Alford compiled a 4730 (.610) record in road games, the only Lobo coach over .500 on the road. The team began the season 83 but struggled away from The Pit, losing its first seven road games. [55], Before the 197778 season, Ellenberger installed what he called the "Equal Opportunity Motion Offense", a run-and-gun attack emphasizing picks and passing as players rotate through each position, taking advantage of his versatile, athletic lineup. Shields again led with 19 points. 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. 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. Road struggles kept the team from gaining momentum, a chronic problem as the Lobos went 843 in away games under McKay. [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. [100], The 199192 Lobos featured a balanced offense, with all five starters averaging in double figures, but they lacked a go-to scorer. The tournament upset and departures were disheartening blows for Lobo fans. 6 Nevada in The Pit. Giddens was named MWC Co-Player of the Year and received an AP All-American Honorable Mention. They faltered down the stretch though and finished 168, completing the team's best four-year stretch in nearly forty seasons. Like King, Ellenberger got off to a fast start in his first two seasons. 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)". [186] Bairstow was named second-team All-American by Sports Illustrated. [48] "Coop" later became a mainstay of the "Showtime" Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s, winning five NBA championships over a 12-year career. [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. Everybody knows that's not a great basketball play, but for us it was terrific. Williams hit a school-record 10 threes and scored 46 points at Colorado State, both MWC records. [5], Roy Johnson, nicknamed "Old Iron Head", was fundamental to the early development of Lobo athletics. Nov. 2Gethro Muscadin, the former University of New Mexico Lobo basketball player who had been hospitalized since being in a single-vehicle crash 10 months ago in Kansas, died Monday. 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. 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. 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. In 1999, Sports Illustrated ranked The Pit as one of the Top 20 Sporting Venues of the 20th Century. [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. 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. The Lobos were 102 in games decided by six or fewer points. They began the year 111, rising to #8 before losing at #15 UCLA. [30], The 197677 team featured JC arrivals Michael Cooper, Marvin Johnson, and Willie Howard, the nucleus for a successful and exciting two-year run. 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. He was selected as the 30th pick in the first round of the 2008 NBA draft by Boston. [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. Coach King died on December10, 2004. [84][85], In 198788 the Lobos were led by Charlie Thomas, a junior transfer from Wake Forest (17 points and 7.5 rebounds a game), and senior Greene (16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds). Smith is now second in career assists and third in career steals. [110][111] Bliss stated, "[a]s a coach, I have never compromised more of my offensive principles than while coaching Greg Brown. Scarborough (at 3rd) and Greene (tied for 4th) also remain among the all-time leaders for minutes played in a season. [190] Before the 2017-2018 season started, 10 of the 15 players from the previous season either transferred, left the team, or graduated. [7] Basketball was primarily an intramural sport, with occasional games against other schools, including Albuquerque High School, and no regular schedule. [119] Against five-seed Syracuse, however, the depleted Lobos shot under 26% and lost to finish the season 248. The Lobos appeared in the NAIA Basketball tournament one time with a record of 01. [122][123] Thomas averaged 17 points and nine rebounds, Shields 17 points and seven rebounds, and Long 14. They lost in the first round to #14 Oklahoma State to finish 2010. The Lobos began the season 71, beating Cincinnati, which later reached #7, but losing to Massachusetts, later #13; they lost to Kansas, which peaked at #2, but beat Marquette. [33] King continued as AD until retiring the next year. [86], Colson was forced to resign after the season ended, a move that remains somewhat controversial. 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. 2-Rob Robbins. The 2019-2020 started promising for the Lobos. Tributes honoring her memory started forming on social. Against four-seed Louisville, the Lobos took an early lead, fell behind by 15, then battled back to within two late in the game. Western Athletic Conference 1964, 1968, 1974, 1978, 1994. Media Guide 201314, p.79. The Lobos again relied on three-point shooting, attempting the most threes in school history while making nearly ten a game, leading the WAC. [80][81] The Lobos logged wins over Texas and Oklahoma State on the way to a 175 record. [218] During the 1980s, a popular chant among Lobo fans was "Everyone's a Lobo, Woof Woof Woof! The Lobos had a roller-coaster season in 198990, buoyed by record-setting performances by Longley, Robbins, and McGee. Both had close friends and long-time teammates still on the Lobo roster. The Lobos won the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championship in 1964 and 1968, making frequent appearances in national rankings. Updated: Dec 1, 2020 / 08:00 PM MST. For the school's women's players, see Category:New Mexico Lobos women's basketball players. They entered the tournament 233 and ranked #6. McAfee signed with Weatherford College in Texas before transferring for one year with the University of Louisiana Rajun Cajuns in the 2020-2021 season. [93] The Lobos got off to a slow start in 198889, including losses to #11 Arizona and #6 Oklahoma. In 1992 the basketball court at The Pit was named "Bob King Court" in honor of the coach who made its construction possible. 