That means over three thousand players. Updated: Dec 1, 2020 / 08:00 PM MST. They began their WAC schedule with losses at Utah and BYU but rebounded to win eight of their next nine. 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. [188], On April 1, 2017, Neal was dismissed as head coach after compiling a record of 7652 (.594).[189]. McKay faced a major rebuilding project in 200203 compounded by further dismissals and injuries that cut the team to seven scholarship players. In his first season, Weir posted a 19-15 record and finished in 3rd place in the Mountain West. UTEP was still known as Texas Western at the time, shortly before changing its name in 1967. Media Guide 201314, pp.67,87. They got into foul trouble and could not stop George Washington's strong inside game, falling in an upset and finishing the season 247. [16] They were again invited to the NIT, where they lost to St. John's to finish 198. [23] The #21 Lobos received a five-seed in the NCAA tournament facing Long Beach State. Nevertheless, they have won at least one game in six of their last nine appearances. [23] He averaged 16 points and five rebounds a game as a Lobo, also leading the team in assists and steals. 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. Media Guide 201314, pp.65,116. 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. [97] In the NIT, the Lobos knocked off Oregon, Oklahoma State, and Hawaii to make the Final Four in New York. They began the season 71, losing only at #14 Arizona while sweeping ranked New Mexico State. They beat Dayton in the regional consolation game to finish the season 227 and ranked #18 in the UPI. The inconsistent squad started 55 but then stunned 21-point favorite, #2 Arizona in Tucson, the highest ranked opponent the Lobos had beaten on the road since 1966. In 1976, he recruited future NBA Hall of Famer Larry Bird to ISU, where he led the Sycamores to a 4812 record in his first two seasons. [190] Before the 2017-2018 season started, 10 of the 15 players from the previous season either transferred, left the team, or graduated. 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. Thomas tallied 1,158 points and 529 rebounds in his career and ranks third in career field goal percentage. [14] Harge averaged 18.8 points and 11.8 rebounds a game during his two seasons at UNM and was selected in the second round of the 1964 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. [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. The New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team represents the University of New Mexico, competing in the Mountain West Conference (MWC) in NCAA Division I. The Lobos were 102 in games decided by six or fewer points. [205][206] Sports Illustrated listed The Pit among its Top 20 Sporting Venues of the 20th Century. Game Notes 201314, pp.15,20; Media Guide 201314, pp.67,7576,79. [23] Shields finished his career as the third (now fourth) leading scorer in Lobo history and as career leader in three-pointers. Four-year starting PG Phil Smith led those early teams, averaging 14 points, six assists, and two steals per game over his career, setting then-records for highest scoring freshman, most steals in a season, and most career assists. [115] The Lobos were ranked #23 and received a seven-seed to play Kansas State. They nevertheless reached the NIT, losing to Texas and finishing 1714. [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. [153], An early objective for Alford was to change the culture of the program regarding discipline and academic focus. [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. [18] The team began the 196667 season ranked 6th in the country and rose to #5 before winning at #2UTEP, the defending national champion and highest-ranked team New Mexico had ever beaten at that point. [70][71] The Lobos opened the season with two losses before beating USC and Washington and winning at #7 UCLA. New Mexico Lobos men's basketball players, Category:New Mexico Lobos women's basketball players, New Mexico Lobos men's basketball statistical leaders, Charles Smith (basketball, born August 1975), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:New_Mexico_Lobos_men%27s_basketball_players&oldid=950612294, College men's basketball players in the United States, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 April 2020, at 00:11. 197273 New Mexico Lobos Roster and Stats. [121], The 199798 Lobos had four starters returning and entered the season ranked #11. The team began the season 83 but struggled away from The Pit, losing its first seven road games. [194] Lyle had not traveled to Nevada because of a knee injury. [155][160] Versatile JC transfer Darington Hobson joined lone senior Roman Martinez, junior Dairese Gary, and eight sophomores and freshmen. [104] The team had relied heavily on three-point shooting, hoisting over 100 more attempts than in any previous season, making 39%. Bairstow and Williams were named first team All-MWC; Kirk was third team. 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. In 1992, UNM announced that the basketball court at University Arena would be named in honor of King. Complicating matters, Koenig himself was fired three months later and eventually faced indictment on criminal charges for his activities as AD. [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. He also holds the team record for assists in a game (21). [19][40] The team was led by the strong inside scoring and rebounding of Darryl Minniefield, Bernard Hardin, and Mark Saiers. One team in the game will be named Team J.B. White in. 1Perfection really is the enemy of the good. Former New Mexico Players Who Played In The NBA * Including anyone currently in the NBA; NBA career stats since the 1946-1947 season. The Lobos jumped out to a 259 lead before the Wildcats chiseled away at the lead, cutting it to two late in the game. The Lobos compiled a 2214 record in WAC conference tournaments, reaching the final six times and winning the championship twice. Page was the only consistent offensive threat on the team, averaging 28 points a game, still the Lobo record for best season average. 