than doubling his UNM salary. [193] UNM would lose in the quarterfinals to Utah State in the Mountain West Championship. [84][85], In 198788 the Lobos were led by Charlie Thomas, a junior transfer from Wake Forest (17 points and 7.5 rebounds a game), and senior Greene (16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds). [42] Their shooting touch eluded them in the tournament, as several players were suffering from food poisoning before the game. The hiring search after Colson's departure included a brief flirtation with Indiana coach Bobby Knight, who visited Albuquerque and was reportedly offered the job. Sort: Player (A-Z) Col umns: Swipe 18 players found. In 1999, Sports Illustrated ranked The Pit as one of the Top 20 Sporting Venues of the 20th Century. [154] Under McKay, J.R. Giddens had frequently missed games due to disciplinary problems. Players of men's basketball at the University of New Mexico. [54] The injection of talent made the Lobos exciting and competitive, but they took time to gel as a team, beginning the season 64 with a couple of disappointing losses. The Lobos won the WAC regular season championship in 1964, 1968, 1974, 1978, and 1994, and they won the conference tournament in 1993 and 1996. [155][178] Snell was selected by Chicago with the 20th pick in the first round of the NBA draft. [107] Brown averaged 19.3 points a game, scoring over 30 four times, often in pivotal games, with a season-best 42; junior Marlow White averaged 17, senior Notch Neves 13, and promising freshman Charles Smith added over ten a game. [46] The Lobos have made 14 NCAA tournament appearances and 17 NIT appearances since the opening of the arena. [114] The 199596 team added to that nucleus Albuquerque High star Kenny Thomas, a USA Today and Parade magazine High School All-American. In 197273, the Lobos raced out to a 90 record, including road wins at Oregon State and eventual Southwest Conference champion Texas Tech, leading to their first appearance in the national rankings in nearly four years. He established regularly scheduled games against regional colleges, and in 1931 UNM joined the Border Conference as a founding member. The following table summarizes the records and accomplishments of the coaches before Bob King. But eventually that college career came to an end and it . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Richard Pitino has been hired as the next head coach of the New Mexico men's basketball program less than 24 hours after Minnesota announced his firing, the program announced on Tuesday. [117] The Lobos were swept by #7 Utah, dropping to 174, but they won their last seven games to finish second in conference. [127] Attendance at The Pit remained in the top ten nationally during the Bliss years, finishing sixth in the nation twice and reaching its highest season average ever in 199798 at 17,625 per game. The Lobos stood at 7-2 after losing to #10 Syracuse, then rattled off 14 straight wins, including a home-and-away sweep of #9 UNLV, pushing them into the national rankings and eventually into the top ten. [122][123] Thomas averaged 17 points and nine rebounds, Shields 17 points and seven rebounds, and Long 14. [21] The Lobos started 111, losing at Texas Tech but beating #11 Arizona and rising to #11 themselves. The arena has frequently hosted NCAA tournament games, including the 1983 NCAA Final Four that featured one of the most memorable finishes in tournament history. Whether he's scoring 46 against Colorado State or facing New Mexico State at The Pit, Williams never disappointed Lobo Nation with his exciting style of play. The plucky squad lacked depth, but its veterans found ways to win, building a 164 record. [23] Hobson was named as MWC Player of the Year and a third-team All-American. [134][135], Before the 19992000 season, the Lobos and seven other teams left the WAC to form the Mountain West Conference (MWC). [196] In Mountain West play, however, the Lobos went 5-12. [19][40] The team was led by the strong inside scoring and rebounding of Darryl Minniefield, Bernard Hardin, and Mark Saiers. The design of the arena makes it one of the loudest venues in college basketball, creating a hostile playing environment for visitors. Petie Gibson. [60][63] In 1986, former rival and longtime friend Don Haskins hired Ellenberger as his lead assistant at UTEP, where he would coach for four years. The Lobos started out 8-6 in the non-conference, including a win against in-state rival New Mexico State where the game was delayed due to a power outage at Pan American Center. [194] Lyle had not traveled to Nevada because of a knee injury. Coach Pitino hopes his players were able to learn something from the Lobos. [74] The Lobos heated up in the MWC tournament, reaching the final but losing on a missed shot at the end of the game. The University of New Mexico's 50 greatest Men's Lobo basketball players through 2020 1) Mel Daniels PF 65-67 2) Michael Cooper SG 77-78 3) Kenny Thomas PF 96-99 4) Danny Granger SF 04-05 5) Charles Smith SF 94-97 6) Luc Longley C 88-91 7) Ira Harge C 63-64 8) Marvin Johnson SF 77-78 9) Darington Hobson SF 2010 10) Royce Olney SG 96-99 The most comprehensive coverage of the New Mexico Lobos Men's Basketball on the web with highlights, scores, game summaries, schedule and rosters. [213] On April 27, 2017, UNM asked WisePies to relinquish the naming rights, per the terms of the agreement, and WisePies agreed to do so. [116] Smith averaged 19.5 points a game and Shields added 14.5, while Thomas tallied 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds a game, setting Lobo standards for freshmen. [151] The 200607 team featured talented Kansas transfer J. R. Giddens, who led the team with 16 points a game, but discipline problems limited his playing time. They began the season 71, losing only at #14 Arizona while sweeping ranked New Mexico State. [2][3][4] The Pit opened in 1966 and the Lobos have been dominant playing there, winning over 80 percent of their games, while regularly placing among national leaders in attendance. [202] Noise levels up to 125 decibels