The Lobos won the Border Conference in 1944 and 1945, and they appeared in the NAIA post-season tournament in 1947, losing to Hamline University in the first round. 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. [35] Colson adhered strictly to NCAA rules, as UNM officials watched the program closely, wary of falling back into disfavor with the NCAA. [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 official name of the facilities became Dreamstyle Arena and Dreamstyle Stadium. They compiled a 10230 (.772) record while making the NCAA tournament and winning in the first round all four years. [37][64] He then became the lead assistant for Bobby Knight at Indiana for ten seasons, from 1990 to 2000,[34] and later coached in the NBA and WNBA. 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. [23] The #21 Lobos received a five-seed in the NCAA tournament facing Long Beach State. SF-Mike Winters. He was head coach of the University of New Mexico Lobo basketball team from 1972 to 1979, winning Western Athletic Conference championships in 1974 and 1978 and compiling an overall record of 134-62 (.684). Bliss would identify the loss as a particular disappointment, believing that the Lobos were the better team. 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. 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. Lobo began working at ESPN in 2004 after. Cleveland is as puzzled as anyone that the Cougars haven't won a conference tournament title since 2001. It was phased out during the '90s but has since become the signature cheer for Lobo fans. [145] Discipline trouble and player defections continued into the off-season. University of New Mexico Lobo legend Robin Cole persevered through a number of trials and tribulations, to achieve his ultimate goal. [202] Noise levels up to 125 decibels have been measured, close to the pain threshold for the human ear. Thomas was held to his worst game as a Lobo, scoring just one point. [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. The other team will have numerous other former Lobos and other players from around New Mexico. Virginia scored the last eight points of the game to take the lead, and the Lobos missed three shots at tying the game in the last 12 seconds, finishing the season at 238. [57] Phil Abney and Russell Saunders were JC additions; Abney initially backed up Howard but later moved into the starting line-up. 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. Against four-seed Louisville, the Lobos took an early lead, fell behind by 15, then battled back to within two late in the game. 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. [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. The Lobos got to 21-9 Tuesday by defeating. Page was the only consistent offensive threat on the team, averaging 28 points a game, still the Lobo record for best season average. 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. That may be the way to rationalize what a lot of Lobo men's basketball fans are feeling now. 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. [163], The 201213 Lobo squad was dominated by juniors and sophomores, though all were veteran contributors, including three returning starters. Forward Johnny Brown turned in an All-WAC performance, but the other inside players were young, and the loss of Greene left a hole in the backcourt. The four seasons with Kenny Thomas in the line-up was the best stretch by the Lobos to date. [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. [36][46] The top six largest crowds ever at The Pit were during this period. [190] Before the 2017-2018 season started, 10 of the 15 players from the previous season either transferred, left the team, or graduated. [52][53] Further JC transfers Jimmy Allen and Will Smiley completed a strong Lobo front line. [90] Knight recommended Bliss, who had been his assistant at Army and Indiana before serving as head coach at Oklahoma and SMU. They finished third in the WAC but received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, their first berth since 1978. Gary Colson rebuilt the Lobo program virtually from scratch after Lobogate, restoring its integrity and eventually its success on the court. In 1992, UNM announced that the basketball court at University Arena would be named in honor of King. The teams met again in the conference tournament final, and the Lobos prevailed for their third straight MWC tournament championship. Former players have joined forces and are in town for TBT, and they met up with this year's squad for a dinner. The university established basketball as a varsity sport in 1899 and began competing with regional colleges after establishing an athletics department in 1920. They went on to lose in the first round in the Mountain West Championship against Nevada. Howard led a young team, scoring 19.7 per game, with sophomores Willie Long and Petie Gibson beginning their runs as three-year starters. [86], Colson was forced to resign after the season ended, a move that remains somewhat controversial. [22][170] Williams and fellow sophomore Tony Snell scored in double figures. Media Guide 201314, pp.67,87. Former New Mexico Players Who Played In The NBA * Including anyone currently in the NBA; NBA career stats since the 1946-1947 season. [19][30] The team finished the season 179 but failed to receive an NIT berth. Media Guide 201314, p.71. [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. Find out the latest on your favorite NCAAB players on CBSSports . "[198] Many fans were disappointed and outraged when Roberts was dismissed by KKOB in 2008. 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 [227] Roberts was also inducted into the Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame.