[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 rose to #8 in the polls and won the MWC title. [12] The Lobos won as many games in his first two seasons as in the previous seven combined and went 11644 (.725) over his first six seasons. With the help of transfers JaQuan Lyle, J.J. Caldwell, Carlton Bragg Jr., and Vance Jackson, UNM exploded to a 15-3 start. New Mexico began playing New Mexico State in 1904, currently totaling over 200 games; they first played UTEP in 1929, with over 140 games total. King transformed a moribund program into a consistent winner and produced future ABA MVP Mel Daniels. They were ranked in the top ten for much of the 196768 season, peaking at #4, and they were in the top 20 most of the following season. Mar. Nevertheless, they have won at least one game in six of their last nine appearances. The following table summarizes the records and accomplishments of the coaches before Bob King. They lost in the first round to #14 Oklahoma State to finish 2010. They lost in the conference tournament but received a three-seed in the NCAA tournament. [7][17], University Arena opened in 1966 but was soon nicknamed "The Pit" due to its innovative subterranean design, with the playing floor 37 feet below street level. Aher Uguak, Damien Jefferson and Vance Jackson all formerly of the UNM program that boasts its players are "Lobos for Life" are each in this week's round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament, as are former assistant coaches Terrence Rencher and Alan Huss. Rebecca Lobo is an American television basketball analyst and former women's basketball player in the WNBA from 1997 to 2003. Alford compiled a 4730 (.610) record in road games, the only Lobo coach over .500 on the road. Media Guide 201314, pp.67,73,87. [185] The Lobos finished the season 277, Neal tallying the most wins ever for a first-year Lobo coach. This was short lived, however, and the Lobos went 3-11 to finish out the season. [23] The Lobos broke into the AP rankings at #21 and received a five-seed in the tournament, facing George Washington in the first round. [159] Senior Tony Danridge led the unit with 15 points a game, though they again relied on balance and teamwork. Find out the latest on your favorite NCAAB players on CBSSports . The program thrived, and Ellenberger became a local celebrity, restaurateur, and man-about-town, earning the nickname "Stormin' Norman" for his flashy attire and fiery coaching style.[35][36][37][38][39]. 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. Giddens led the MWC in rebounding and was among the league leaders in numerous other categories. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Rusty Mitchell, who coached men's gymnastics at The University of New Mexico from 1966-99, passed away over the weekend at the age of 80. The university established basketball as a varsity sport in 1899 and began competing with regional colleges after establishing an athletics department in 1920. [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. [17][197], Attendance at Lobo games in The Pit has consistently been among the national leaders in college basketball, averaging over 15,400 fans per game since it opened. But not to all former Lobos. 2-Rob Robbins. "[112][113], The 199495 season was a rebuilding year for the Lobos, who finished 1515 but won six of their last eight games. [35] Colson adhered strictly to NCAA rules, as UNM officials watched the program closely, wary of falling back into disfavor with the NCAA. [188], On April 1, 2017, Neal was dismissed as head coach after compiling a record of 7652 (.594).[189]. After a couple of upset losses at home, however, they fell into a tie for second and again settled for the NIT. Media Guide 201314, pp.7576,79. Scarborough (at 3rd) and Greene (tied for 4th) also remain among the all-time leaders for minutes played in a season. The Lobos won their fourth WAC championship with a 131 league record, losing only at ranked Utah, and entered the NCAA tournament ranked #5 and seeded second in the West Regional, with the opportunity to play in The Pit for the regional final with a win. [161] Martinez added 14 points and six rebounds a game, and Gary 13 points and four assists. Thomas had 15 points and eight rebounds, sealing the win with a pair of late free throws, while Long added 14 points and nine boards. Brown compiled career averages of 19.9 points and 6.9 rebounds a game. Media Guide 201314, p.91. They went to the NIT and beat Bliss-led Baylor and Pepperdine in The Pit before losing at Memphis to finish 2113. [23] Hobson was named as MWC Player of the Year and a third-team All-American. In 1992 the basketball court at The Pit was named "Bob King Court" in honor of the coach who made its construction possible. With Thomas again slowed by foul trouble, the Lobos were outmatched inside and could not stop All-American Allen Iverson, who scored 20 in the second half. Gordon was named All-MWC and conference tourney MVP. [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. He had been a collegiate coach for 16 seasons, the previous eight at Iowa, amassing over 300 career wins. [110][111] Bliss stated, "[a]s a coach, I have never compromised more of my offensive principles than while coaching Greg Brown. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Major League baseball righted a wrong this year. Student. 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. [148] After losing at Oral Roberts, they beat #20 Texas Tech and a Dayton squad that would go on to win the NIT. [97] In the NIT, the Lobos knocked off Oregon, Oklahoma State, and Hawaii to make the Final Four in New York. UNM released a statement on February 26, 2021, they will part ways with Weir at the end of the 202021 season. SF-Mike Winters. [204] The building facade was also transformed, adding extensive glasswork and a steel superstructure. The most comprehensive coverage of the New Mexico Lobos Men's Basketball on the web with highlights, scores, game summaries, schedule and rosters. [202] Noise levels up to 125 decibels have been measured, close to the pain threshold for the human ear. 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. [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. The Lobos next faced two-seed Georgetown and took a slim lead into the second half. The teams met again in the conference tournament final, and the Lobos prevailed for their third straight MWC tournament championship. [19][20] The Lobos reached #3 with an 111 record but then lost four straight and fell out of the rankings. Neal inherited four returning starters for the 201314 season, joining seven newcomers. Bliss would identify the loss as a particular disappointment, believing that the Lobos were the better team. [72] Top ten-ranked UTEP foiled the Lobos, however, sweeping their regular season match-ups and knocking them out of the WAC tournament. The Lobos have enjoyed exceptional success at The Pit, winning over 80 percent of their games and mounting home-winning streaks of over 20 games four times, with the longest of 41 straight in 199698. [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. Smith was named All-WAC, and Colson was named WAC Coach of the Year. The Lobos climbed to #16 with a 120 start, with a win over #19 Connecticut, before losing to NCAA tournament-bound South Dakota State; they won at #8 Cincinnati then lost at St Louis, which later reached #13. The 196869 season began with high expectations and the Lobos ranked in the top ten, but they dropped out after a string of road losses. Early New Mexico basketball teams played in what became known as the Old Wooden Gym, where the walls were the out-of-bounds markers. The most renowned enduring feature of the Lobo basketball program is its home venue, known as "The Pit", recognized as one of the best college basketball arenas in the country. [150] Versatile senior guard Mark Walters led the team with 16 points a game, but after winning four straight to build a 169 record, they lost four of five to finish 1713 and did not receive a post-season bid. 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. The Lobos returned to the NIT, losing to eventual champion Virginia Tech and finishing 216. Alan Dolensky and Smith remain the top two on the list, while Garrett is now tied for fourth. The team began 92 with an upset over #8 Wichita State but wilted in league play, going 412 and finishing 1517. Players of men's basketball at the University of New Mexico. They beat Iowa and USC on the way to another showdown with #9 UNLV, losing a high-scoring game, then losing to #10 Arizona. 6 Nevada in The Pit. [124] The Lobos were 213 and back at #11 when they lost at #19 TCU, at #5 Utah, and had a team record 41-game home-winning streak ended by BYU. The Lobos struggled to a 97 start before pulling together in league play, going 124 after winning their final five games to gain a share of the MWC title. [119] Against five-seed Syracuse, however, the depleted Lobos shot under 26% and lost to finish the season 248. Media Guide 201314, pp.67,69,71,77,88. Smith and Thomas were named All-WAC, and Bliss was again named WAC Coach of the Year. [195] Pitino inherited 6 transfers, including a trio of Power-5 talent in Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn Jr., and Gethro Muscadin. Fraschilla resigned shortly after the season, concluding that "it was best for everyone that I leave."