Dec. 2, 2004
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Round Two of the Lobos and Aggies is Saturday at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces. The rivals meet for the 194th time at 7:05 p.m. The game will be shown in its entirety after the completion of the SEC Football Championship game on KRQE-TV in Albuquerque with Mike Powers and Nelson Franse calling the action.
The Lobos will be looking for their first season sweep over New Mexico State (3-3) since the 2001-02 season after crushing the Aggies, 99-80, Wednesday, Dec. 1 in The Pit. UNM improved to 6-1 on the season with the victory, equaling the best start for a Ritchie McKay-coached team. His 1998-99 Colorado State squad also began 6-1. The 6-1 start is the best for UNM since the 2000-01 team began 10-1.
UNM dominated the first half of play against the Aggies, opening up a lead as large as 29 points (50-21). The Lobos shot a sizzling 69% from the floor in the first half, including 8 of 12 from 3-point range, in leading 58-35 at the break. Overall, the Lobos shot a season-best 64.3% (36-56), the best for a UNM team since Feb. 14, 1998, when it hit 67.9% of its shots against Air Force. All five starters scored in double-figures for UNM, including Danny Granger, who scored a game-high 24 points on 9 of 14 shooting.
It’s a quick turnaround in the annual home-and-home series as the two teams play twice in four days. The last time UNM met NMSU in consecutive games was Dec. 7 and 13, 1996. The Lobos swept that series eight years ago, winning 86-72 in Las Cruces and 84-82 in overtime in Albuquerque.
However, having just three days between games is the shortest span since 1971. That year, the Lobos nipped the 16th-ranked Aggies 78-76 on Dec. 4, in The Pit. NMSU won Dec. 6, in Las Cruces, 94-79.
UNM VS. NEW MEXICO STATE
New Mexico has a 102-91 lead in a series that began Dec. 22, 1904, in Albuquerque. The first game – a 40-20 Lobo win – came more than seven years before the territory of New Mexico was granted statehood in 1912.
The Lobos have won five of the last nine games in the series since December of 2000. The Lobos have a 63-36 lead in Albuquerque, including 27-13 in The Pit. It’s 55-38 in the Aggies’ favor in Las Cruces, 24-12 at the Pan American Center, although UNM has won five of the past nine down south.
These two in-state rivals split the season series last year with each team winning on its home floor, NMSU 67-48 at Las Cruces and New Mexico 65-49 in Albuquerque. The last time each team won by double digits in the same year was 1986. UNM prevailed 64-50 in Albuquerque, while the Aggies took an 81-62 decision in Las Cruces.
Last year in The Pit, the Lobos roared to a 31-9 lead and never looked back in the 16-point victory. Danny Granger recorded his first double-double as a Lobo with 22 points and a UNM-high 16 rebounds. David Chiotti also had a d-d with 12 points and 11 boards as New Mexico had a dominating 44-23 edge on the glass, its widest margin in four years.
Newcomer Duane John was the difference in Las Cruces, exploding for 33 points off the bench, nearly half of the Aggies’ team total of 67. The Lobos, playing before Granger and Troy DeVries were eligible, shot just 32.8% (19-58) from the floor and 19% (5-26) from beyong the arc. The 48 points is UNM’s lowest in the series since 1985.
New Mexico’s last season sweep was 2001 while the Aggies won both games in 2002.
Assistant coach Tony Stubblefield has been subbing for veteran coach Lou Henson, who has been sidelined with an illness. Current NMSU assistant J.J. DeTemple is a 1994 UNM graduate. He served as student manager and director of basketball operations on Dave Bliss’ staff from 1992-98.
ROUND ONE: NEW MEXICO STATE AT NEW MEXICO RECAP
Danny Granger matched his season-high with 24 points and New Mexico hit 12 straight shots in the first half in a 99-80 win over New Mexico State.
New Mexico (6-1) took the drama out of the rivalry game early with a 26-9 run that gave the Lobos a 33-14 lead with 10:58 left in the first half.
