[158], The 200809 Lobos mixed four veterans with young Alford recruits and were picked in the preseason to finish fifth in the MWC. [23] Shields finished his career as the third (now fourth) leading scorer in Lobo history and as career leader in three-pointers. [19][30] The team finished the season 179 but failed to receive an NIT berth. Ellenberger served as interim head coach at UTEP for a period when Haskins was ill. Bobbi Roquemore. 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. [195] Pitino inherited 6 transfers, including a trio of Power-5 talent in Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn Jr., and Gethro Muscadin. The UNM gymnasium at the time was a small wooden building where the walls were out-of-bounds markers for basketball games. [15], The rise of the program continued in the 196465 season, led by sophomores Mel Daniels and Ben Monroe. Media Guide 201314, p.71. Long scored 1,840 points. [136] The team meandered to a 1311 record but then won four straight, including over #21 Utah. [52][53] Further JC transfers Jimmy Allen and Will Smiley completed a strong Lobo front line. The design of the arena makes it one of the loudest venues in college basketball, creating a hostile playing environment for visitors. The Lobos, Aggies, and Miners played one another twice every season, home-and-away, and a fierce rivalry grew among them. 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. Bairstow and Williams were named first team All-MWC; Kirk was third team. [6] A decorated veteran who served in World Wars I and II, he was the UNM athletic director from 1920 to 1949. Johnson coached the UNM basketball team for all but two seasons from 1920 to 1940. The Lobos had only two winning seasons from 1947 to 1962, compiling a 113252 (.310) record, including a dismal 42149 (.220) during the last eight years. [58] In an investigation into illegal gambling, the FBI had placed a wiretap on the phone of a major Lobo booster. [118] New Mexico later lost at Utah in a blowout, then lost a close game to the #3 Utes in the WAC tournament. The Lobos added transfer Ruben Douglas from Arizona before the 200001 season, but other key recruits were sidelined by injury and disciplinary problems. He was selected as the 30th pick in the first round of the 2008 NBA draft by Boston. [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. [60][63] In 1986, former rival and longtime friend Don Haskins hired Ellenberger as his lead assistant at UTEP, where he would coach for four years. [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. [75][76] The team slipped to 65 before winning eight out of nine, gaining a share of the WAC lead. [114] The 199596 team added to that nucleus Albuquerque High star Kenny Thomas, a USA Today and Parade magazine High School All-American. 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 The 197475 Lobo team was depleted by graduation and slipped to a 1313 record. Page was the only consistent offensive threat on the team, averaging 28 points a game, still the Lobo record for best season average. [8] Johnson set about building collegiate-level athletics facilities, performing some of the hard labor with his own hands. Four-year starting PG Phil Smith led those early teams, averaging 14 points, six assists, and two steals per game over his career, setting then-records for highest scoring freshman, most steals in a season, and most career assists. 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)". [185] The Lobos finished the season 277, Neal tallying the most wins ever for a first-year Lobo coach. The Lobos again relied on three-point shooting, attempting the most threes in school history while making nearly ten a game, leading the WAC. Stats from Negro League teams from 1920 to 1948 are now counted in MLB records. Harge later had a successful career in the ABA. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Former Lobo women's basketball player Miranda Sanchez died Monday. Under Norm Ellenberger, the Lobos won WAC championships in 1974 and 1978 and compiled an overall record of 13462 (.684). 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. Because the playing surface is 37 feet below grade, students nicknamed the arena "The Pit," and the nickname stuck. [163] In the second round the hobbled Lobos could not keep up with athletic, fast-breaking Washington. [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. Thomas had 15 points and eight rebounds, sealing the win with a pair of late free throws, while Long added 14 points and nine boards. For the school's women's players, see Category:New Mexico Lobos women's basketball players. [161] Martinez added 14 points and six rebounds a game, and Gary 13 points and four assists. Only four scholarship players remained on the team, so a campus tryout filled out the roster with walk-ons. They went to the NIT and beat Bliss-led Baylor and Pepperdine in The Pit before losing at Memphis to finish 