[138][140]. McGee played in 137 games and dished out 684 assists. A cause of death was not made public. Fraschilla had lost the team: nine players had left the program or been dismissed during his tenure. The success of the Lobos under Bob King led to rapidly growing fan interest. [222] Over the years it has evolved into a family-like atmosphere held during the evening, including player introductions, practice drills and scrimmages, three-point shooting and slam dunk contests, and other festivities. [163], The 201213 Lobo squad was dominated by juniors and sophomores, though all were veteran contributors, including three returning starters. The Sun Devils battled back to tie the game at the end of regulation before escaping with a win in OT, 8683. 197374 Western Athletic Conference season Summary, Johnson had established the school record at 46 points earlier in the season before his 50-point performance, which broke the WAC conference single-game record and earned him the. The Lobos led the conference in scoring defense and were 15th in the nation, allowing 63.2 points per game. [216], The official mascot of the University of New Mexico is the "Lobo", the Spanish word for "wolf", adopted by the school in 1920. Stats from Negro League teams from 1920 to 1948 are now counted in MLB records. The Lobos were ranked #10 and received a three-seed in the NCAA tournament, facing Harvard, but they again turned in a disappointing performance. Senior Willie Banks, an Albuquerque High product, led the team along with junior guards Ike Williams and Steve Logan and center Khari Jaxon. (Journal illustration) Rob Robbins'. [22][170] Williams and fellow sophomore Tony Snell scored in double figures. [168] They beat #3 BYU in Provo to sweep the regular season series but lost to the Cougars in the conference tournament. They then won 11 of 12, taking the WAC lead into the last month of the season. The Lobos remained in the WAC race late in the season, but road struggles relegated them to third place and a 1911 final record. [49] His defensive prowess made him an eight-time recipient of NBA All-Defensive Team honors, as well as the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1987. Media Guide 201314, p.79. North Carolina State upset heavily favored Houston in the memorable championship, sealing the victory with a last second basket. [5], Roy Johnson, nicknamed "Old Iron Head", was fundamental to the early development of Lobo athletics. [205][206] Sports Illustrated listed The Pit among its Top 20 Sporting Venues of the 20th Century. The early departure of Hobson left the Lobos with just one senior again in 201011: Gary led with 14 points and 5.5 assists a game, carrying the young team at times. Norman Dale Ellenberger (August 2, 1932 - November 15, 2015) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. [99] Robbins finished his career with the Lobo record for best career free throw percentage, third best three-point shooting percentage, and second most minutes played, having started all 133 games of his career. King then left to become head coach and Athletics Director at Indiana State University. The team played exceptional defense, allowing under 60 points per game, its fewest in the shot clock era, placing among national leaders in several categories. [129] He was selected as the 22nd pick in the first round of the 1999 NBA draft by Houston and played for 11 seasons in the NBA.[130]. [30] A week later the Lobos beat #5 Wyoming at The Pit, pushing them to 143 and earning a #19 ranking, their first appearance in the polls since Lobogate. [145] Discipline trouble and player defections continued into the off-season. The Lobos beat both in The Pit in the final week, however, then upset BYU on the way to winning their first WAC tournament championship, and securing a trip to the NCAA tournament. Roberts noted the noise level in The Pit as a challenge for a broadcaster: "There were a lot of times when I knew I was calling the game because my lips were moving, but I couldn't hear a thing I said. Fraschilla felt he had his system and recruits in place going into the 200102 season, and Lobo fans were eager for the team to return to the NCAA tournament. Fran Fraschilla coached at New Mexico for three seasons, compiling a 5541 (.572) record with three NIT appearances. [104], The 199293 Lobos had an experienced core with Williams, Logan, and Jaxon returning as seniors. 1Perfection really is the enemy of the good. [23] Shields finished his career as the third (now fourth) leading scorer in Lobo history and as career leader in three-pointers. They beat Dayton in the regional consolation game to finish the season 227 and ranked #18 in the UPI. [34] It was Ellenberger's first Division I head coaching position, but he made up for what he lacked in experience with energy and enthusiasm. Gordon had 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Williams added 16 with two late baskets to seal the win. They lost in the 2018 Mountain West Championship to San Diego State 82-75. [153], An early objective for Alford was to change the culture of the program regarding discipline and academic focus. His former players included future National Basketball . Unfazed, Long scored 22, Shields had 17, and bench reserves added 33 points as the Lobos won handily. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. They have won the MWC regular season championship and the conference tournament four times each. Colson had also clashed with Koenig in a contract dispute and had gone over his head to resolve the issue. [155][160] Versatile JC transfer Darington Hobson joined lone senior Roman Martinez, junior Dairese Gary, and eight sophomores and freshmen. Colson inherited a program under NCAA sanctions, with only three players remaining on scholarship. [22] Gibson compiled career averages of over 11 points and seven assists per game, still holding UNM records for career assists per game and four other assists categories.[31][32]. For now, the Lobos have six returning scholarship players in guards Jeremiah Francis, Javonte Johnson and Saquan Singleton; and three forwards in Emmanuel Kuac, Rod Brown and Valdir Manuel. Ellenberger served as interim head coach at UTEP for a period when Haskins was ill. Bobbi Roquemore. In 1931, Lobo athletic teams began competing in the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association, joining as a founding member along with other regional schools. [106], The 199394 Lobos were picked in preseason polls to finish fifth in the WAC after losing their three leading players to graduation. Lobo starred for the Huskies when they won a national championship in 1995 following an undefeated season and was also an Olympic gold medalist for Team USA in 1996. [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. William C. Dowling, Confessions of a Spoilsport: My Life and Hard Times Fighting Sports Corruption at an Old Eastern University (2007). The Lobos compete in the Mountain West Conference (MWC) in NCAA Division I, joining as a founding member in 1999. ", coupled with a hand gesture emulating a wolf. [75][76] The team slipped to 65 before winning eight out of nine, gaining a share of the WAC lead. He established regularly scheduled games against regional colleges, and in 1931 UNM joined the Border Conference as a founding member. [122][123] Thomas averaged 17 points and nine rebounds, Shields 17 points and seven rebounds, and Long 14. [23], The 200910 Lobos were again a young squad picked to finish fifth in the MWC in preseason polls. 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 . [90] Knight recommended Bliss, who had been his assistant at Army and Indiana before serving as head coach at Oklahoma and SMU. [21] Daniels averaged 21.5 points and 11.6 rebounds a game, finishing his career with a still-team record 44 double-doubles,[22] and he became the first Lobo to be named as an All-American. [30], The 197677 team featured JC arrivals Michael Cooper, Marvin Johnson, and Willie Howard, the nucleus for a successful and exciting two-year run. Howard led a young team, scoring 19.7 per game, with sophomores Willie Long and Petie Gibson beginning their runs as three-year starters. They lost in the conference tournament but received a berth in the NCAA tournament as a ten-seed facing Virginia. The day before the NCAA tournament began, UNM announced a 10-year contract extension with Alford; 10 days later, he resigned to take the head coaching position at UCLA. They rode the momentum into the WAC tournament championship game and beat the Utes behind a dominant 30-point, 17-rebound performance by Thomas, earning their tenth straight win and a berth in the NCAA tournament. 25The Sweet 16 thus far remains elusive to Lobo basketball. They were ranked briefly in 1988 and 1993, then throughout 1996 to 1999. Smith is now second in career assists and third in career steals. Misfortune turned to tragedy with the murder of former Lobo Patrick Dennehy leading to a scandal at Baylor implicating Dave Bliss and the suicide of Lobo transfer Billy Feeney. 