After Kris Collins missed a shot in the game’s opening minutes, New Mexico hit its next 12 and was 7-for-7 on 3-pointers through the first nine minutes.
New Mexico State (3-3) never mounted a rally and got no closer than 16 points at 83-67 with 5:16 left in the game. Antwan Alexander scored 15 points and freshman point guard Josh Jenkins had 14 for the Aggies. Jenkins also had eight assists and four of NMSU’s 12 3-pointers.
New Mexico shot 69 percent in the first half and led 58-35. The 58 points was the most by the Lobos in the first half since December 1997, when they scored 61 against Holy Cross.
Four other Lobos scored in double figures. Collins and Mark Walters each had18, Troy DeVries had 16, all in the first half, and David Chiotti 11.
DeVries hit five 3-pointers in the first half, when the Lobos hit eight 3s and 20 of 29 shots. So balanced was the Lobos’ scoring in the 26-point run that Granger had only two points.
Granger had New Mexico’s only 3-pointer of the second half, but the Lobos found enough holes in the Aggies’ defense to score easy lay-ups and short jumpshots.
NEW MEXICO STATE POSTGAME NOTES
UNM improved its series lead against New Mexico State to 102-91, including 27-13 in The Pit…New Mexico has captured 3 of the past 4 meetings in Albuquerque with an average margin of victory of 18.7 points in the three wins…the two teams combined for 179 points, the most since scoring a combined 185 in the Aggies’ 96-89 victory in Albuquerque on Dec. 17, 1994…New Mexico’s 99 points scored are the second-most vs. NMSU in a regulation game in The Pit…UNM won 106-78 in The Pit on Dec. 21, 1977.
Wednesday’s game was the 38th anniversary of The Pit’s opening…on Dec. 1, 1966 the sixth-ranked Lobos made their debut in the building, defeating Abilene Christian 62-53…UNM has won its first six home games for the first time since the 2000-01 season when it took 8 in a row…the Lobos’ have now won 19 of their past 21 in The Pit…New Mexico is averaging 87.2 points per game and shooting 57.9% (180-311) at home this season and have shot no lower than 51% in any home game this year…the attendance of 15,812 on Wednesday was a season-high.
UNM canned 9 threes on the night (9-18), its second-highest total of the season…New Mexico opened up red-hot from 3-point range, draining its first 7 attempts in the opening 9 minutes of the first half while limiting the Aggies to just 2-7 shooting from beyond the arc…senior guard Troy DeVries hit 4 of his season-high 5 threes during the opening burst.
The Lobos continued their pinpoint shooting, hitting a season-best 64.3% (36-56) of their field goal attempts…the accuracy is the best since making 67.9% (36-53) at Air Force on Feb. 14, 1998…UNM shot 69% (20-29) in the first half and knocked down 12 straight shots after missing its first basket of the game…New Mexico has shot over 60% as a team 3 times in 7 games this season, including two straight…the 2003-04 squad shot better than 60% just once in 28 games, hitting 63.3% (31-49) in the season-opener vs. San Francisco State…UNM has won 22 straight games when shooting better that its opponent and are 57-4 in such situations since 2000-01.
New Mexico scored 58 points in the first half, its highest total in a first half since putting up 61 points vs. Holy Cross on Dec. 29, 1997…the Lobos’ 58-35 halftime lead matched its largest intermission lead this season…UNM also led Santa Clara by 23 points (46-23) en route to a 93-59 victory on Nov. 13…the Lobos have led at halftime in every game this year.
Junior guard Mark Walters set a career-high with 10 assists, including 6 in the first half…it’s his 3rd career double-double, but first with assists and first since his freshman season…Walters had twice notched 5 assists in a game, most recently vs. San Diego last year…he has dished out 13 assists in his last 2 games after averaging 2.2 in the first 5 games of the season…Walters also added a season-high 4 steals
All 5 UNM starters scored in double figures, combining for 87 of the Lobos’ 99 points…New Mexico last accomplished that feat nearly two years ago to the day on Dec. 2, 2002 when starters Ruben Douglas (30), Jamaal Williams (16), Javin Tindall (14), Mark Walters (12) and Jeff Hart (10) combined for 82 points in the Lobos’ 90-88 victory over Northeastern.
