A cause of death was not made public. Stats from Negro League teams from 1920 to 1948 are now counted in MLB records. [119] The Lobos then fell to eventual national champion Connecticut, shooting just 26%, to finish 259. The Lobos were ranked #11 and received a three-seed in the NCAA tournament, their best seed ever. [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. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Former Lobo women's basketball player Miranda Sanchez died Monday. Both had close friends and long-time teammates still on the Lobo roster. 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]. [23] He was selected as the ninth pick overall in the 1967 NBA draft by the Cincinnati Royals, but he chose to play in the fledgling American Basketball Association (ABA), becoming one of its greatest all-time players. The teams met again in the conference tournament final, and the Lobos prevailed for their third straight MWC tournament championship. [155][156] Six other players averaged between seven and ten points as balanced scoring became a hallmark of Lobo squads under Alford. Norman Dale Ellenberger (August 2, 1932 - November 15, 2015) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. [203] Jim Boeheim, Lute Olson, and Steve Fisher have praised Lobo fans and the exciting atmosphere coaching at The Pit. [211] The upgrade reduced seating capacity to 15,411,[212] trading some seating for greater comfort and amenities. Gordon was named All-MWC and conference tourney MVP. [40] They spent about half of the 196667 season in the top six nationally, reaching #3, their highest ranking ever. 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. [105] He was named MWC Player of the Year and finished his career as the fifth leading scorer in Lobo history. Everybody knows that's not a great basketball play, but for us it was terrific. 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. 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. Funeral arrangements have not been announced yet. [148] Danridge was named All-MWC, and Alford was tabbed MWC Coach of the Year. The official name of the facilities became Dreamstyle Arena and Dreamstyle Stadium. There were a multitude of reasons for this. [118] New Mexico later lost at Utah in a blowout, then lost a close game to the #3 Utes in the WAC tournament. The 198687 season was the most successful for Colson as Lobo coach. Mitchell was named to the Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 and to the UNM Alumni Lettermen's Hall of . SHARE Why this former BYU coach is dumbfounded by Cougars' lack of success in league tourney. [108] The Lobos started 112, with both losses to New Mexico State in close, exciting games. The Lobos beat Syracuse in the first round before losing to Rutgers, finishing the season 198 and ranked #18 in the UPI. The team began the season 83 but struggled away from The Pit, losing its first seven road games. [2][46] The Lobos finished in the top five nationally in attendance 16 times in their first 20 years at The Pit, reaching second five times, and they were in the top ten all but one season through 2002. Petie Gibson. UTEP was still known as Texas Western at the time, shortly before changing its name in 1967. The Lobos were ranked #10 and received a three-seed in the NCAA tournament, facing Harvard, but they again turned in a disappointing performance. [168] They beat #3 BYU in Provo to sweep the regular season series but lost to the Cougars in the conference tournament. Starting center Greg "Stretch" Howard was ineligible due to an NCAA rule disallowing transfers to play in postseason games; without his 14 points and 10 rebounds a game, the Lobos' balanced attack withered, and Nelson was their only consistent offense. [148] After losing at Oral Roberts, they beat #20 Texas Tech and a Dayton squad that would go on to win 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. They finished the season with an 6-16 record. The Lobos rose to #8 in the polls and won the MWC title. Gordon had 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Williams added 16 with two late baskets to seal the win. This list may not reflect recent changes. Because his best play is to dribble down the court and shoot it. Giddens was named MWC Co-Player of the Year and received an AP All-American Honorable Mention. His first team went 169, the best Lobo record in 17 years. [43] After a string of road losses, the Lobos recovered to win six of seven and secure the WAC championship in a strong season for the league when five of eight teams were ranked at some point. They dropped their next four games on the road, however, including a one-point loss at #10 BYU. The Lobos built a 15-point lead early in the second half, but their shooting touch again disappeared, missing their last ten three-pointers. Longley finished with 1,729 points, 922 rebounds, and 336 blocks. From 1951 to 1962, the Lobos competed in the Mountain States Conference, known at the time as the Skyline Eight. Stoking the popularity of Lobo basketball by this time was the success of two longtime rivals. [215], On September 18, 2020, it was announced that the naming rights deal with Dreamstyle Remodeling was ending after only three years. [217] Human mascots, dubbed "Lobo Louie and Lobo Lucy", members of the cheerleading squad, roam The Pit during games rousing and entertaining fans. Road struggles kept the team from gaining momentum, a chronic problem as the Lobos went 843 in away games under McKay. Facing #22 Villanova, the Lobos shot 18% in the first half, scoring just eleven points and trailing by as much as 24. The Lobos averaged 63.7 ppg, their lowest output since 195859, while holding opponents to 59.2 ppg, the lowest since Bob King's early years. 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. [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]. 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. As a part of Team USA during the 1996 Summer Olympics, Lobo won gold on one of the greatest basketball teams ever assembled. 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 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]. They went to the NIT and beat Bliss-led Baylor and Pepperdine in The Pit before losing at Memphis to finish 2113. Sort: Player (A-Z) Col umns: Swipe 18 players found. The day before the NCAA tournament began, UNM announced a 10-year contract extension with Alford; 10 days later, he resigned to take the head coaching position at UCLA. Howard led a young team, scoring 19.7 per game, with sophomores Willie Long and Petie Gibson beginning their runs as three-year starters. No players found. Sophomore Smith led the team, scoring 16 points a game, while three freshmen Clayton Shields, David Gibson, and Royce Olney played extensively. [96] McGee capped his career with Lobo records for most games played and most career assists. [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). 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. In 1992, UNM announced that the basketball court at University Arena would be named in honor of King. Only four scholarship players remained on the team, so a campus tryout filled out the roster with walk-ons. The NIT appearance began a streak of eleven straight years of reaching post-season play. 