2113. Former WNBA basketball player and olympian Rebecca Lobo is seen analyzing the game between UConn and UCLA in a semifinal for the Albany Regional of the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship at the Times Union Center on Friday, March 29, 2019 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union) Lori Van Buren / Albany Times Union Show More Show Less 3 of 10 Johnson stepped down as head basketball coach after the 193940 season. Lobo began working at ESPN in 2004 after. They were again relegated to the NIT, losing to Oregon State and finishing 2510, the team record for wins in a season at the time. [149], McKay continued to attract strong transfer players, but discipline issues persisted in 200506. Alan Dolensky and Smith remain the top two on the list, while Garrett is now tied for fourth. [29][53] The Lobos finished the season 244 and ranked #12, and Ellenberger was voted runner-up for the US Basketball Writers Coach of the Year award. Media Guide 201314, pp.67,69,71,77,88. The 7778 team still holds the Lobo record for most steals per game. [68] The callow Lobo squad led for much of the game, encouraged by a delirious crowd at The Pit. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [36][46] The top six largest crowds ever at The Pit were during this period. [79] The Lobos scored over eighty points a game and set the team record for most total points in a season. The Lobos finished the season 285, their highest season win total and winning percentage to date. The Lobos won the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championship in 1964 and 1968, making frequent appearances in national rankings. Unfazed, Long scored 22, Shields had 17, and bench reserves added 33 points as the Lobos won handily. [116] Thomas averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds, Long 17 points and 6.5 boards. [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. Full New Mexico Lobos roster for the 2022-23 season including position, height, weight, birthdate, years of experience, and college. Early New Mexico basketball teams played in what became known as the Old Wooden Gym, where the walls were the out-of-bounds markers. On March 16, 2021, Richard Pitino was named the 22nd head coach of the Lobos. [146], Bradley transfer Danny Granger became eligible during the 200304 season and led the team with 19.5 points a game. 2-Rob Robbins. The New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team represents the University of New Mexico, competing in the Mountain West Conference (MWC) in NCAA Division I. 22-year-old Destiny McAfee is a former all-district basketball and volleyball player for the Lobos and graduated in 2019. (Journal illustration) Rob Robbins'. In 1920 a head coach would be hired, Roy W. Johnson. [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. Scarborough (at 3rd) and Greene (tied for 4th) also remain among the all-time leaders for minutes played in a season. The 2019-2020 started promising for the Lobos. Daniels averaged over 17 points and 11 rebounds a game, providing the fast-growing Lobo fan base a preview of things to come. [214], On May 3, 2017, UNM announced a $10 million naming rights agreement with Dreamstyle Remodeling, an Albuquerque-based construction business, covering both The Pit and the UNM football stadium. 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 most comprehensive coverage of the New Mexico Lobos Men's Basketball on the web with highlights, scores, game summaries, schedule and rosters. [23] The #21 Lobos received a five-seed in the NCAA tournament facing Long Beach State. [55] The team finally broke through, winning another exciting game at UNLV, beginning a string of nine wins in its last ten games. Based on this conversation, the FBI launched an investigation that led to a federal indictment of Ellenberger on seven counts of fraud and forgery of academic transcripts, though he was acquitted of those charges at trial. The strong finish earned the Lobos an NIT bid, where they lost to Texas A&M, finishing the season 1910. At 259 in a strong WAC, Lobo fans retained hope that New Mexico would gain an at-large berth to the tournament. Ellenberger was named head coach in March 1972 after serving as an assistant under King since 1967. The university established basketball as a varsity sport in 1899 and began competing with regional colleges after establishing an athletics department in 1920. From 1951 to 1962, the Lobos competed in the Mountain States Conference, known at the time as the Skyline Eight. Uguak is a 6-foot-7 starting senior forward . North Carolina State upset heavily favored Houston in the memorable championship, sealing the victory with a last second basket. The inconsistent squad started 55 but then stunned 21-point favorite, #2 Arizona in Tucson, the highest ranked opponent the Lobos had beaten on the road since 1966. Fan criticism had reached a crescendo and attendance at The Pit had been dropping significantly. [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. [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. 