After 25 turnovers in their last game against Northern Arizona, the Lobos committed just 11 against NMSU…their first turnover did not come until the 9:12 mark of the first half.
LEAGUE LEADERS
Through games of Dec. 1, New Mexico leads the Mountain West Conference in scoring (85.4 ppg), scoring margin (+17.7), FG% (54.8%), assist average (17.6), 3-pt. FG% (41.6%) and 3-pt. FGs (8.9).
HEAD COACH Ritchie McKay
Ritchie McKay is in his third season in charge of Lobo hoops and his ninth year as a collegiate head coach. He was named UNM’s 18th head coach on March 28, 2002.
McKay had previous two-year stops at Portland State (1996-98), Colorado State (1998-2000) and Oregon State (2000-02). He has a career record of 113-122, 30-33 at New Mexico. McKay is 30-11 at home, 21-13 in non-conference games and 21-6 in non-league games at The Pit. He is 2-3 against New Mexico State, 0-2 in Las Cruces.
While at Mountain West Conference member Colorado State, McKay led the Rams to the NIT in 1999. McKay is the son of the late Joe McKay, who was a three-year letterman at guard for the Lobos from 1961-63.
DOMINATING AT HOME
The Lobos have won their first six home games for the first time since the 2000-01 season when they took eight in a row. They have also captured 19 of their past 21 in The Pit. A few homecourt notes from 2004-05:
UNM’s average lead at halftime is nearly 14 points (43 to 29.3)…the Lobos are averaging 87.2 ppg in The Pit while holding opponents to 65.7, a winning margin of 21.5 points
The Lobos are shooting a steamy 57.9% (180-311) from the floor, and have shot no lower than 51% in any home game to date…the 64.3% accuracy against New Mexico State Dec. 1 is UNM’s best since making 67.9% (36-53) at Air Force on Feb. 14, 1998
New Mexico’s 3-point accuracy at home is 45.8% (55-120)
UNM nailed a school-record 20 treys against Santa Clara, including 13 of 20 in the first half…to put that number in perspective, UNM made more than 13 in an entire game just three times last year..the previous standard for 3-point proficiency was 18 on two occasions: vs. Holy Cross on Dec. 29, 1997, and vs. UTEP on Feb. 19, 1998. Both games were played in The Pit
SHOOT BETTER AND WIN
The Lobos have won 22 straight games when shooting better than their opponent, including a perfect 12-0 in 2003-04. The last loss was at Tennessee on Jan. 4, 2003. UNM shot 45% (18-40) to the Vols’ 43% (22-51). The Lobos are 57-4 in such situations since 2000-01, 154-13 since the 1995-96 season.
ROAD STREAK
UNM has dropped 27 straight road games, 29 in a row including neutral sites, and 19 consecutive MWC defeats away from The Pit. The last road win was Jan. 28, 2002, a 70-64 decision at Colorado State. It’s UNM’s longest losing skid away from home in more than 40 years.
Excluding conference tournament games on neutral floors, the Lobos have dropped seven straight non-conference road affairs. The last win was 66-64 at New Mexico State on Dec. 5, 2001. The setbacks have come at some rather formidable venues: twice at New Mexico State plus once each at Minnesota, Oregon, Texas Tech, Tennessee and Wake Forest.
SEASON NO. 102
The 2004-05 season is the 102nd in school history. The Lobos first laced up the hightops on Feb. 2, 1900, when they lost 8-6 to the Albuquerque Guards. While this season is actually the 105th anniversary of that inaugural year, UNM did not field a team for various reasons in 1900-01, 1903-04, 1917-18 and 1920-21.
