[41] In late February the Lobos were 213, ranked #15, and leading the WAC, before losing their last two games and finishing second in conference. [149], McKay continued to attract strong transfer players, but discipline issues persisted in 200506. 6 Nevada in The Pit. McGee played in 137 games and dished out 684 assists. [12][29] Also playing in the first round at The Pit, New Mexico State lost to eventual champion UCLA, then won the consolation game over the Lobos, who finished the season 235. At 259 in a strong WAC, Lobo fans retained hope that New Mexico would gain an at-large berth to the tournament. The success of the Lobos under Bob King led to rapidly growing fan interest. Road struggles kept the team from gaining momentum, a chronic problem as the Lobos went 843 in away games under McKay. In 1962, the Lobos became a founding member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). His former players included future National Basketball . 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. [25] Don Haskins took over at UTEP in 1961 and led the Miners to a 12832 (.800) record in his first six seasons, including a 281 national championship season in 196566. The team entered the year #18 and would remain ranked throughout the next three seasons. [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. [154] Alford had led the program back to national prominence, attaining its best six-year stretch ever while improving academic achievement. [70][71] The Lobos opened the season with two losses before beating USC and Washington and winning at #7 UCLA. Alan Dolensky and Smith remain the top two on the list, while Garrett is now tied for fourth. The 7778 team still holds the Lobo record for most steals per game. Here is my list. [167] He was joined by UCLA transfer Drew Gordon, who averaged 13 points and 10.5 rebounds, and the program's most successful freshman class to date, including starter Kendall Williams who scored 12 points a game. 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. Early New Mexico basketball teams played in what became known as the Old Wooden Gym, where the walls were the out-of-bounds markers. [198][199][200] A study of decibel levels at collegiate basketball arenas found that a game at The Pit registered as the loudest at 118 decibels,[201] comparable to a turbo-fan aircraft at takeoff power. Colson said the popularity and continued presence of Ellenberger during his early years were unnerving and that he sometimes felt in competition with the former coach. Media Guide 201213, pp.76,89. [42] Bill Hagins replaced Minniefield, and the team was again dominant inside. Shields scored 1,837 points. 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. Ritchie McKay was head coach at New Mexico for five seasons with a record of 8269 (.543) and one NCAA tournament appearance. They led the WAC in overall winning percentage over the 17-season span from 1962 to 1979, posting a won-loss record of 328161 (.671). PF-Kenny Thomas. In December 2014, Albuquerque-based restaurant chain WisePies Pizza & Salad purchased the naming rights for the arena, whose official name became "WisePies Arena (aka The Pit)". The four seasons with Kenny Thomas in the line-up was the best stretch by the Lobos to date. Norman Dale Ellenberger (August 2, 1932 - November 15, 2015) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. [139] The Lobos lost to #13 Stanford in their opener but moved to 103 as Douglas led the way with 18 points a game. 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. The Lobos jumped out to a 120 start with wins over #25 Cal and #16 Texas A&M, vaulting to #12 in the national rankings. 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. 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. The 2019-2020 started promising for the Lobos. They lost in the 2018 Mountain West Championship to San Diego State 82-75. [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. Gary Colson rebuilt the Lobo program virtually from scratch after Lobogate, restoring its integrity and eventually its success on the court. Mar. Long averaged 23.9 points a game both his junior and senior seasons, earning all-WAC honors both seasons and all-American recognition in 1971. Colson had also clashed with Koenig in a contract dispute and had gone over his head to resolve the issue. [117] The Lobos were swept by #7 Utah, dropping to 174, but they won their last seven games to finish second in conference. [29][45] Attendance at The Pit surged to its best ever, a trend that would continue throughout the Ellenberger years, regularly earning placement among the top five in the nation. [74] The Lobos heated up in the MWC tournament, reaching the final but losing on a missed shot at the end of the game. 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. [136] The team meandered to a 1311 record but then won four straight, including over #21 Utah. Five months later, and with the New Mexico still proving to be the only team all season capable of beating the Aztecs on their home court in Viejas Arena, No. [88] Colson's teams had gone 10762 (.633) in his last five seasons, but his failure to win the conference or to make the NCAA tournament were common criticisms. [145] Discipline trouble and player defections continued into the off-season. Based on this conversation, the FBI launched an investigation that led to a federal indictment of Ellenberger on seven counts of fraud and forgery of academic transcripts, though he was acquitted of those charges at trial. Lobo's championship streak with the national team in 1977 included a basketball crown in the Pesta Sukan league in Genting Highlands, Malaysia, as well as the Southeast Asian Games men's title in . [23] Shields finished his career as the third (now fourth) leading scorer in Lobo history and as career leader in three-pointers. The Lobos beat Syracuse in the first round before losing to Rutgers, finishing the season 198 and ranked #18 in the UPI. King suffered a heart attack and brain aneurysm shortly before Bird's senior season, however, and his assistant, Bill Hodges, led the team to the 1979 Final Four, where they lost to Michigan State in the championship game. The Lobos in 198485 were led by JC transfer forward Johnny Brown (18.