[228]. They finished the season with an 6-16 record. 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. (Credit: UNM men's basketball) Adam Kradle - Managing Editor of BVM Sports Updated: October 19, 2021 22 Wyoming. All four Smith, Thomas, Long, and Shields were on the 199697 Lobo squad. [159] Senior Tony Danridge led the unit with 15 points a game, though they again relied on balance and teamwork. A cause of death was not made public. [91][92] All had been Colson recruits, and Bliss reportedly flew to Australia to secure Longley's return to New Mexico. 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. Snell paced the offense down the stretch, averaging 18 points a game and leading the Lobos to the MWC tournament championship. The Sun Devils battled back to tie the game at the end of regulation before escaping with a win in OT, 8683. Ritchie McKay was head coach at New Mexico for five seasons with a record of 8269 (.543) and one NCAA tournament appearance. [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. Both had close friends and long-time teammates still on the Lobo roster. [5], Roy Johnson, nicknamed "Old Iron Head", was fundamental to the early development of Lobo athletics. [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. Giddens was named MWC Co-Player of the Year and received an AP All-American Honorable Mention. [119] Against five-seed Syracuse, however, the depleted Lobos shot under 26% and lost to finish the season 248. [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. 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. He oversaw construction of Carlisle Gymnasium in 1928 and Zimmerman Field in 1938, the first football stadium at UNM.[9]. 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. [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. [212][219], At the start of each half during Lobo games at The Pit, fans continue to stand and clap their hands until both teams score a basket, adding pressure on teams that struggle to score for long stretches. No players found. 197374 New Mexico Lobos Roster and Stats. Shields again led with 19 points. After the 197172 season, assistant coach Norm Ellenberger was elevated to head coach, and King served as Assistant Athletics Director the next season. 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. 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. King then left to become head coach and Athletics Director at Indiana State University. For yearly records and game results from 1899 to 1962, 202223 New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team, Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association, List of New Mexico Lobos men's basketball seasons, A Perfect Storm: The 197778 New Mexico Lobos, 198081 Arizona State Sun Devils Roster and Stats, 198081 Pacific-10 Conference Season Summary, 198384 New Mexico Lobos Roster and Stats, 198687 New Mexico Lobos Roster and Stats, 199495 New Mexico Lobos Roster and Stats, 200708 New Mexico Lobos Roster and Stats, 201112 New Mexico Lobos Roster and Stats, New Mexico Lobo Men's Basketball 201112 Season Review, Mountain West Announces 201314 Men's Basketball All-Conference Awards, Craig Neal Relieved of Duties as Mens Basketball Coach, "Lobos hire NMSU's Paul Weir as next men's basketball coach", "Month by month: A dreary 2020 for sports on most fronts in New Mexico - Albuquerque Journal", "Female UNM athlete shot at NE ABQ party - Albuquerque Journal", "Lobo basketball suspends JaQuan Lyle for house party, shooting incident", "A timeline of JaQuan Lyle's wild, tumultuous college basketball journey", "New Mexico turns the lights out on New Mexico State in 101-94 rivalry win", UNM asks WisePies to relinquish Pit naming rights, Dream deal for UNM nets $10 million over 10 years, "The 'dream' is over: UNM, Dreamstyle naming right agreement ends", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=New_Mexico_Lobos_men%27s_basketball&oldid=1135196029, Sporadic games, six in 1908 most for one year, Carlisle Gym opens, regular schedule established, Johnson, 10438 (.732) from 1924 to 1934; 13773 (.652) after 1936; 2873 (.277) in last four seasons, Clements, 4119 (.683) from 1944 to 1947, 72100 (.419) thereafter, Pre-Border Conference: 14570 (.674) from 1899 to 1931, Border Conference: 205235 (.466) from 1931 to 1951, Skyline Eight: 70195 (.264) from 1951 to 1962, Total Win/Loss (18892017): 15001110 (.575), 4 Steve Alford (MWC: 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013), 7 Dave Bliss (1991, 199394, 199699), 47 record in NCAA tournament, This page was last edited on 23 January 2023, at 05:57. He was selected as the 30th pick in the first round of the 2008 NBA draft by Boston. Against Old Dominion in the first round, the Lobos struggled with three-point shooting and turned to their inside game. Student-athletes from both men's and women's squads participate and sign autographs for fans, and the event is used to attract recruits invited to attend. They entered the tournament 233 and ranked #6. Ellenberger began relying heavily on recruiting Junior College (JC) transfers, a tactic that would lead to his best season as Lobo coach but later to his downfall. PF-Kenny Thomas. Media Guide 201314, pp.76,79. Alford applied a strict regimen and Giddens responded with a standout senior season, leading the team with 16 points and nine rebounds a game. [193] UNM would lose in the quarterfinals to Utah State in the Mountain West Championship. Hobson led the team with 16 points, nine rebounds, and 4.6 assists a game, the only Lobo to ever lead in all three. 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