The Lobos have been on the hardwoods continuously since the 1921-22 season and have compiled an all-time record of 1,212-961 (.558). New Mexico was 418-495 (.458) from 1900-62, but has gone 794-466 (.630) over the past 42-plus seasons, an average of nearly 19 wins per year. The Lobos have made 26 trips to the postseason during that span, including 10 appearances in the NCAA Tournament and 16 showings in the NIT.
LOBOS PREDICTED FOR 4TH-PLACE FINISH IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
New Mexico was picked to finish fourth in the 2004-05 Mountain West Conference race during the league’s preseason media gathering Oct. 24, in Denver. Voters were a combination of head coaches and media. It’s the highest predicted finish for the Lobos since they were selected to place second behind Utah in the inaugural MWC season of 1999-2000. UNM was picked to finish seventh each of the past two seasons.
GRANGER NAMED MWC’S TOP RETURNING PLAYER
The MWC head coaches and the media that cover the loop picked UNM senior forward Danny Granger as the league’s top returning player. The 6-8 All-America candidate led the conference in scoring last year, averaging 19.5 ppg. He also led UNM in rebounding (9.0 rpg), steals (29) and blocked shots (31).
PERSONNEL PICTURE
The Lobos return eight lettermen, including four starters, from last year’s team that finished 14-14. Sean Phaler, a redshirt last season, gives the Lobos nine players total returning from 2003-04. The biggest loss from a year ago is senior Javin Tindall. Tindall was second on the team in scoring (12.6 ppg) and 3-pt. FG% (41.9%). He led the team in assists (98) and FT% (83.1%) and tied a school record with nine 3-pt. FGs at UNLV. Returning starters include senior forwards Alfred Neale and Danny Granger, senior guard Troy DeVries and junior forward David Chiotti. Juniors Jeff Hart and Mark Walters, along with sophomores Ryan Wall and Kellen Walter are also back.
It’s still a young team as the only players with more than one year of experience at UNM are juniors Hart, Walters and Chiotti.
Lettermen not returning are 6-2 guard Ryan Ashcraft, 6-2 guard Lenny Miles, 6-2 guard Collins Ferris, 6-6 forward Mikal Monette and 6-8 forward Justin Benson. Ashcraft was a senior who graduated from UNM in May, while Miles, Ferris, Monette and Benson all transferred.
McKay and his staff welcome six new faces to the team in 2004-05, one junior college transfer (Kris Collins) and five freshmen (Tony Danridge, Blake Harden, Bambale Osby, Darren Prentice and Chad Toppert).
TRYING TO REVERSE SOME TRENDS
UNM has had four straight sub-.500 seasons in Mountain West Conference play, finishing 6-8 in both 2000-01 and 2001-02, 4-10 in 2002-03 and 5-9 last season. New Mexico had previously not had a losing record in league games since 1983. The Lobos have not had four straight losing seasons in conference play since 1980-83.
THE PIT
The 2004-05 season marks the 39th year of basketball in The Pit/Bob King Court, which was completed in December of 1966. UNM has an all-time mark of 542-132 (80%) in the building that resides 37 feet below street level. The Lobos have had a winning record in The Pit in 37 of their 38 years as tenants and tore off a school-record 41-game home winning streak from 1996-98. Since the beginning of the 1995-96 season, the Lobos are 143-30 (83%) at home.
POSTSEASON PERENNIALS
Although it has been void of postseason play in consecutive seasons for the first time in more than 20 years, UNM has appeared in the NCAA Tournament or NIT seven of the past nine years and 18 times in the last 21 seasons, dating to 1983-84. The Lobos participated in the NIT from 2000-02, advancing to the second round in 2000 and the quarterfinals in 2001. The Lobos have also made seven NCAA Tournament appearances since 1991, including a school-record four straight from 1996-99, moving to the second round each time.
