[121], The 199798 Lobos had four starters returning and entered the season ranked #11. 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. Coach King died on December10, 2004. The Lobos led the conference in scoring defense and were 15th in the nation, allowing 63.2 points per game. [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. Mar. [23], The 199697 Lobos returned all their principal players, while adding freshman Lamont Long, who would become a starter by mid-season. [231], The Lobos have compiled a 1611 record in MWC tournaments, reaching the final six times and winning the championship four times. The Lobos have made 15 appearances in the NCAA tournament, compiling an overall record of 816.[232]. [132] In 2003, he was forced to resign from Baylor embroiled in an ugly scandal that would end his college coaching career. King transformed a moribund program into a consistent winner and produced future ABA MVP Mel Daniels. [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. 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. [6] Johnson arrived in 1920 after a successful athletic career at the University of Michigan. Shields scored 1,837 points. Two road losses made them settle for a share of the regular season MWC title, but they again beat ranked SDSU and UNLV to secure the conference tournament championship, the first time they won both titles in a season. [108] The Lobos started 112, with both losses to New Mexico State in close, exciting games. [116] The WAC had expanded to 16 teams in the off-season, and eight WAC teams won at least 20 games. [155][178] Snell was selected by Chicago with the 20th pick in the first round of the NBA draft. [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. [148] After losing at Oral Roberts, they beat #20 Texas Tech and a Dayton squad that would go on to win the NIT. In 1920 a head coach would be hired, Roy W. Johnson. 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. The Lobos broke open a close game in the second half with a 267 run. Snell paced the offense down the stretch, averaging 18 points a game and leading the Lobos to the MWC tournament championship. The 2020-2021 season was completely played out of New Mexico. When Ellenberger was fired in December 1979, lead assistant Charlie Harrison was elevated to head coach for the remainder of the season. Longley finished with 1,729 points, 922 rebounds, and 336 blocks. [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. 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. 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. Unfazed, Long scored 22, Shields had 17, and bench reserves added 33 points as the Lobos won handily. Despite a disappointing WAC campaign, they received a bid to the NIT. Lobo, at 6'4", played the center position for much of her career. Hosting #18 Gonzaga, Douglas missed a pair of free throws to send the game into overtime, and the Lobos lost; point guard Marlon Parmer ripped teammates in the locker room, beginning a string of problems on court and off. [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]. [154] They struggled to win against first round opponent Montana, and Hobson injured his wrist and back. Smith and Thomas were named All-WAC, and Bliss was again named WAC Coach of the Year. [80][81] The Lobos logged wins over Texas and Oklahoma State on the way to a 175 record. 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. The last Lobo men's basketball game played in the Pit was Feb. 29, 2020. . Media Guide 201213, p.120. [146], Bradley transfer Danny Granger became eligible during the 200304 season and led the team with 19.5 points a game. [86], Colson was forced to resign after the season ended, a move that remains somewhat controversial. Flipboard. 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. [104] The team had relied heavily on three-point shooting, hoisting over 100 more attempts than in any previous season, making 39%. [231], New Mexico has a history of disappointing performances in the NCAA tournament, suffering noteworthy upsets in 1968, 1978, 1993, 2010, 2013, and 2014. [36][39][56] The team played at a frenetic pace and led the nation in scoring at 97.5 points per game. [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. Gary Colson rebuilt the Lobo program virtually from scratch after Lobogate, restoring its integrity and eventually its success on the court. Fan criticism had reached a crescendo and attendance at The Pit had been dropping significantly. The Lobos finished the season 285, their highest season win total and winning percentage to date. [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. [55] The team finally broke through, winning another exciting game at UNLV, beginning a string of nine wins in its last ten games. [29] Longley was again named All-WAC and finished his career as Lobo leader in scoring and rebounding, falling since to sixth in points and second in rebounds. [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. [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. Elliott had an opportunity to put Arizona in the lead with a three-pointer with seconds remaining, but Greene blocked the shot to seal the win, the only time the Lobos have beaten a #1-ranked opponent. One stand-out was Kenny Page, a transfer from Ohio State. 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. He oversaw construction of Carlisle Gymnasium in 1928 and Zimmerman Field in 1938, the first football stadium at UNM.[9]. [133] He had left St. John's under murky circumstances, however, and worked as a broadcaster and scout during the preceding season. They then won 11 of 12, taking the WAC lead into the last month of the season. [7] Basketball was primarily an intramural sport, with occasional games against other schools, including Albuquerque High School, and no regular schedule. [114] The 199596 team added to that nucleus Albuquerque High star Kenny Thomas, a USA Today and Parade magazine High School All-American. The 197374 Lobos began the season 120, launching them to a #8 ranking. The Sun Devils battled back to tie the game at the end of regulation before escaping with a win in OT, 8683. [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 success of the Lobos under Bob King led to rapidly growing fan interest. [10] The Lobos won 165 games with Johnson as head basketball coach, a school record for over 30 years and currently third on its all-time list. The team began the season 83 but struggled away from The Pit, losing its first seven road games. The Lobos had a roller-coaster season in 198990, buoyed by record-setting performances by Longley, Robbins, and McGee. They were ranked briefly in 1988 and 1993, then throughout 1996 to 1999. The Lobos slumped to a 4236 record over the next three seasons. [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. Norman Dale Ellenberger (August 2, 1932 - November 15, 2015) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. Thomas was held to his worst game as a Lobo, scoring just one point. UTEP was still known as Texas Western at the time, shortly before changing its name in 1967. [33] King continued as AD until retiring the next year. [35] Colson adhered strictly to NCAA rules, as UNM officials watched the program closely, wary of falling back into disfavor with the NCAA. They finished 305, the most wins in a Lobo season, while going 102 in road games and 60 against ranked teams, also team highs. 