[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. 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. Former Lobo men's basketball teammate George Scott recalls watching that game-winning dunk by 6-foot-1 Kelvin Scarborough over 6-8 Pat Durham: "Scar caught the ball at the opposite free throw. The plucky squad lacked depth, but its veterans found ways to win, building a 164 record. 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. [27] Instead, they started the season 170, rising to #6 before beating #5Utah in the Pit, propelling the Lobos to #4. McAfee signed with Weatherford College in Texas before transferring for one year with the University of Louisiana Rajun Cajuns in the 2020-2021 season. The 197677 team still holds the school record for most total rebounds and most blocked shots in a season. Johnson stepped down as head basketball coach after the 193940 season. The Lobos beat Syracuse in the first round before losing to Rutgers, finishing the season 198 and ranked #18 in the UPI. 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. He had been a collegiate coach for 16 seasons, the previous eight at Iowa, amassing over 300 career wins. [16] They were again invited to the NIT, where they lost to St. John's to finish 198. [183] Williams averaged 16 points and five assists, and Kirk added 13 points and nine rebounds. [55] [72] Top ten-ranked UTEP foiled the Lobos, however, sweeping their regular season match-ups and knocking them out of the WAC tournament. [153], An early objective for Alford was to change the culture of the program regarding discipline and academic focus. The Lobos slumped to a 4236 record over the next three seasons. [143][144] A grim year for the program began with a severe spinal cord injury to guard Senque Carey, who would recover fully but never play again. [96] McGee capped his career with Lobo records for most games played and most career assists. The team entered the year #18 and would remain ranked throughout the next three seasons. The Lobos have made 15 appearances in the NCAA tournament, compiling an overall record of 816.[232]. 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)". Stats from Negro League teams from 1920 to 1948 are now counted in MLB records. Media Guide 201314, pp.66,90. [188], On April 1, 2017, Neal was dismissed as head coach after compiling a record of 7652 (.594).[189]. [224] He was an integral part of the Lobo fan experience, especially before most games were televised. [131] Yet, despite his success, Bliss faced mounting criticism from fans and the media for poor academic performance by his players, lax discipline, lightweight schedules, and the failure to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Colson had also clashed with Koenig in a contract dispute and had gone over his head to resolve the issue. Norman Dale Ellenberger (August 2, 1932 - November 15, 2015) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. The Lobos remained in the WAC race late in the season, but road struggles relegated them to third place and a 1911 final record. [106], The 199394 Lobos were picked in preseason polls to finish fifth in the WAC after losing their three leading players to graduation. Lamont Long averaged 18.7 points a game to lead the league and earn All-MWC honors, finishing his career as the third leading scorer in Lobo history, three points ahead of former teammate Shields.[137]. The strong finish earned the Lobos an NIT bid, where they lost to Texas A&M, finishing the season 1910. [30], The 197677 team featured JC arrivals Michael Cooper, Marvin Johnson, and Willie Howard, the nucleus for a successful and exciting two-year run. [191] Also in January, JaQuan Lyle hosted a party at an Airbnb where two people were shot, one of which was a UNM female athlete. They lost four straight early in the year, then won their next five; they lost seven of nine, but won their last seven regular season games; they carried that momentum into the NIT and reached its Final Four. They went 7414 (.841) from 1967 to 1970, including a 273 season in 196970 in which they were ranked in the top five most of the year, culminating in a Final Four appearance. With the help of transfers JaQuan Lyle, J.J. Caldwell, Carlton Bragg Jr., and Vance Jackson, UNM exploded to a 15-3 start. [23] He finished with career averages of 19.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, and his 23 double-doubles in 196970 still stands as the Lobo season record. [6][11] For many years, Johnson Gym was the most prominent feature of the UNM campus for those driving along Central Avenue in Albuquerque, part of historic U.S. Route 66. [98] Longley was the seventh player selected in the 1991 NBA draft, by Minnesota, and he went on to win three NBA championships as a starter for the Chicago Bulls (199698). Like Petie Gibson, Scarborough became a long-time coach in Albuquerque, at. 