Before a first-round exit in the NIT in 2002, UNM had been one of just eight schools in the nation to win at least one postseason game (NCAA or NIT) from 1996-2001: Connecticut, Cincinnati, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, Purdue, Stanford and New Mexico.
NCAA TOURNAMENT RETURNS
UNM will again play host to men’s NCAA Tournament games when the 2005 Albquerque Regional comes to The Pit. New Mexico hosts two regional semifinal games on Thursday, March 24, and the final on Saturday, March 26. The winner advances to the Final Four in St. Louis. It’s the ninth time Albuquerque has hosted NCAA men’s action since 1968.
New Mexico is in a stretch where it is hosting NCAA competition for five consecutive years. The NCAA Men’s First and Second Rounds were here in 2002 followed by the women’s first and second rounds and the Midwest Regional in 2003 and the first and second rounds last season. The women’s West Regional will be here in March of 2006.
EARLY SIGNEES
The University of New Mexico inked four during the November signing period. They are Joel Box (F, 6-8, 250) from Rockford, Ill., and John Wood Community College in Quincy, Ill., Daniel Faris (C, 6-9, 225) from Albuquerque Eldorado High School, Justin Holt (G/F, 6-7, 205) from Tacoma, Wash., and Indian Hills (Iowa) CC and Anthony Teague (G, 6-5, 190) from Cleveland, Ohio, and Dodge City (Kan.) CC.
2003-04 REVIEW
The University of New Mexico finished its 101st season of men’s basketball with a 14-14 overall record, the 20th time in the past 21 years that UNM has posted a .500 record or better.
Sitting at 13-8 following an 87-75 win over Wyoming on Feb. 9, New Mexico lost six of its last seven contests to miss postseason play for the second straight year, something that hasn’t happened since a four-year drought between 1980-83.
The Lobos fell to UNLV 55-53 in the first round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament, a troubling loss since UNM led for all but 41 seconds. New Mexico was eliminated in the first round of the tournament for the third straight year and is just 2-5 in MWC Tournament play since 2000. Both wins came in 2001.
After going 10-18 in 2002-03, the Lobos avoided consecutive losing seasons for what would have been only the second time in more than four decades. New Mexico was 6-20 in 1979-80 and 11-15 in 1980-81. Prior to that skid was eight straight sub-.500 records between 1955-62. The Lobos have only had four losing campaigns since former head coach Bob King arrived in Albuquerque prior to the 1962-63 season.
The Lobos surpassed their 2002-03 win total by four games and their conference total by one (4-10). UNM finished 14-4 in The Pit, winning five of its last six and 12 of 14. New Mexico was 10-7 at home in 2002-03.
UNM tied San Diego State for fifth place in the MWC with a 5-9 mark. The Lobos were picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll. New Mexico suffered its fourth straight losing record in conference play for the first time since 1980-83.
UNM had a full roster the final 22 games – since Dec. 21, 2003 – when Danny Granger (Bradley) and Troy DeVries (Portland State) became eligible as mid-season transfers. UNM was 11-11 following their arrival, 11-2 in The Pit.
At 19.5 points a game, Granger led the MWC in scoring and was named first team all-Mountain West Conference. The transfer from Bradley joined Lamont Long (2000) and Ruben Douglas (2002 and `03) as Lobos who earned a spot on the first team since the league started in 1999-2000. A Lobo has now led the MWC in scoring four times in the past five years. Long averaged 18.7 ppg in 2000 while Douglas averaged 18.1 ppg in 2002 and a nation-leading 28.0 ppg in 2003.
Granger became just the second Lobo in the past 33 years to average more than 19 points and 9 rebounds for an entire season. Luc Longley (19.1 and 9.2) did so in 1991. Willie Long (23.9/12.9 in 1970 and 23.9/10.6 in `71) and Mel Daniels (21.2/10.3 in 1966 and 21.5/11.6 in `67) each did it twice, while Ira Harge was the first to accomplsih the feat in 1963 (21.1 and 13.2).