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game) and senior center George Scott (14 points and 6.6 rebounds),[73] along with a nucleus of sophomores, including guards Hunter Greene and Kelvin Scarborough, who both scored in double figures. [23] All five starters averaged in double figures, but the team had little depth and relied heavily on Granger. [196] In Mountain West play, however, the Lobos went 5-12. [187] Williams finished his career as the fifth leading scorer in Lobo history, third in assists, and the MWC career assists leader. The Lobos defeated Drake and NYU before falling to Bradley in the championship game, finishing with a 236 record and ranked 16th in the UPI poll. The NIT appearance began a streak of eleven straight years of reaching post-season play. Media Guide 201314, pp.67,73,87. 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. Media Guide 201314, p.99. [12][28] They swept their regular season match-ups against New Mexico State, with both teams ranked in the top ten at the time of their second game. [35] Colson adhered strictly to NCAA rules, as UNM officials watched the program closely, wary of falling back into disfavor with the NCAA. [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. 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. [125] Thomas was named second-team All-American, and he and Shields were both All-WAC. Media Guide 201314, pp.67,76,78,89. 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. [221] The noise level of the boisterous fans, the intimacy created by seating extending to the edge of the court, and the elevation contribute to what Coach Dave Bliss termed "a Pit game. 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 Lobos finished the season 285, their highest season win total and winning percentage to date. He played professionally for eight seasons then coached in the NBA for eight more before joining Alford at Iowa. They battled to within five points in the second half but could not overcome their poor start. Everybody knows that's not a great basketball play, but for us it was terrific. 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 2020-2021 season was completely played out of New Mexico. They were ranked briefly in 1988 and 1993, then throughout 1996 to 1999. [231], New Mexico has a history of disappointing performances in the NCAA tournament, suffering noteworthy upsets in 1968, 1978, 1993, 2010, 2013, and 2014. His teams won twenty or more games and reached post-season tournaments in ten of his 11 seasons, and he coached the four leading scorers in Lobo history. The judge deferred sentence for a year, noting that it was unfair for Ellenberger alone to bear culpability, and all counts were formally dismissed in 1983.[36][60]. Giddens was named MWC Co-Player of the Year and received an AP All-American Honorable Mention. [115] The young Lobo squad jumped out to a 100 start and a #25 ranking before losing a pair of league road games. The team began the season 112 but lost four straight, struggling on the road. Flipboard. The last Lobo men's basketball game played in the Pit was Feb. 29, 2020. . [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. 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. [106] White was named All-WAC and Bliss was WAC Coach of the Year; Brown was named All-WAC and WAC Player of the Year. [42] They also established still-standing records for steals in a season as a team, Greene for steals by a player in a season, and Scarborough for career steals. While Ellenberger was visiting this booster, in November 1979, he took a call on the tapped phone from assistant coach Manny Goldstein. SHARE Why this former BYU coach is dumbfounded by Cougars' lack of success in league tourney. The Lobos won the WAC championship, Nelson was named a Helms All-American,[23] and the Lobos earned their first NCAA tournament appearance. He declared for the 2010 NBA draft and was selected in the second round by Milwaukee. [57] Phil Abney and Russell Saunders were JC additions; Abney initially backed up Howard but later moved into the starting line-up. Media Guide 201314, pp.67,87. It's a stretch with Thomas I know, but he did move Albuquerque in high school and play for AHS his senior year. [66] Harrison and his players gained fan appreciation for persevering under difficult circumstances, but he served primarily as a caretaker until a new head coach was named. The highlight of the season was a 75-66 win over No. 