Dec. 6, 2004
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Fresh off their first road win since the 2001-02 season, the Lobos begin a six-game homestand at The Pit this week, beginning with Northern Colorado Thursday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. The game will not be televised but can be heard on 770 KKOB-AM with Mike Roberts and Joe O’Neill calling the action.
UNM enters the contest with a 7-1 record after defeating New Mexico State in Las Cruces in its last game, 84-66. The win, which snapped UNM’s 27-game road losing streak and a 29-game skid on neutral courts, gave Ritchie McKay his best-ever start in his coaching career, topping his 6-1 start at Colorado State during the 2000-01 season.
While the win in Las Cruces broke the road losing streak, it was also impressive on other accounts. The 18-point margin of victory was the biggest over the Aggies in Las Cruces since an 86-66 win on Jan. 29, 1969, and it marked UNM’s first season sweep over New Mexico State since the 2001-02 season. The Lobos crushed the Aggies, 99-80, Dec. 1 at The Pit.
The Bears of Northern Colorado arrive in Albuquerque with a 2-7 record. In its last game on Dec. 4, UNC handled Great Falls at home, 80-49. Northern Colorado, an independent school in its second year of Division I status, faced a tough early schedule, including losses at No. 6 Syracuse, Colorado State, Iowa State and Air Force. Its other win on the season was a home victory over Western State.
After playing host to the Bears, UNM will welcome Arkansas-Pine Bluff to The Pit Sunday, Dec. 12 at 3 p.m. The Golden Lions (1-4) started the season with losses at Creighton, Nebraska, Kansas State and Baylor, but got on the winning track with a 69-59 triumph over Philander-Smith in their last game Dec. 4.
UNM VS. NORTHERN COLORADO
New Mexico owns a 3-0 series lead over Northern Colorado. Thursday’s game marks the first time the Lobos will face the Bears since a 72-45 UNM win at The Pit on Dec. 12, 1970. The Lobos also won in Albuquerque on Dec. 15, 1960, 95-86. The series began in Greeley, Colo., on Jan. 26, 1926 with a 29-24 Lobo victory.
LOBO QUICK HITS
New Mexico’s 7-1 start is the best since the 2000-01 team began 10-1.
As of Dec. 6, the Lobos are third in the nation in field-goal percentage at 53.7%. Oklahoma State leads the country at 54.4%. The Lobos have shot over 50% in six of their eight games this season, including a season-best 64.3% vs. New Mexico State Dec. 1.
The Lobos rank 13th in the nation (as of Dec. 6) in scoring offense, averaging 85.3 points per game.
UNM’s average margin of victory this season is 17.8 points per game (85.3-67.5), tops in the Mountain West Conference.
New Mexico has led at the half of every game this season, averaging an 11.1-point lead (42.9 to 31.8).
All-America candidate Danny Granger leads the team in scoring (18.5 ppg), rebounds (9.6 pg), steals (2.75 pg) and blocks (2.0 pg).
NEW MEXICO STATE RECAP
Danny Granger’s double-double of 22 points and 15 rebounds led New Mexico to an 84-66 win over New Mexico State Dec. 4 in Las Cruces, ending the Lobos’ 29-game losing streak away from The Pit.
It was the first win away from Albuquerque for New Mexico (7-1) since Jan. 28, 2002, when the Lobos beat Colorado State in Fort Collins. The Lobos had lost 27 road games and two games on neutral floors since then.
Granger made sure the streak went no further. He hit 8 of 15 shots, including a pair of 3-pointers and added six assists and three blocks against the overmatched Aggies (3-4). It was the second lopsided win for the Lobos over the Aggies this week. New Mexico won 99-80 in Albuquerque Dec. 1, with Granger scoring 24 points in that win.
Mike Mitchell, with a season-high 24 points and Trevor Lawrence with 18 points and 7 rebounds, led New Mexico State.
Mark Walters scored 17 points and hit three of the Lobos’ 10 3-pointers. Center David Chiotti scored just 5 points, all at the free throw line, but had 10 rebounds as New Mexico outrebounded the Aggies 27-10 in the second half. Granger and Chiotti had 13 offensive boards.