Granger was fifth in rebounding (9.0) and was also ranked among the top-15 in six other categories for conference-only games: FG percentage, 3-point FGs made, assists, FT percentage, steals and blocks. He became the first Lobo since Kenny Thomas in 1997-98 to record four straight double-doubles in one season.
DeVries averaged 10.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists, including 12 dishes against Coppin State, the best total by a Lobo in 12 years. He shot 44.6% (54-121) from 3-point, the sixth-best single-season accuracy in Lobo history. DeVries was third in the MWC with an average of 2.45 treys a game.
2003-04 HONORS
In addition to all-league, Granger was named first team all-district 13 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches while DeVries was named to the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) District VI All-Academic team.
In team awards, Granger captured the Bob King MVP trophy. Jeff Hart received the Inspirational Award, Ryan Ashcraft the Leadership Award and David Chiotti was chosen Most Improved.
UNM IN THE NCAA STATS
New Mexico averaged 8.46 3-pointers a game to lead the Mountain West Conference and rank 16th nationally.
Javin Tindall was No. 28 in 3-point accuracy, making 41.9% (72-172) of his tries. Troy DeVries would have finished 13th in the nation at 44.6% (54-121), however, he need to make one more 3 to qualify for the national stats. DeVries need a minimum of 55 made. Danny Granger tied for 31st in scoring average at 19.5 a game.
IT’S RAINING 3s
The 3-point shot was definitely part of the Lobo arsenal last year. New Mexico averaged 8.46 treys a game to rank 1st in the MWC and 16th nationally out of 326 schools.
Javin Tindall finished 2nd in the MWC, averaging 2.57 made a game, while Troy DeVries was 3rd (2.45) and Alfred Neale 10th at 1.39 a game. More tidbits about the 3-ball proficiency:
Troy DeVries shot 44.6% (54-121) from the 3-point line, the 6th-highest single-season percentage in school history
Javin Tindall finished his career 5th all-time at UNM in career 3-point accuracy at 41.9% (125-298)…he ranks 10th for a single season with 72 treys made
Tindall tied a school record and set an MWC mark by making nine 3s at UNLV on Jan. 31, 2004
The Lobos set a school record for 3-point accuracy against San Francisco State, making 72.2% (13-18) of their attempts…the previous best was 70% (7-10) against Wyoming on Feb. 6, 1992…UNM made 9 of 10 treys in the second half against the Gators
The Lobos’ average of 8.46 3s is 3rd all-time for a Lobo team…237 made ranks No. 6 on the all-time list for one season
The 14 3-pointers at UNLV tied for the second-highest total by a Lobo team in a road game…UNM made 16 in a 79-72 victory at UTEP on Jan. 29, 1994, and it drilled 14 at Air Force on Jan. 8, 1994, an 80-54 triumph
The Lobos’ streak of 431 games ranks as the 13th-longest streak in NCAA history…UNLV is first at more than 560 games…the Runnin’ Rebels have made a 3 in every game since the shot became rule in 1986-87
HOME VS. ROAD
Like most teams, New Mexico fared better at home than on the road. Two of the Lobos’ worst shooting games came away from The Pit, 32.8% (19-58) at New Mexico State and 35.8% (19-53) at Wake Forest.
SEASON TRENDS / NOTES
A Lobo has led the MWC in scoring four of the five years the league has been in existence…Lamont Long won the crown in 1999-2000 at 18.7 ppg…after a one-year absence, Ruben Douglas captured consecutive titles in 2001-02 (18.1 ppg) and 2002-03 (28.0)…Danny Granger took the 2003-04 crown at 19.5 ppg
Danny Granger notched a career-high and MWC record-tying 8 steals (7 in the second half) against Penn State, a total that ties for third on the UNM single-game charts…Marlow White was the most recent Lobo to get 8 or more thefts, notching 8 vs. BYU on Feb. 4, 1995…the school record is 10 by Phil Abney in 1979…New Mexico recorded a season-high 12 steals as a team.