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. [68] The callow Lobo squad led for much of the game, encouraged by a delirious crowd at The Pit. [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. They beat Texas A&M in the NIT before losing at Fresno State to finish the season 1913. 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 . The UNM gymnasium at the time was a small wooden building where the walls were out-of-bounds markers for basketball games. [104] The team had relied heavily on three-point shooting, hoisting over 100 more attempts than in any previous season, making 39%. 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. 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). He oversaw construction of Carlisle Gymnasium in 1928 and Zimmerman Field in 1938, the first football stadium at UNM.[9]. 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. [163] In the second round the hobbled Lobos could not keep up with athletic, fast-breaking Washington. 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. Ellenberger served as interim head coach at UTEP for a period when Haskins was ill. Bobbi Roquemore. [154] Alford had led the program back to national prominence, attaining its best six-year stretch ever while improving academic achievement. [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. [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. [118] New Mexico later lost at Utah in a blowout, then lost a close game to the #3 Utes in the WAC tournament. [193] UNM would lose in the quarterfinals to Utah State in the Mountain West Championship. [82] The Lobos reached the final of the WAC tournament but lost to Wyoming, which went on to reach the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament. Only four scholarship players remained on the team, so a campus tryout filled out the roster with walk-ons. 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 arena has frequently hosted NCAA tournament games, including the 1983 NCAA Final Four that featured one of the most memorable finishes in tournament history. Former New Mexico Players Who Played In The NBA * Including anyone currently in the NBA; NBA career stats since the 1946-1947 season. The team reached the NIT tournament final in 1964 and received its first bid to the NCAA tournament in 1968. The last Lobo men's basketball game played in the Pit was Feb. 29, 2020. . That means over three thousand players. Will Webber. Pitino. March 1, 2003. ", coupled with a hand gesture emulating a wolf. [231], The Lobos have compiled a 1611 record in MWC tournaments, reaching the final six times and winning the championship four times. 6 Nevada in The Pit. [80][81] The Lobos logged wins over Texas and Oklahoma State on the way to a 175 record. 197374 New Mexico Lobos Roster and Stats. Gordon was named All-MWC and conference tourney MVP. Bairstow led with 24 points and eight rebounds, but the team shot poorly and their comeback fell short. Smith and Thomas were named All-WAC, and Bliss was again named WAC Coach of the Year. [62] The damage to the program was devastating, as it was forced to rebuild virtually from scratch, beginning in mid-season. [172] They dropped a pair of league games but then won seven straight, winning at #13 San Diego State and trouncing #11 UNLV to take the league lead and climb into the national rankings at #18. 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. [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. While the criminal charges were cleared from Ellenberger's record, he would never be a college head coach again. Updated: Dec 1, 2020 / 08:00 PM MST. [61] Six players were dismissed from the team in the opening weeks of the 197980 season, and another was suspended. While he initially relied on JC transfers to fill the roster, he also began the slow process of rebuilding the program around freshmen recruits, with a greater emphasis on academics. Fraschilla was hired days after Bliss resigned, touted as a great recruiter and up-and-coming coach after leading Manhattan and St. John's to the NCAA tournament. [19] Four starters averaged in double-figures in scoring, led by senior guard Ron Nelson at 19.5 points a game. [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 Pittsburgh Steelers . Fran Fraschilla coached at New Mexico for three seasons, compiling a 5541 (.572) record with three NIT appearances. Thomas had his best NCAA performance with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks, while Long added 17 points and 12 rebounds and made the game-winning basket in the closing seconds. [155][156] Six other players averaged between seven and ten points as balanced scoring became a hallmark of Lobo squads under Alford. They hosted their first-round game in The Pit but lost to unranked Santa Clara. Road struggles slowed them, however, and despite another strong finish they ended up a game out of the lead. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Major League baseball righted a wrong this year. In addition to Daniels, other prominent players produced by the Lobo program include five-time NBA champion Michael Cooper, three-time NBA champion Luc Longley, NBA all-star Danny Granger, and Kenny Thomas. Ritchie McKay was head coach at New Mexico for five seasons with a record of 8269 (.543) and one NCAA tournament appearance. Harge later had a successful career in the ABA. They lost in the conference tournament but received a three-seed in the NCAA tournament. [40] They spent about half of the 196667 season in the top six nationally, reaching #3, their highest ranking ever. Senior Greg Brown, a 57 point guard from Albuquerque High, produced a monumental season, though, leading the Lobos to their first regular season WAC title in 16 years. [155][178] Snell was selected by Chicago with the 20th pick in the first round of the NBA draft. They then won 11 of 12, taking the WAC lead into the last month of the season. [102] Banks was named All-WAC and finished as Lobo career leader (now second) in three-point percentage. 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. [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. [163], The 201213 Lobo squad was dominated by juniors and sophomores, though all were veteran contributors, including three returning starters. Media Guide 201213, pp.76,89. 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. [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. [220] The student section in The Pit, Section 26, is particularly noteworthy for the antics of its raucous fans, taunting and intimidating opposing players, often with personal remarks, and offering enticing visuals for television broadcasters: They chant, jump up and down in unison, shake newspapers and signs to make noise and create distractions, and some dress in costumes and body paint. Bliss had won 246 games as Lobo head coach and reached the NCAA tournament seven times, both school records. He was named the first ABA Rookie of the Year in 1968, ABA Most Valuable Player in 1969 and 1971, and he led the Indiana Pacers to three ABA championships.[24]. Senior Willie Banks, an Albuquerque High product, led the team along with junior guards Ike Williams and Steve Logan and center Khari Jaxon. Scott is the Lobo career leader in FG percentage, at .622 (198285). [184] The team struggled at times as the bench developed, suffering a pair of home upsets to leave them 124. They lost to St. Louis in the semi-finals, then in overtime to Penn State in the consolation game to finish the season 2014. They were upset in the first round by unranked Cal State Fullerton, however, in another disappointing tournament performance. [194] Lyle had not traveled to Nevada because of a knee injury. He declared for the 2010 NBA draft and was selected in the second round by Milwaukee. [119] Against five-seed Syracuse, however, the depleted Lobos shot under 26% and lost to finish the season 248. Smith was named All-WAC, and Colson was named WAC Coach of the Year. [155][160] Versatile JC transfer Darington Hobson joined lone senior Roman Martinez, junior Dairese Gary, and eight sophomores and freshmen. Coach Pitino hopes his players were able to learn something from the Lobos. From 1924 to 1934, his teams posted a 10438 (.732) record. "[112][113], The 199495 season was a rebuilding year for the Lobos, who finished 1515 but won six of their last eight games. [74] The Lobos were 101 when they lost to #5 Wake Forest, and 142 when Granger suffered an injury and missed three games, all losses. 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. The Lobos again relied on three-point shooting, attempting the most threes in school history while making nearly ten a game, leading the WAC. [133][138] The Lobos started the season 122, with an overtime win at Sweet 16-bound Gonzaga, but a blowout loss at #1 Stanford began a 16 slump, including several poor road performances. SF-Mike Winters. [154] Under McKay, J.R. Giddens had frequently missed games due to disciplinary problems. By contrast, Marvin "Automatic" Johnson was one of the greatest scorers in Lobo history. 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. They began their WAC schedule with losses at Utah and BYU but rebounded to win eight of their next nine. The Lobos won the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championship in 1964 and 1968, making frequent appearances in national rankings. 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. [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. [108] The Lobos started 112, with both losses to New Mexico State in close, exciting games. Here is my list. 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