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. Several players left the team, some claiming abuse by Fraschilla. [35] Colson adhered strictly to NCAA rules, as UNM officials watched the program closely, wary of falling back into disfavor with the NCAA. The Lobos compiled a 2214 record in WAC conference tournaments, reaching the final six times and winning the championship twice. [23], The 199697 Lobos returned all their principal players, while adding freshman Lamont Long, who would become a starter by mid-season. [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. [159] Senior Tony Danridge led the unit with 15 points a game, though they again relied on balance and teamwork. [141] After several coaches were discussed as candidates, some turning down offers, McKay was hired in a late night surprise and was not a popular choice among Lobo fans. [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. [36][46] The top six largest crowds ever at The Pit were during this period. Media Guide 201314, pp.76,79. Media Guide 201314, pp.7576,79. The 197677 team still holds the school record for most total rebounds and most blocked shots in a season. 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. The Lobos started out 8-6 in the non-conference, including a win against in-state rival New Mexico State where the game was delayed due to a power outage at Pan American Center. The Lobos attained their first national ranking in the 196465 season, reaching #10 in the AP poll. Gordon had 21 points and 14 rebounds, but the team shot poorly from three-point range and could not overcome the deficit, finishing the season 287. [163] The Lobos finished the season 296, their second-best record ever. [72] Top ten-ranked UTEP foiled the Lobos, however, sweeping their regular season match-ups and knocking them out of the WAC tournament. The Lobos jumped out to a 120 start with wins over #25 Cal and #16 Texas A&M, vaulting to #12 in the national rankings. When Ellenberger was fired in December 1979, lead assistant Charlie Harrison was elevated to head coach for the remainder of the season. [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 four seasons with Kenny Thomas in the line-up was the best stretch by the Lobos to date. [119] The Lobos then fell to eventual national champion Connecticut, shooting just 26%, to finish 259. They were ranked for much of the 197374 season, reaching #8, and again in 197778 when they peaked at #5. Topic starter. [121], The 199798 Lobos had four starters returning and entered the season ranked #11. Shields scored 1,837 points. [100], The 199192 Lobos featured a balanced offense, with all five starters averaging in double figures, but they lacked a go-to scorer. Giddens led the MWC in rebounding and was among the league leaders in numerous other categories. [63] Bridgers had been replaced as AD the year before by John Koenig, who did not believe Colson could take the Lobos to the next level. The team began 92 with an upset over #8 Wichita State but wilted in league play, going 412 and finishing 1517. [198][199][200] A study of decibel levels at collegiate basketball arenas found that a game at The Pit registered as the loudest at 118 decibels,[201] comparable to a turbo-fan aircraft at takeoff power. 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. The 2013 Howl drew over 10,000 fans and featured the introduction of new coach Craig Neal, who entered the arena on his motorcycle. "[112][113], The 199495 season was a rebuilding year for the Lobos, who finished 1515 but won six of their last eight games. [36][39][56] The team played at a frenetic pace and led the nation in scoring at 97.5 points per game. Bob King transformed the New Mexico program, becoming known as the "Architect of Lobo Basketball. 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. In 1920 a head coach would be hired, Roy W. Johnson. King transformed a moribund program into a consistent winner and produced future ABA MVP Mel Daniels. C-Daniel Santiago. [193] UNM would lose in the quarterfinals to Utah State in the Mountain West Championship. [227] Roberts was also inducted into the Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame.[228]. Gary injured his knee in the game, a sad career end for a four-year starter and steady leader. The Lobos and seven other conference members left the WAC to form the MWC in 1999. While Ellenberger was visiting this booster, in November 1979, he took a call on the tapped phone from assistant coach Manny Goldstein. [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. Leading players like Belin lost eligibility and were dropped from the team. Despite a disappointing WAC campaign, they received a bid to the NIT. [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. Uguak is a 6-foot-7 starting senior forward . [110][111] Bliss stated, "[a]s a coach, I have never compromised more of my offensive principles than while coaching Greg Brown. McKay faced a major rebuilding project in 200203 compounded by further dismissals and injuries that cut the team to seven scholarship players. [33] King continued as AD until retiring the next year. Like King, Ellenberger got off to a fast start in his first two seasons. Updated: Dec 1, 2020 / 08:00 PM MST. [179][180] Neal played for Bobby Cremins at Georgia Tech, earning All-ACC honors as he set the conference record for assists in a season. [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. The Lobos won the conference basketball championship in 1944 and 1945, seasons with shortened schedules due to World War II. [30], The 197677 team featured JC arrivals Michael Cooper, Marvin Johnson, and Willie Howard, the nucleus for a successful and exciting two-year run. 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. One stand-out was Kenny Page, a transfer from Ohio State. The Lobos compete in the Mountain West Conference (MWC) in NCAA Division I, joining as a founding member in 1999. [40] They fell into a 610 slide, however, including 19 on the road, a chronic weakness of the Lobos under Colson, whose teams compiled a 2465 record in road games. [155][178] Snell was selected by Chicago with the 20th pick in the first round of the NBA draft. 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. A cause of death was not made public. [55] Attendance at The Pit jumped to over 17,000 a game, second most in the nation, as fan enthusiasm soared. [142][148] They won 12 of 13 after Granger returned, however, winning the MWC tournament final over #15 Utah and receiving a 12-seed in the NCAA tournament. Williams was named conference tournament MVP; he and Jaxon were both named All-WAC. [171] After two early losses, the Lobos won 13 straight en route to a 152 mark. [195] Pitino inherited 6 transfers, including a trio of Power-5 talent in Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn Jr., and Gethro Muscadin. The Lobos finished the season 285, their highest season win total and winning percentage to date. Lobo began working at ESPN in 2004 after. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Former University of New Mexico point guard Kelvin Scarborough has died. 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. Lobo said she was surprised . Former UNM assistant Brandon Mason announced on Tuesday the return of a Lobo alumni all-star game to be played July 11 in the Pit. [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. They beat Iowa and USC on the way to another showdown with #9 UNLV, losing a high-scoring game, then losing to #10 Arizona. 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. [102] Banks was named All-WAC and finished as Lobo career leader (now second) in three-point percentage. Thomas was held to his worst game as a Lobo, scoring just one point. Ellenberger was fired on December 17, 1979, and the season continued with the remaining players not caught up in the scandal, along with several walk-ons. In 1992, UNM announced that the basketball court at University Arena would be named in honor of King. Gordon became a dominating inside presence in 201112, averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds, registering 19 double-doubles, and setting the Lobo season record for rebounds. 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. UNM released a statement on February 26, 2021, they will part ways with Weir at the end of the 202021 season. [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. (Credit: UNM men's basketball) Adam Kradle - Managing Editor of BVM Sports Updated: October 19, 2021 In 1931, Lobo athletic teams began competing in the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association, joining as a founding member along with other regional schools. [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. [146], Bradley transfer Danny Granger became eligible during the 200304 season and led the team with 19.5 points a game. While the criminal charges were cleared from Ellenberger's record, he would never be a college head coach again. The Lobos forced a turnover, down 6463, but their set play broke down and Gibson missed an unbalanced, driving shot, ending the Lobo season at 258. The most renowned enduring feature of the Lobo basketball program is its home venue, known as "The Pit", recognized as one of the best college basketball arenas in the country. McGee played in 137 games and dished out 684 assists. [116] Douglas was an explosive scorer and led the team with 16 points a game. His former players included future National Basketball . [107] Brown averaged 19.3 points a game, scoring over 30 four times, often in pivotal games, with a season-best 42; junior Marlow White averaged 17, senior Notch Neves 13, and promising freshman Charles Smith added over ten a game. They beat Texas A&M in the NIT before losing at Fresno State to finish the season 1913. [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 won the WAC championship, Nelson was named a Helms All-American,[23] and the Lobos earned their first NCAA tournament appearance. [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. They then lost three league road games and fell to third in a tight WAC race. BYU coach Steve Cleveland looks on from the sideline of the BYU-Utah game at the Marriott Center in Provo. ", coupled with a hand gesture emulating a wolf. Everybody knows that's not a great basketball play, but for us it was terrific. The scheme also employed a full-court pressing, trapping defense to generate points off of turnovers. Complicating matters, Koenig himself was fired three months later and eventually faced indictment on criminal charges for his activities as AD. 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. The Pittsburgh Steelers . [46] They rebounded to reach the final of the WAC tournament before losing at UNLV but still received a four-seed in the NCAA tournament. [6] Johnson arrived in 1920 after a successful athletic career at the University of Michigan. They have won the MWC regular season championship and the conference tournament four times each. Tributes honoring her memory started forming on social. But eventually that college career came to an end and it . [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. Gary Colson rebuilt the Lobo program virtually from scratch after Lobogate, restoring its integrity and eventually its success on the court. Media Guide 201314, p.71. Media Guide 201314, p.79. On March 16, 2021, Richard Pitino was named the 22nd head coach of the Lobos. Lobo basketball first achieved national prominence under Bob King, who was previously an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Iowa. [101] The team started slowly, including a home loss to #2 Arizona, but later won seven of eight to gain an early share of the WAC lead. [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. [93] The Lobos got off to a slow start in 198889, including losses to #11 Arizona and #6 Oklahoma. 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. Norman Dale Ellenberger (August 2, 1932 - November 15, 2015) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. The Lobos shot their best field goal percentage in a season, .542, placing them second in the nation, and McGee established the still-standing record for assists in a season. [134][135], Before the 19992000 season, the Lobos and seven other teams left the WAC to form the Mountain West Conference (MWC). So all time UNM team with NM players. [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. [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. "[198] Many fans were disappointed and outraged when Roberts was dismissed by KKOB in 2008. The Lobos remained in the WAC race late in the season, but road struggles relegated them to third place and a 1911 final record. The team tallied early wins over UCLA, Ohio State, and at Texas before hosting #1 Arizona, led by All-Americans Sean Elliott and Steve Kerr. [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 Lobo basketball programs were established in 1899, but began its first competitive teams in 1903 and 1906, respectively. 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. [59] In July 1981, however, he was convicted by a state District Court on 21 of 22 counts of fraud and submitting false public vouchers. They then won 11 of 12, taking the WAC lead into the last month of the season. 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