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. [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. Giddens led the MWC in rebounding and was among the league leaders in numerous other categories. [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. [106] Shields led the way with 25 points and 10 rebounds, with Smith adding 15, overcoming a foul-plagued game for Thomas. Craig Neal was associate head coach under Alford for three seasons at Iowa and six seasons at UNM before taking the Lobo helm. [42] Bill Hagins replaced Minniefield, and the team was again dominant inside. They beat Dayton in the regional consolation game to finish the season 227 and ranked #18 in the UPI. UNM finished the season 14-18 and in 7th place in the Mountain West. 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. That means over three thousand players. The success of the Lobos under Bob King led to rapidly growing fan interest. He established regularly scheduled games against regional colleges, and in 1931 UNM joined the Border Conference as a founding member. Tributes honoring her memory started forming on social. [177] In the interim, Snell announced he was declaring for the NBA draft. [75][76] The team slipped to 65 before winning eight out of nine, gaining a share of the WAC lead. All four Smith, Thomas, Long, and Shields were on the 199697 Lobo squad. The Lobos again relied on three-point shooting, attempting the most threes in school history while making nearly ten a game, leading the WAC. 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. 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 [150] Versatile senior guard Mark Walters led the team with 16 points a game, but after winning four straight to build a 169 record, they lost four of five to finish 1713 and did not receive a post-season bid. [23] He averaged 16 points and five rebounds a game as a Lobo, also leading the team in assists and steals. Thomas was held to his worst game as a Lobo, scoring just one point. [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. The Lobos next faced two-seed Georgetown and took a slim lead into the second half. His cause of death has not been revealed but Scarborough . Fran Fraschilla coached at New Mexico for three seasons, compiling a 5541 (.572) record with three NIT appearances. McKay faced a major rebuilding project in 200203 compounded by further dismissals and injuries that cut the team to seven scholarship players. The plucky squad lacked depth, but its veterans found ways to win, building a 164 record. [154] Alford had led the program back to national prominence, attaining its best six-year stretch ever while improving academic achievement. [158], The 200809 Lobos mixed four veterans with young Alford recruits and were picked in the preseason to finish fifth in the MWC. Brown compiled career averages of 19.9 points and 6.9 rebounds a game. [188], On April 1, 2017, Neal was dismissed as head coach after compiling a record of 7652 (.594).[189]. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Page also holds the Lobo record for career points per game (26.2), the top career scoring average in WAC history. The Lobos advanced to the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight season, garnering a nine-seed against Missouri. In 1920 a head coach would be hired, Roy W. Johnson. 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. The Lobos have enjoyed exceptional success at The Pit, winning over 80 percent of their games and mounting home-winning streaks of over 20 games four times, with the longest of 41 straight in 199698. Updated: Dec 1, 2020 / 08:00 PM MST. The scheme also employed a full-court pressing, trapping defense to generate points off of turnovers. Lobo said she was surprised . ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Major League baseball righted a wrong this year. The Lobos compiled a 2214 record in WAC conference tournaments, reaching the final six times and winning the championship twice. Here is my list. 197374 New Mexico Lobos Roster and Stats. Bliss would identify the loss as a particular disappointment, believing that the Lobos were the better team. They finished third in the WAC but received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, their first berth since 1978. He also holds the team record for assists in a game (21). [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. Brown is now head basketball coach at Volcano Vista High in Albuquerque. New Mexico Lobos men's basketball statistical leaders B Cameron Bairstow Nick Banyard Carlton Bragg Jr. Don Brkovich Greg Brown (basketball, born 1972) Johnny Brown (basketball) C David Chiotti Michael Cooper D Mel Daniels Curtis Dennis Troy DeVries Ruben Douglas E Arthur Edwards (basketball) F Daniel Faris Don Ford Kavossy Franklin G Dairese Gary [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. Colson had also clashed with Koenig in a contract dispute and had gone over his head to resolve the issue. [8] Johnson set about building collegiate-level athletics facilities, performing some of the hard labor with his own hands. [161] Martinez added 14 points and six rebounds a game, and Gary 13 points and four assists. [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. [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]. [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. Lobo's senior year saw her secure the Wade trophy, Naismith Award, and several Player of the Year honors all while leading the Huskies to an undefeated season and the 1995 NCAA national championship. Senior Willie Banks, an Albuquerque High product, led the team along with junior guards Ike Williams and Steve Logan and center Khari Jaxon. [13] The team posted wins over Kansas and at Purdue and received a berth in the 1964 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) at Madison Square Garden in New York City. [151] The 200607 team featured talented Kansas transfer J. R. Giddens, who led the team with 16 points a game, but discipline problems limited his playing time. [42] They also established still-standing records for steals in a season as a team, Greene for steals by a player in a season, and Scarborough for career steals. Smith is now second in career assists and third in career steals. [23] He finished with career averages of 19.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, and his 23 double-doubles in 196970 still stands as the Lobo season record. [19] Hardin led the way, averaging 17 points a game, and the team became the highest scoring Lobo squad to date at over 84 points a game. 2-Rob Robbins. [136] The team meandered to a 1311 record but then won four straight, including over #21 Utah. The Lobo basketball programs were established in 1899, but began its first competitive teams in 1903 and 1906, respectively. They began the year 111, rising to #8 before losing at #15 UCLA. Updated: Feb 27, 2023 / 01:50 PM MST. 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