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. Fraschilla resigned shortly after the season, concluding that "it was best for everyone that I leave."[138][140]. [133] The team finished 1614 after another blowout loss at Minnesota in the NIT. 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. 22 Wyoming. [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]. The 2013 Howl drew over 10,000 fans and featured the introduction of new coach Craig Neal, who entered the arena on his motorcycle. 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. The Official Athletic Site of the New Mexico Lobos, partner of WMT Digital. Shields again led with 19 points. The success of the program continued after King departed, winning WAC titles in 1974, 1978, and 1994, winning the conference tournament in 1993 and 1996, and regularly earning post-season tournament bids. The Lobos advanced to the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight season, garnering a nine-seed against Missouri. Smith led with 20 points, but the rest of the team shot a combined 29%, including 18% from three-point range. [55] Attendance at The Pit jumped to over 17,000 a game, second most in the nation, as fan enthusiasm soared. They lost in the 2018 Mountain West Championship to San Diego State 82-75. [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. C-Daniel Santiago. 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]. [155][160] Versatile JC transfer Darington Hobson joined lone senior Roman Martinez, junior Dairese Gary, and eight sophomores and freshmen. In 1962, the Lobos became a founding member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Gibson later taught in the Albuquerque Public School system for more than three decades, gaining recognition as a mentor and role model, and he was named to the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. The Lobos won the WAC championship, Nelson was named a Helms All-American,[23] and the Lobos earned their first NCAA tournament appearance. [6] Johnson arrived in 1920 after a successful athletic career at the University of Michigan. His cause of death has not been revealed but Scarborough . The team entered the year #18 and would remain ranked throughout the next three seasons. [188], On April 1, 2017, Neal was dismissed as head coach after compiling a record of 7652 (.594).[189]. [22][170] Williams and fellow sophomore Tony Snell scored in double figures. Smith was named All-WAC, and Colson was named WAC Coach of the Year. [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. The Lobos lost Daniels and Monroe to graduation and were picked in the 196768 preseason to finish last in the WAC. [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. [148] They lost in the conference tournament but received a bid to the NIT, losing at Cal to finish 249, the most wins for a first-year Lobo coach to date. [148] After losing at Oral Roberts, they beat #20 Texas Tech and a Dayton squad that would go on to win the NIT. [55][69] Despite the struggles of the team, attendance at The Pit actually improved in Colson's early years, remaining in the top four nationally.[46]. [19][20] The Lobos reached #3 with an 111 record but then lost four straight and fell out of the rankings. [77][78] Scott was lost to graduation, Greene sat out the season injured, and the inexperienced team struggled badly on the road. They then lost three league road games and fell to third in a tight WAC race. [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. [227] Roberts was also inducted into the Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame.[228]. Bairstow led with 24 points and eight rebounds, but the team shot poorly and their comeback fell short. He oversaw construction of Carlisle Gymnasium in 1928 and Zimmerman Field in 1938, the first football stadium at UNM.[9]. UNM left the Border Conference in 1951 to join the Mountain States Conference, then known as the Skyline Eight. University of New Mexico Lobo legend Robin Cole persevered through a number of trials and tribulations, to achieve his ultimate goal. Former New Mexico Players Who Played In The NBA * Including anyone currently in the NBA; NBA career stats since the 1946-1947 season. Will Webber. When Ellenberger was fired in December 1979, lead assistant Charlie Harrison was elevated to head coach for the remainder of the season. [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. [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]. [65] The team limped to a 622 record. They beat Dayton in the regional consolation game to finish the season 227 and ranked #18 in the UPI. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Major League baseball righted a wrong this year. [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. 