[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. The university established basketball as a varsity sport in 1899 and began competing with regional colleges after establishing an athletics department in 1920. [146], Bradley transfer Danny Granger became eligible during the 2003–04 season and led the team with 19.5 points a game. [138][142] His father played at UNM for Bob King, but McKay had only coached for brief stints at Portland State, Colorado State, and Oregon State, with an 83–89 career record. [125] Thomas was named second-team All-American, and he and Shields were both All-WAC. [15], The rise of the program continued in the 1964–65 season, led by sophomores Mel Daniels and Ben Monroe. "[112][113], The 1994–95 season was a rebuilding year for the Lobos, who finished 15–15 but won six of their last eight games. They then lost three league road games and fell to third in a tight WAC race. Gary finished his Lobo career second in games played, second in career free throws made, and is now fifth in career assists. The following season, 1963–64, the Lobos won their first WAC championship, led by Ira Harge, who King had recruited from a junior college in Iowa. They lost in the first round of the conference tournament, however, and were again relegated to the NIT, where they beat Nebraska but lost at Notre Dame, finishing the season 22–12. [97] In the NIT, the Lobos knocked off Oregon, Oklahoma State, and Hawaii to make the Final Four in New York. Adrian Gugliotta UNIfied Energy Services Keilor East, VIC Solar 0459 846 890: Apurav Gupta DNV GL North Sydney, NSW ... West state electrical Baldivis, WA Solar 0447 457 369: They have been regularly ranked from the 2009–10 through the 2013–14 seasons. [152], Steve Alford coached the Lobos for six seasons, compiling a 155–52 (.749) record with three NCAA tournament appearances, at least a share of four league titles, and two conference tournament championships. [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. [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. The Lobos returned to the NIT, losing to eventual champion Virginia Tech and finishing 21–6. 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. [198] The building facade was also transformed, adding extensive glasswork and a steel superstructure. [159] Senior Tony Danridge led the unit with 15 points a game, though they again relied on balance and teamwork. [23] He averaged 16 points and five rebounds a game as a Lobo, also leading the team in assists and steals. [199][200] Sports Illustrated listed The Pit among its Top 20 Sporting Venues of the 20th Century. home/away, monthly, etc... More Tom Gugliotta Basketball Reference pages, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 17, 4:21AM. 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. They began the season 7–1, losing only at #14 Arizona while sweeping ranked New Mexico State. Are you a Stathead, too? [116] Smith averaged 19.5 points a game and Shields added 14.5, while Thomas tallied 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds a game, setting Lobo standards for freshmen. 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. [197] Jim Boeheim, Lute Olson, and Steve Fisher have praised Lobo fans and the exciting atmosphere coaching at The Pit.       Postseason invitational champion   Due to the success of King's first three seasons, attendance at Johnson Gym more than doubled, and plans to build a larger arena began to take shape. [23] The #21 Lobos received a five-seed in the NCAA tournament facing Long Beach State. They have won the MWC regular season championship and the conference tournament four times each. They went 74–14 (.841) from 1967–70, including a 27–3 season in 1969–70 in which they were ranked in the top five most of the year, culminating in a Final Four appearance. Bliss had won 246 games as Lobo head coach and reached the NCAA tournament seven times, both school records. [58] In an investigation into illegal gambling, the FBI had placed a wiretap on the phone of a major Lobo booster. [155][178] Snell was selected by Chicago with the 20th pick in the first round of the NBA Draft.       Conference regular season champion   [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. Shoots: Ellenberger served as interim head coach at UTEP for a period when Haskins was ill. Bobbi Roquemore. Daniels averaged over 17 points and 11 rebounds a game, providing the fast-growing Lobo fan base a preview of things to come. [42] Their shooting touch eluded them in the tournament, as several players were suffering from food poisoning before the game. [219] New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson declared May 8, 2008 as "Mike Roberts Appreciation Day" in honor of the sportscaster. [115] The young Lobo squad jumped out to a 10–0 start and a #25 ranking before losing a pair of league road games. [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. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. [40] They spent about half of the 1966–67 season in the top six nationally, reaching #3, their highest ranking ever. Williams also finished first in Lobo history in career free throws made and attempted, and second in career minutes played. [48] "Coop" later became a mainstay of the "Showtime" Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s, winning five NBA championships over a 12-year career. [18] The team began the 1966–67 season ranked 6th in the country and rose to #5 before winning at #2 UTEP, the defending national champion and highest-ranked team New Mexico had ever beaten at that point. In 1931, Lobo athletic teams began competing in the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association, joining as a founding member along with other regional schools. Johnson coached the UNM basketball team for all but two seasons from 1920–40. Media Guide 2013–14, p.99. The Lobos built a 15-point lead early in the second half, but their shooting touch again disappeared, missing their last ten three-pointers. [102] Banks was named All-WAC and finished as Lobo career leader (now second) in three-point percentage. Thomas James Gugliotta (Googs) Position: Power Forward and Small Forward Shoots: Right 6-10, 240lb (208cm, 108kg) . [110][111] Bliss stated, "[a]s a coach, I have never compromised more of my offensive principles than while coaching Greg Brown. They again finished strong, winning nine of their last eleven, including four of five on the road. For yearly records and game results from 1899–1962. [98] Longley was the seventh player selected in the 1991 NBA draft, by Minnesota, and he went on to win three NBA championships as a starter for the Chicago Bulls (1996–98). [19][30] The team finished the season 17–9 but failed to receive an NIT berth. In 1999, Sports Illustrated ranked The Pit as one of the Top 20 Sporting Venues of the 20th Century. 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. They lost in the conference tournament but received a three-seed in the NCAA tournament. He also holds the team record for assists in a game (21). All rights reserved. In 1972–73, the Lobos raced out to a 9–0 record, including road wins at Oregon State and eventual Southwest Conference champion Texas Tech, leading to their first appearance in the national rankings in nearly four years. Shot location data available for the 1996-97 through 2020-21 seasons. [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]. [68] The callow Lobo squad led for much of the game, encouraged by a delirious crowd at The Pit. [74][157] The Lobos began the 2007–08 season 14–2 before losing four of six in league; they then won eight of nine to close out the regular season. Williams was named MWC Player of the Year, and Alford was named Coach of the Year.[23]. While he initially relied on JC transfers to fill the roster, he also began the slow process of rebuilding the program around freshmen recruits, with a greater emphasis on academics. The 1968–69 season began with high expectations and the Lobos ranked in the top ten, but they dropped out after a string of road losses. 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. [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. "[193], The Lobo Howl is an event held initially on midnight of the first day the NCAA allows teams to practice. 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. [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]. [30], The 1976–77 team featured JC arrivals Michael Cooper, Marvin Johnson, and Willie Howard, the nucleus for a successful and exciting two-year run. They beat Texas A&M in the NIT before losing at Fresno State to finish the season 19–13. [197] Contributing to the intimidating environment for visitors is the mile high elevation of The Pit,[193] 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..."[198], The Pit has garnered praise as one of the top venues in college basketball from sports reporters, announcers, and opposing coaches.