Granger and Walters repeatedly hit big shots in the second half, when the Lobos pulled away from a 44-43 lead. The Lobos outscored the Aggies 18-7, with Granger scoring seven points in that stretch. Walters finished the run by intercepting an Aggie inbound pass and scoring on a dunk.
NMSU got no closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
Mitchell led an early run by the Aggies, scoring 10 points in the first 9 ½ minutes. A basket by freshman point guard Josh Jenkins put the Aggies ahead 25-20 with just over eight minutes left in the first half.
Runs by New Mexico of 14-2 and 8-0 late in the first half gave the Lobos a 42-37 halftime lead.
New Mexico State hit just 11 of 28 shots in the second half (39 percent) after hitting 15 of 28 shots in the first half.
NEW MEXICO STATE POSTGAME NOTES
UNM snapped its 27-game road losing streak and a 29-game skid including neutral courts…the last win had been 70-64 at Colorado State on Jan. 28, 2002…the last non-conference road win was also at NMSU, a 66-64 decision on Dec. 5, 2001.
New Mexico swept New Mexico State for the first time since the 2001-02 season…the 18-point margin is the Lobos’ biggest over the Aggies in Las Cruces since an 86-66 win on Jan. 29, 1969…UNM has won 6 of the past 10 meetings at the Pan American Center.
With 22 points and 15 rebounds, senior Danny Granger recorded the 22nd double-double of his collegiate career, his 12th as a Lobo and 4th this season…Granger also had a career-high 6 assists after coming into the game with only 8 the first 7 games of the season.
Granger has averaged 22.7 points and 11.3 rebounds in 3 career games against New Mexico State…he did not play against the Aggies in Las Cruces last year.
New Mexico had its best game of the year at the free-throw line, converting 78% (18-23)…the Lobos also had a season-low 9 turnovers…that’s now 21 turnovers the past 2 games after averaging nearly 18 the first six games of the season.
The Lobos had a 39-29 rebounding edge, including a 27-10 bulge in the 2nd half…UNM posted a season-high 18 offensive rebounds…it’s the most offensive boards since getting 19 at Texas Tech in December of 2002.
Junior Mark Walters finished with 17 points and has scored in double figures 5 times in the first 8 games…he only reached double figures twice last season…down 7-0 and 19-14, Walters 3-pointer gave UNM a 26-25 lead that it would never relinquish.
David Chiotti pulled down a season-high 10 rebounds, 9 of those coming in the 2nd half.
UNM led 53-50, but went on a 19-6 run to take a 72-56 advantage with a little more than six minutes left in the game.
LEAGUE LEADERS (NEED TO CHECK)
Through games of Dec. 6, New Mexico leads the Mountain West Conference in scoring (85.3 ppg), scoring margin (+17.8), rebounding margin (+8.2), FG% (53.7%), assist average (17.1), 3-pt. FG% (41.9%), 3-point field-goals made (72) and defensive rebounds (26.1).
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 114-122, 31-33 at New Mexico. McKay is 30-11 at home, 22-13 in non-conference games and 21-6 in non-league games at The Pit. He is 1-0 vs. Northern Colorado, defeating the Bears in 2002 as the Oregon State head coach.
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 23 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 58-4 in such situations since 2000-01, 155-13 since the 1995-96 season.
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 1,213-961 (.558). New Mexico was 418-495 (.458) from 1900-62, but has gone 795-466 (.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.
DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT
Last year’s Lobo defense made some strides compared to the 2002-03 team:
UNM allowed 73.2 points in 2002-03, the highest average in 16 seasons, and opponents scored 70 or more points 17 times…in 2003-04, the Lobos yielded 65.7 ppg, the lowest since 63.5 in 1996-97
New Mexico was 7-2 when holding opponents to less than 60 points
UNM held Northwestern State to just 24.2% (15-62) shooting from the floor, the lowest by a Lobo opponent in six years when Yale shot 23.1% (12-52) in the championship game of the 1997 Lobo Invitational
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