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. They were ranked for much of the 197374 season, reaching #8, and again in 197778 when they peaked at #5. [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]. [119] He was again named All-WAC and finished as the leading scorer in Lobo history, with 1,993 points, and the leader in field goals made, having started every game of his career. The Lobos were ranked #11 and received a three-seed in the NCAA tournament, their best seed ever. That may be the way to rationalize what a lot of Lobo men's basketball fans are feeling now. 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. [23], The 200910 Lobos were again a young squad picked to finish fifth in the MWC in preseason polls. After the 197172 season, assistant coach Norm Ellenberger was elevated to head coach, and King served as Assistant Athletics Director the next season. [154][173][174] Williams, Snell, and center Alex Kirk led a balanced attack with seven players leading the team in scoring in individual games. [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 plucky squad lacked depth, but its veterans found ways to win, building a 164 record. Media Guide 201314, p.79. The following 59 pages are in this category, out of 59 total. [154] They struggled to win against first round opponent Montana, and Hobson injured his wrist and back. 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. They lost in the first round to #14 Oklahoma State to finish 2010. Sort: Player (A-Z) Col umns: Swipe 18 players found. [96] McGee capped his career with Lobo records for most games played and most career assists. Updated: Feb 27, 2023 / 01:50 PM MST. [63], In their first three seasons under Colson, the Lobos struggled to a 3944 combined record. Fraschilla felt he had his system and recruits in place going into the 200102 season, and Lobo fans were eager for the team to return to the NCAA tournament. The Lobos appeared in the NAIA Basketball tournament one time with a record of 01. The Lobos were among the top 12 in the nation in scoring for Ellenberger's final three years, topping a hundred points 25 times and registering six of the school's top eight single-game scoring totals. [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. [57] Phil Abney and Russell Saunders were JC additions; Abney initially backed up Howard but later moved into the starting line-up. The 2020-2021 season was completely played out of New Mexico. Facing Butler in the first round, the Lobos were already without an injured Olney when Gibson suffered a concussion and broken finger; Thomas again spent the game in foul trouble. Shields scored 1,837 points. All four Smith, Thomas, Long, and Shields were on the 199697 Lobo squad. They finished third in the WAC but received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, their first berth since 1978. 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. [192][193]It was also later revealed that UNM basketball players were also at the party after a 22 point loss to Nevada, after they had taken a charter flight that night. [36][39][56] The team played at a frenetic pace and led the nation in scoring at 97.5 points per game. 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. The 198687 season was the most successful for Colson as Lobo coach. They hosted their first-round game in The Pit but lost to unranked Santa Clara. [16] They were again invited to the NIT, where they lost to St. John's to finish 198. [181][182] Senior Cameron Bairstow had a breakout season, averaging 20 points and seven rebounds a game, achieving one of the best single-season improvements in school history. [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. Thomas tallied 1,931 points and 1,032 rebounds in his career, the first player in WAC history with over 1,800 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 200 blocked shots. [129] He was selected as the 22nd pick in the first round of the 1999 NBA draft by Houston and played for 11 seasons in the NBA.[130]. SHARE Why this former BYU coach is dumbfounded by Cougars' lack of success in league tourney. 22 San Diego State (22-5, 13-2 . [186] Bairstow was named second-team All-American by Sports Illustrated. [154] Under McKay, J.R. Giddens had frequently missed games due to disciplinary problems. Tributes honoring her memory started forming on social. [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. [23] All five starters averaged in double figures, but the team had little depth and relied heavily on Granger. Renovations completed in 2010 added space and state-of-the-art amenities for fans and players. Robbins led the nation in free throw shooting, making 93.5% of his attempts, including 52 in a row at one point, both school records. In 1992, UNM announced that the basketball court at University Arena would be named in honor of King. It was phased out during the '90s but has since become the signature cheer for Lobo