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. [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. [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. He established regularly scheduled games against regional colleges, and in 1931 UNM joined the Border Conference as a founding member. [36][39][56] The team played at a frenetic pace and led the nation in scoring at 97.5 points per game. [23], The 199697 Lobos returned all their principal players, while adding freshman Lamont Long, who would become a starter by mid-season. Smith and Thomas were named All-WAC, and Bliss was again named WAC Coach of the Year. They then won 12 of 13, including a win over #6 San Diego State to knot the MWC race, but they lost the title showdown at SDSU after squandering a large lead. The strong finish earned the Lobos an NIT bid, where they lost to Texas A&M, finishing the season 1910. 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. Misfortune turned to tragedy with the murder of former Lobo Patrick Dennehy leading to a scandal at Baylor implicating Dave Bliss and the suicide of Lobo transfer Billy Feeney. In his first season, Weir posted a 19-15 record and finished in 3rd place in the Mountain West. Craig Neal was associate head coach under Alford for three seasons at Iowa and six seasons at UNM before taking the Lobo helm. He declared for the 2010 NBA draft and was selected in the second round by Milwaukee. [15], The rise of the program continued in the 196465 season, led by sophomores Mel Daniels and Ben Monroe. [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. Bairstow led with 24 points and eight rebounds, but the team shot poorly and their comeback fell short. In 1962, the Lobos became a founding member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The scheme also employed a full-court pressing, trapping defense to generate points off of turnovers. Pitino. The four seasons with Kenny Thomas in the line-up was the best stretch by the Lobos to date. Cleveland is as puzzled as anyone that the Cougars haven't won a conference tournament title since 2001. Complicating matters, Koenig himself was fired three months later and eventually faced indictment on criminal charges for his activities as AD. The Lobos have made 15 appearances in the NCAA tournament, compiling an overall record of 816.[232]. Fan criticism had reached a crescendo and attendance at The Pit had been dropping significantly. [35] Colson adhered strictly to NCAA rules, as UNM officials watched the program closely, wary of falling back into disfavor with the NCAA. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Major League baseball righted a wrong this year. [23] The #21 Lobos received a five-seed in the NCAA tournament facing Long Beach State. [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. UTEP was still known as Texas Western at the time, shortly before changing its name in 1967. Top 5 New Mexico Lobos basketball players of all time - BVM Sports Top 5 New Mexico Lobos basketball players of all time Before becoming a two-time ABA MVP, Mel Daniels had three stellar seasons with the New Mexico Lobos in the 1960s. They were upset in the first round by unranked Cal State Fullerton, however, in another disappointing tournament performance. In 1920 a head coach would be hired, Roy W. Johnson. 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.. [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. Bliss would identify the loss as a particular disappointment, believing that the Lobos were the better team. [209] The video clip of NC State coach Jim Valvano celebrating at the end of the game documents one of the most famous moments in NCAA basketball history and is a staple of NCAA tournament television coverage.[5]. PG- Greg Brown. The Lobos slumped to a 4236 record over the next three seasons. The team won seven of their last nine, both losses coming to #8 Utah, in Salt Lake and in the WAC tournament final. He had been a collegiate coach for 16 seasons, the previous eight at Iowa, amassing over 300 career wins. [125] Thomas was named second-team All-American, and he and Shields were both All-WAC. [96] McGee capped his career with Lobo records for most games played and most career assists. They lost to St. Louis in the semi-finals, then in overtime to Penn State in the consolation game to finish the season 2014. Lobo said she was surprised . Facing #22 Villanova, the Lobos shot 18% in the first half, scoring just eleven points and trailing by as much as 24. [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. [6] A decorated veteran who served in World Wars I and II, he was the UNM athletic director from 1920 to 1949. Greene returned to average 21 points and six rebounds a game, while Scarborough added 19 points and six assists. Rebecca Lobo is an American television basketball analyst and former women's basketball player in the WNBA from 1997 to 2003. [116] The WAC had expanded to 16 teams in the off-season, and eight WAC teams won at least 20 games. 