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. Stats from Negro League teams from 1920 to 1948 are now counted in MLB records. [120] Smith was chosen by the Miami Heat with the 26th pick in the first round of the 1997 NBA draft, playing five seasons in the NBA and several more in Europe. The Lobos compiled a 2214 record in WAC conference tournaments, reaching the final six times and winning the championship twice. The Lobos broke open a close game in the second half with a 267 run. Former University of Kansas and New Mexico Lobos basketball player Gethro Muscadin has died from injuries sustained in a one-car crash during the early-morning hours of Dec. 30, 2021.. The Official Athletic Site of the New Mexico Lobos, partner of WMT Digital. As a player Alford had been a prolific scorer and two-time All-American at Indiana, winning a national championship, and earning an Olympic gold medal with the U.S. national team. [116] The WAC had expanded to 16 teams in the off-season, and eight WAC teams won at least 20 games. [148] After losing at Oral Roberts, they beat #20 Texas Tech and a Dayton squad that would go on to win the NIT. Lobo began working at ESPN in 2004 after. It was phased out during the '90s but has since become the signature cheer for Lobo fans. [21] The Lobos started 111, losing at Texas Tech but beating #11 Arizona and rising to #11 themselves. The team won seven of their last nine, both losses coming to #8 Utah, in Salt Lake and in the WAC tournament final. [74][157] The Lobos began the 200708 season 142 before losing four of six in league; they then won eight of nine to close out the regular season. Former New Mexico Players Who Played In The NBA * Including anyone currently in the NBA; NBA career stats since the 1946-1947 season. Lobo basketball first achieved national prominence after Bob King was hired as head coach in 1962. [202] Noise levels up to 125 decibels have been measured, close to the pain threshold for the human ear. 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. [23], The 200910 Lobos were again a young squad picked to finish fifth in the MWC in preseason polls. [231], The Lobos have compiled a 1611 record in MWC tournaments, reaching the final six times and winning the championship four times. 22-year-old Destiny McAfee is a former all-district basketball and volleyball player for the Lobos and graduated in 2019. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [217] Human mascots, dubbed "Lobo Louie and Lobo Lucy", members of the cheerleading squad, roam The Pit during games rousing and entertaining fans. [214], On May 3, 2017, UNM announced a $10 million naming rights agreement with Dreamstyle Remodeling, an Albuquerque-based construction business, covering both The Pit and the UNM football stadium. They lost in the first round to #14 Oklahoma State to finish 2010. [63], In their first three seasons under Colson, the Lobos struggled to a 3944 combined record. The other team will have numerous other former Lobos and other players from around New Mexico. Former players have joined forces and are in town for TBT, and they met up with this year's squad for a dinner. The 197677 team still holds the school record for most total rebounds and most blocked shots in a season. [133] The team finished 1614 after another blowout loss at Minnesota in the NIT. In 1931, Lobo athletic teams began competing in the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association, joining as a founding member along with other regional schools. [23], The 199697 Lobos returned all their principal players, while adding freshman Lamont Long, who would become a starter by mid-season. [115] The Lobos were ranked #23 and received a seven-seed to play Kansas State. In addition, former Lobo men's basketball director of operations and current associate AD at UNM, Ryan Berryman, will serve as the team's assistant general manager. 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. [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. UNM released a statement on February 26, 2021, they will part ways with Weir at the end of the 202021 season. The Pittsburgh Steelers . The highlight of the season was a 85-58 win over No. 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. Both had close friends and long-time teammates still on the Lobo roster. Cooper is among the best overall players ever produced by the Lobo program and was named an All-American in 1978. [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. 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. [68] The callow Lobo squad led for much of the game, encouraged by a delirious crowd at The Pit. [23] He averaged 16 points and five rebounds a game as a Lobo, also leading the team in assists and steals. The scheme also employed a full-court pressing, trapping defense to generate points off of turnovers. The Lobos dropped their first two MWC games but then reeled off 15 straight wins their second longest winning streak ever[162] sweeping #10 BYU. [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. All returned for 200405, and Granger turned in a spectacular season, averaging 19 points and nine rebounds a game to gain All-American recognition. UNM lost in the Mountain West Championship quarterfinals to Utah State. They went to the NIT and beat Bliss-led Baylor and Pepperdine in The Pit before losing at Memphis to finish 2113. [190] Before the 2017-2018 season started, 10 of the 15 players from the previous season either transferred, left the team, or graduated. 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. [101] The team started slowly, including a home loss to #2 Arizona, but later won seven of eight to gain an early share of the WAC lead. [30], The 197677 team featured JC arrivals Michael Cooper, Marvin Johnson, and Willie Howard, the nucleus for a successful and exciting two-year run. [119] Granger was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 17th pick in the first round of the 2005 NBA draft and has placed among league leaders in scoring and been named an All-Star during his career.