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. Updated: Feb 27, 2023 / 01:50 PM MST. The Lobo players and fan base rallied around long-time associate head coach Craig Neal, hoping to maintain continuity, and he was hired to replace Alford. They finished third in the WAC but received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, their first berth since 1978. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [164] Martinez was honored as an Academic All-American and received the NCAA Chip Hilton Player of the Year Award for outstanding character, leadership, integrity, and talent.[165][166]. They got into foul trouble and could not stop George Washington's strong inside game, falling in an upset and finishing the season 247. 22-year-old Destiny McAfee is a former all-district basketball and volleyball player for the Lobos and graduated in 2019. The Lobos swept #8 New Mexico State, with Gibson hitting a memorable last-second shot in the latter game, leading to a brief return to the national rankings. [184] The team struggled at times as the bench developed, suffering a pair of home upsets to leave them 124. [19] Four starters averaged in double-figures in scoring, led by senior guard Ron Nelson at 19.5 points a game. Former New Mexico Players Who Played In The NBA * Including anyone currently in the NBA; NBA career stats since the 1946-1947 season. [61] Six players were dismissed from the team in the opening weeks of the 197980 season, and another was suspended. [185] The Lobos finished the season 277, Neal tallying the most wins ever for a first-year Lobo coach. The Lobos were ranked #11 and received a three-seed in the NCAA tournament, their best seed ever. [46] First-year Athletic Director Paul Krebs announced before the end of the season that McKay would not return for the following season. They nevertheless reached the NIT, losing to Texas and finishing 1714. Johnson stepped down as head basketball coach after the 193940 season. [155][160] Versatile JC transfer Darington Hobson joined lone senior Roman Martinez, junior Dairese Gary, and eight sophomores and freshmen. [118] New Mexico later lost at Utah in a blowout, then lost a close game to the #3 Utes in the WAC tournament. Leading players like Belin lost eligibility and were dropped from the team. [35] The 197576 team improved to 1611 with a largely mercenary squad of JC transfers who would later quit the team before the end of the season. 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 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) They hosted their first-round game in The Pit but lost to unranked Santa Clara. One former Lobo teammate from the 2017-18 season Troy Simons and another former Lobo who will be a teammate of Furstinger's this summer when the two are both playing for "The. Full New Mexico Lobos roster for the 2022-23 season including position, height, weight, birthdate, years of experience, and college. Neal inherited four returning starters for the 201314 season, joining seven newcomers. [149], McKay continued to attract strong transfer players, but discipline issues persisted in 200506. Sort: Player (A-Z) Col umns: Swipe 18 players found. [87] Former UNM AD John Bridgers believed Colson had never received the full support of the Lobo community. While Ellenberger was visiting this booster, in November 1979, he took a call on the tapped phone from assistant coach Manny Goldstein. [27] Instead, they started the season 170, rising to #6 before beating #5Utah in the Pit, propelling the Lobos to #4. [52][53] Further JC transfers Jimmy Allen and Will Smiley completed a strong Lobo front line. [186] Bairstow was named second-team All-American by Sports Illustrated. Coach Pitino hopes his players were able to learn something from the Lobos. [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. [187] Williams finished his career as the fifth leading scorer in Lobo history, third in assists, and the MWC career assists leader. [100], The 199192 Lobos featured a balanced offense, with all five starters averaging in double figures, but they lacked a go-to scorer. That means over three thousand players. 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. 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. 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. One team in the game will be named Team J.B. White in. [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. Will Webber. She is a reporter and color analyst for ESPN, focusing on women's college basketball and WNBA games. Following a familiar pattern, the Lobos fell behind early then battled back. Former New Mexico Players Currently In The NBA * NBA stats from the 2022-2023 season. They lost in the conference tournament but received a three-seed in the NCAA tournament. [22][170] Williams and fellow sophomore Tony Snell scored in double figures. [23] All five starters averaged in double figures, but the team had little depth and relied heavily on Granger. His former players included future National Basketball . [154] Alford had led the program back to national prominence, attaining its best six-year stretch ever while improving academic achievement. Because the playing surface is 37 feet below grade, students nicknamed the arena "The Pit," and the nickname stuck. The 198384 Lobos relied almost exclusively on four senior starters, led by Smith and Tim Garrett, to the point that they took over the top four positions in school history for minutes played in a season. Several players left the team, some claiming abuse by Fraschilla. [30], The 197677 team featured JC arrivals Michael Cooper, Marvin Johnson, and Willie Howard, the nucleus for a successful and exciting two-year run. "Bob King Court" was dedicated at formal ceremonies on December1, 1992, the 26th anniversary of the opening of The Pit. Petie Gibson. 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. A cause of death was not made public. After a couple of upset losses at home, however, they fell into a tie for second and again settled for the NIT. The Lobos beat Syracuse in the first round before losing to Rutgers, finishing the season 198 and ranked #18 in the UPI. 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. The team reached the NIT tournament final in 1964 and received its first bid to the NCAA tournament in 1968. He also holds the team record for assists in a game (21). Alford compiled a 4730 (.610) record in road games, the only Lobo coach over .500 on the road. 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. Media Guide 201314, pp.67,87. Smith was named All-WAC, and Colson was named WAC Coach of the Year. 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. [93] The Lobos got off to a slow start in 198889, including losses to #11 Arizona and #6 Oklahoma. [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. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Former Lobo women's basketball player Miranda Sanchez died Monday. Lobos won handily received a three-seed in the game at the University of Michigan second. [ 149 ], the 199798 Lobos had a roller-coaster season in 198990, by. 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