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]. [229], Conference Season Championships (11: 5 WAC, 4 MWC, 2 Border), Conference Tournament Championships (6: 4 MWC, 2 WAC), NCAA Tournament Appearances (15: 816 record), Individual and team records are published in detail in the 201314 Lobo Media Guide.[230]. [87] Former UNM AD John Bridgers believed Colson had never received the full support of the Lobo community. Lobo, at 6'4", played the center position for much of her career. Lobo is known as the most active advocate for women's basketball. 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]. [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. She is a reporter and color analyst for ESPN, focusing on women's college basketball and WNBA games. The Official Athletic Site of the New Mexico Lobos, partner of WMT Digital. [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. Against Old Dominion in the first round, the Lobos struggled with three-point shooting and turned to their inside game. They got into foul trouble and could not stop George Washington's strong inside game, falling in an upset and finishing the season 247. 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. 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. Mar. The Lobos won the conference basketball championship in 1944 and 1945, seasons with shortened schedules due to World War II. Despite the scandal, Ellenberger managed to remain popular in Albuquerque, running a nightclub, appearing in TV commercials, and coaching the city's Continental Basketball Association team some fans even wanted him to be rehired as Lobo coach. They were ranked in the top ten for much of the 196768 season, peaking at #4, and they were in the top 20 most of the following season. Ritchie McKay was head coach at New Mexico for five seasons with a record of 8269 (.543) and one NCAA tournament appearance. The highlight of the season was a 85-58 win over No. [23] The Lobos broke into the AP rankings at #21 and received a five-seed in the tournament, facing George Washington in the first round. The Lobos advanced to the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight season, garnering a nine-seed against Missouri. Greene completed his career as the only Lobo ever to surpass 1,500 points, 600 rebounds, 300 assists, and 200 steals, averaging 16 points and six rebounds a game as a Lobo. [204] The building facade was also transformed, adding extensive glasswork and a steel superstructure. 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. They nevertheless reached the NIT, losing to Texas and finishing 1714. Brown compiled career averages of 19.9 points and 6.9 rebounds a game. [23], The 200910 Lobos were again a young squad picked to finish fifth in the MWC in preseason polls. Several players left the team, some claiming abuse by Fraschilla. 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. [147] The young squad showed promising signs early but struggled in conference to finish 1414. [36][46] The top six largest crowds ever at The Pit were during this period. [65] The team limped to a 622 record. [106], The 199394 Lobos were picked in preseason polls to finish fifth in the WAC after losing their three leading players to graduation. [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. Colson later stated that he felt tremendous pressure to push the rules, and knew other coaches who were doing so and succeeding, but his personal integrity kept him from doing so, an attitude appreciated by his players. [42] Their shooting touch eluded them in the tournament, as several players were suffering from food poisoning before the game. [231], The Lobos have compiled a 1611 record in MWC tournaments, reaching the final six times and winning the championship four times. [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. The Lobos added transfer Ruben Douglas from Arizona before the 200001 season, but other key recruits were sidelined by injury and disciplinary problems. 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. His cause of death has not been revealed but Scarborough . The program thrived, and Ellenberger became a local celebrity, restaurateur, and man-about-town, earning the nickname "Stormin' Norman" for his flashy attire and fiery coaching style.[35][36][37][38][39]. Western at the time, shortly before changing its name in 1967 19.9 and! ] their shooting touch eluded them in the line-up was the best stretch by Lobos! Only Lobo coach over.500 on the way to a 175 record facing... That remains somewhat controversial (.543 ) and Greene ( tied for 4th ) remain. 119 ] against five-seed Syracuse, however, in another disappointing tournament performance on criminal charges for his as! Teams in the MWC in preseason polls record of 816. [ 232 ] athletics. Is a reporter and color analyst for ESPN, focusing on women & # ;. Inside game is as puzzled as anyone that the Lobos to date the full of! 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