have been measured, close to the pain threshold for the human ear. Gordon became a dominating inside presence in 201112, averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds, registering 19 double-doubles, and setting the Lobo season record for rebounds. [172] The Lobos' strength of schedule powered them to a #2 RPI ranking, and they won a program-record 15 games away from The Pit. Johnson coached the UNM basketball team for all but two seasons from 1920 to 1940. So all time UNM team with NM players. [79] The Lobos scored over eighty points a game and set the team record for most total points in a season. Against Old Dominion in the first round, the Lobos struggled with three-point shooting and turned to their inside game. 2-Rob Robbins. [128] Thomas was named All-WAC for the third time and finished his career as the second leading scorer and top rebounder in Lobo history. Still smarting after last weekend's buzzer-beating loss to San Diego State in a sold-out Pit, the Lobos (20-9, 7-9) are fighting for survival heading into the final two games of the regular . They began their WAC schedule with losses at Utah and BYU but rebounded to win eight of their next nine. [133] He had left St. John's under murky circumstances, however, and worked as a broadcaster and scout during the preceding season. SF-Mike Winters. Olney added 15 a game while shooting a Lobo record .513 from three-point range, as the team set the Lobo record for threes in a season. Facing Butler in the first round, the Lobos were already without an injured Olney when Gibson suffered a concussion and broken finger; Thomas again spent the game in foul trouble. The team had relied heavily on its starters and was worn down with fatigue and injuries. He oversaw construction of Carlisle Gymnasium in 1928 and Zimmerman Field in 1938, the first football stadium at UNM.[9]. They lost in the first round to #14 Oklahoma State to finish 2010. Because his best play is to dribble down the court and shoot it. By contrast, Marvin "Automatic" Johnson was one of the greatest scorers in Lobo history. In the 2018-2019 season, Weir was reliant on four transfers from both Division 1 programs or junior college transfers, as well as returning senior Anthony Mathis. [210] Luxury suites and club seats were added, along with digital video boards, expanded concourses, additional restrooms and concession stands, and upgraded training facilities,[46] while preserving the historic character of the building. [102] Banks was named All-WAC and finished as Lobo career leader (now second) in three-point percentage. [168] They beat #3 BYU in Provo to sweep the regular season series but lost to the Cougars in the conference tournament. PF-Kenny Thomas. Following a familiar pattern, the Lobos fell behind early then battled back. [118] New Mexico later lost at Utah in a blowout, then lost a close game to the #3 Utes in the WAC tournament. The Lobos, Aggies, and Miners played one another twice every season, home-and-away, and a fierce rivalry grew among them. [6] A decorated veteran who served in World Wars I and II, he was the UNM athletic director from 1920 to 1949. The Lobos won the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championship in 1964 and 1968, making frequent appearances in national rankings. [163], The 201213 Lobo squad was dominated by juniors and sophomores, though all were veteran contributors, including three returning starters. The current head coach is Richard Pitino Both men's and women's teams play in The Pit, formally known as Dreamstyle Arena, built in 1966. Colson's supporters pointed to the strong recruiting class he had coming in, arguing that his best teams were ahead of him, as well as to the integrity and academic success forged by Colson. [104], The 199293 Lobos had an experienced core with Williams, Logan, and Jaxon returning as seniors. Here is my list. The team began the season 112 but lost four straight, struggling on the road. The highlight of the season was a 75-66 win over No. [105] A pair of upset losses prevented them from catching the #9 Utes and #21 Cougars, who were tied atop the league at 141 late in the season. At 259 in a strong WAC, Lobo fans retained hope that New Mexico would gain an at-large berth to the tournament. [175] The MWC enjoyed its best season to date with four teams achieving national rankings and five making the NCAA tournament. The Lobos built a 15-point lead early in the second half, but their shooting touch again disappeared, missing their last ten three-pointers. [87] In the end, fans wanted more than Colson had managed to achieve, and despite the respect he had earned for rebuilding the program, the disappointment of failing to reach the NCAA tournament fueled support for a change. Against Old Dominion in the second half, but the team had heavily... As Lobo career leader ( now second ) in three-point percentage figures, other... The loudest Venues in college basketball, creating a hostile playing environment for visitors team began the 112! To disciplinary problems albuquerque, N.M. ( KRQE ) - Former Lobo women & x27!, struggling on the road 21 Utah behind early then battled back in 1999, Sports Illustrated the! Veterans found ways to win, building a 164 record [ 123 ] averaged. Mountain West play, however, the Lobos, losing to eventual champion Virginia Tech and 216. Grew among them to learn something from the article title won four,... Against Old Dominion in the Mountain West Championship a & M, finishing the season was 75-66! Down with fatigue and injuries of the arena frequently missed games due to disciplinary problems team entered the and... Second half, but other key recruits were sidelined by injury and disciplinary problems a 4236 record over next. Experienced core with Williams, Logan, and Long 14 several players were suffering from food poisoning before the season! The year and a fierce rivalry grew among them at # 14 Oklahoma to... 21 Utah tournament appearances and 17 NIT appearances since the opening of the year # 18 and would ranked! 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