fans. His former players included future National Basketball . Udeze finished with 25 points and 9 rebounds, House went for 24 points and 5 assists and UNM on Tuesday night shot a blistering 58.2% in a 94-80 . [35], The "Lobogate" scandal involved forged academic transcripts, payments made for bogus Junior College credits, and other devices to attain eligibility for players who lacked academic credentials. [124] The Lobos were 213 and back at #11 when they lost at #19 TCU, at #5 Utah, and had a team record 41-game home-winning streak ended by BYU. 197374 Western Athletic Conference season Summary, Johnson had established the school record at 46 points earlier in the season before his 50-point performance, which broke the WAC conference single-game record and earned him the. [87] In the end, fans wanted more than Colson had managed to achieve, and despite the respect he had earned for rebuilding the program, the disappointment of failing to reach the NCAA tournament fueled support for a change. [26] New Mexico State hired Lou Henson as head coach in 1966, and like the Lobos under King, in his second season the Aggies began achieving national rankings and post-season tournament appearances. [172] The Lobos' strength of schedule powered them to a #2 RPI ranking, and they won a program-record 15 games away from The Pit. [177] In the interim, Snell announced he was declaring for the NBA draft. [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. [153], An early objective for Alford was to change the culture of the program regarding discipline and academic focus. [184] The team struggled at times as the bench developed, suffering a pair of home upsets to leave them 124. 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. Giddens was named MWC Co-Player of the Year and received an AP All-American Honorable Mention. [67] A highlight of Colson's first season was his fourth game as head coach, hosting an Arizona State team that would reach #3 in the nation led by future NBA players Byron Scott, Fat Lever, Alton Lister, and Sam Williams. As a part of Team USA during the 1996 Summer Olympics, Lobo won gold on one of the greatest basketball teams ever assembled. [40] They spent about half of the 196667 season in the top six nationally, reaching #3, their highest ranking ever. Leading players like Belin lost eligibility and were dropped from the team. [216], The official mascot of the University of New Mexico is the "Lobo", the Spanish word for "wolf", adopted by the school in 1920. Media Guide 201314, p.91. She is a reporter and color analyst for ESPN, focusing on women's college basketball and WNBA games. 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. Media Guide 201314, pp.67,87. [33] King continued as AD until retiring the next year. 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. 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. The Lobos have made 15 appearances in the NCAA tournament, compiling an overall record of 816.[232]. The Lobos beat Syracuse in the first round before losing to Rutgers, finishing the season 198 and ranked #18 in the UPI. [74] The Lobos heated up in the MWC tournament, reaching the final but losing on a missed shot at the end of the game. The team began 92 with an upset over #8 Wichita State but wilted in league play, going 412 and finishing 1517. 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. Bliss would identify the loss as a particular disappointment, believing that the Lobos were the better team. Snell paced the offense down the stretch, averaging 18 points a game and leading the Lobos to the MWC tournament championship. [147] The young squad showed promising signs early but struggled in conference to finish 1414. [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. [204] Rick Majerus, who compiled a 511 record against the Lobos at The Pit, tying him with Don Haskins for most wins by a visiting coach, noted the intensity and dedication of Lobo fans and their knowledge of the game,[207][208] The Pit hosted the 1983 NCAA Final Four, the last time the event was held on a college campus. Fraschilla had lost the team: nine players had left the program or been dismissed during his tenure. [231], New Mexico has a history of disappointing performances in the NCAA tournament, suffering noteworthy upsets in 1968, 1978, 1993, 2010, 2013, and 2014. 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. 1Perfection really is the enemy of the good. "Bob King Court" was dedicated at formal ceremonies on December1, 1992, the 26th anniversary of the opening of The Pit. [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. Brown again led the Lobos in 198586 with 20.9 points and 7.5 rebounds a game, earning All-WAC recognition. [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. And Hobson injured his wrist and back be hired, Roy W. Johnson the MWC tournament championship completely. 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