22-year-old Destiny McAfee is a former all-district basketball and volleyball player for the Lobos and graduated in 2019. Western Athletic Conference 1964, 1968, 1974, 1978, 1994. [223], Sportscaster Mike Roberts was the "Voice of the Lobos" on KKOB radio in Albuquerque from 1966 to 2008, becoming an icon among Lobo fans. Media Guide 201213, p.120. [55] Attendance at The Pit jumped to over 17,000 a game, second most in the nation, as fan enthusiasm soared. Kirk led with 22 points and 12 rebounds, but the team shot poorly and trailed most of the game as the Crimson answered Lobo runs with timely three-pointers to seal the upset. [23] Brown also won the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, given to the nation's top senior under six feet tall and gained an All-American Honorable Mention. [74] The Lobos beat a good Arizona team before losing a close game to #1 Georgetown, led by Patrick Ewing, the first time the Lobos had faced a top-ranked opponent. [191] He was dismissed from the team. [80][81] The Lobos logged wins over Texas and Oklahoma State on the way to a 175 record. Former New Mexico Players Currently In The NBA * NBA stats from the 2022-2023 season. The 2013 Howl drew over 10,000 fans and featured the introduction of new coach Craig Neal, who entered the arena on his motorcycle. But eventually that college career came to an end and it . [226] In 1999, Roberts was inducted into the University of New Mexico Athletic Hall of Honor by the Alumni Lettermen's Association and received the Distinguished Service Award. [91][92] All had been Colson recruits, and Bliss reportedly flew to Australia to secure Longley's return to New Mexico. Flipboard. The Lobos stood at 72 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. [10] They went 17589 (.663) in ten seasons with King as head coach, winning two conference titles and making four appearances in post-season tournaments. The Lobos had only two winning seasons from 1947 to 1962, compiling a 113252 (.310) record, including a dismal 42149 (.220) during the last eight years. Ellenberger was well-respected as a teacher of defense,[34][39] and he was a frequent participant in basketball coaching camps and workshops, where he became friends with UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian. [23] The Lobos returned to the NIT, losing at The Pit to Lamar and finishing the season 2411. Updated: Feb 27, 2023 / 01:50 PM MST. University of New Mexico Lobo legend Robin Cole persevered through a number of trials and tribulations, to achieve his ultimate goal. The NCAA investigation into the scandal found 34 violations of recruiting rules, and the Lobo program was placed on probation and banned from post-season appearances for three years. [121], The 199798 Lobos had four starters returning and entered the season ranked #11. The other team will have numerous other former Lobos and other players from around New Mexico. [19][40] The team was led by the strong inside scoring and rebounding of Darryl Minniefield, Bernard Hardin, and Mark Saiers. [211] The upgrade reduced seating capacity to 15,411,[212] trading some seating for greater comfort and amenities. Petie Gibson. Longley was named All-WAC, averaging 18.4 points and 9.7 rebounds while setting Lobo records for blocks in a season and per game. Media Guide 201314, pp.66,90. [224] He was an integral part of the Lobo fan experience, especially before most games were televised. Pitino. The Lobos compiled a 2214 record in WAC conference tournaments, reaching the final six times and winning the championship twice. Mar. The Lobos won the WAC championship, Nelson was named a Helms All-American,[23] and the Lobos earned their first NCAA tournament appearance. [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. [203] Contributing to the intimidating environment for visitors is the mile high elevation of The Pit,[199] emphasized to visiting teams with a message along the wall of the tunnel from the locker rooms down to the playing floor saying, "Welcome to the legendary Pit, a mile high and louder than"[204], The Pit has garnered praise as one of the top venues in college basketball from sports reporters, announcers, and opposing coaches. They beat Texas A&M in the NIT before losing at Fresno State to finish the season 1913. by Frank Mercogliano. They compiled a 10230 (.772) record while making the NCAA tournament and winning in the first round all four years. The Lobos have made 15 appearances in the NCAA tournament, compiling an overall record of 816.[232]. The Lobos forced a turnover, down 6463, but their set play broke down and Gibson missed an unbalanced, driving shot, ending the Lobo season at 258. [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. [148] Danridge was named All-MWC, and Alford was tabbed MWC Coach of the Year. 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. [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. As a part of Team USA during the 1996 Summer Olympics, Lobo won gold on one of the greatest basketball teams ever assembled. [7] In 1928 Coach Roy Johnson organized construction of Carlisle Gymnasium, seating about 1,500 spectators with later additions doubling that figure, and in 1957 Johnson Gymnasium opened, with a capacity of 7,800.
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