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. [186] Bairstow was named second-team All-American by Sports Illustrated. [125] Thomas was named second-team All-American, and he and Shields were both All-WAC. The Lobos rose to #8 in the polls and won the MWC title. Former WNBA basketball player and olympian Rebecca Lobo is seen analyzing the game between UConn and UCLA in a semifinal for the Albany Regional of the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship at the Times Union Center on Friday, March 29, 2019 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union) Lori Van Buren / Albany Times Union Show More Show Less 3 of 10 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. Attendance doubled, Johnson Gym was soon selling out, and plans for a larger arena began to be developed. [83] Scarborough was named All-WAC and finished his career second (now third) in Lobo history in total assists. 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 196869 season began with high expectations and the Lobos ranked in the top ten, but they dropped out after a string of road losses. Lobo began working at ESPN in 2004 after. [148] After losing at Oral Roberts, they beat #20 Texas Tech and a Dayton squad that would go on to win the NIT. 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. The Lobos finished the season 285, their highest season win total and winning percentage to date. 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. Smith was named All-WAC, and Colson was named WAC Coach of the Year. 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. [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. Several players left the team, some claiming abuse by Fraschilla. Sort: Player (A-Z) Col umns: Swipe 18 players found. [106], The 199394 Lobos were picked in preseason polls to finish fifth in the WAC after losing their three leading players to graduation. by Frank Mercogliano. [148] Danridge was named All-MWC, and Alford was tabbed MWC Coach of the Year. [103] The Lobos returned to the NIT, where they beat Louisiana Tech and Washington State before losing at Virginia, finishing the season 2013. [86], Colson was forced to resign after the season ended, a move that remains somewhat controversial. Unfazed, Long scored 22, Shields had 17, and bench reserves added 33 points as the Lobos won handily. [116] They later lost at #5 Arizona but beat undefeated, #3 Utah as Olney hit two three-pointers in the final moments, including the game winner at the buzzer. [94] Thomas finished his career with over 1,000 points and 500 rebounds, one of two Lobos to accomplish that in just two seasons.[95]. PF-Kenny Thomas. They hosted their first-round game in The Pit but lost to unranked Santa Clara. [224] He was an integral part of the Lobo fan experience, especially before most games were televised. Bliss would identify the loss as a particular disappointment, believing that the Lobos were the better team. 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. [122][123] Thomas averaged 17 points and nine rebounds, Shields 17 points and seven rebounds, and Long 14. They lost in the conference tournament but received a berth in the NCAA tournament as a ten-seed facing Virginia. [91] Smith led with 16 points and seven rebounds in his final game as a Lobo. [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. Flipboard. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Media Guide 201213, p.120. [177] In the interim, Snell announced he was declaring for the NBA draft. [55] The team frequently slowed their games to a crawl, with several league games ending with both teams scoring under 50 points, such as a win at Wyoming, 4038. The success of the Lobos under Bob King led to rapidly growing fan interest. [8] Johnson set about building collegiate-level athletics facilities, performing some of the hard labor with his own hands. The Lobos attained their first national ranking in the 196465 season, reaching #10 in the AP poll. The teams met again in the conference tournament final, and the Lobos prevailed for their third straight MWC tournament championship. [195] Pitino inherited 6 transfers, including a trio of Power-5 talent in Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn Jr., and Gethro Muscadin. The Lobos beat Syracuse in the first round before losing to Rutgers, finishing the season 198 and ranked #18 in the UPI. [183] Williams averaged 16 points and five assists, and Kirk added 13 points and nine rebounds. They went to the NIT and beat Bliss-led Baylor and Pepperdine in The Pit before losing at Memphis to finish 2113. 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. They then won 11 of 12, taking the WAC lead into the last month of the season. Ellenberger served as interim head coach at UTEP for a period when Haskins was ill. Bobbi Roquemore. Page also holds the Lobo record for career points per game (26.2), the top career scoring average in WAC history. [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. [40] They spent about half of the 196667 season in the top six nationally, reaching #3, their highest ranking ever. They finished 305, the most wins in a Lobo season, while going 102 in road games and 60 against ranked teams, also team highs. Everybody knows that's not a great basketball play, but for us it was terrific. They compiled a 10230 (.772) record while making the NCAA tournament and winning in the first round all four years. [35][87], Dave Bliss recorded the most wins as head coach in Lobo history, compiling a 246108 (.695) record, with seven NCAA tournament appearances and three trips to the NIT. They dropped their next four games on the road, however, including a one-point loss at #10 BYU. Smith led with 20 points, but the rest of the team shot a combined 29%, including 18% from three-point range. The following season, 196364, the Lobos won their first WAC championship, led by Ira Harge, who King had recruited from a junior college in Iowa. Road struggles slowed them, however, and despite another strong finish they ended up a game out of the lead. Bliss had won 246 games as Lobo head coach and reached the NCAA tournament seven times, both school records. "[112][113], The 199495 season was a rebuilding year for the Lobos, who finished 1515 but won six of their last eight games. UNM released a statement on February 26, 2021, they will part ways with Weir at the end of the 202021 season. It was phased out during the '90s but has since become the signature cheer for Lobo fans. [15], The rise of the program continued in the 196465 season, led by sophomores Mel Daniels and Ben Monroe. They were ranked for much of the 197374 season, reaching #8, and again in 197778 when they peaked at #5. 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. Media Guide 201314, p.91. [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. 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