Nov. 16, 2005
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After a pair of exhibition victories, the 103rd regular season of New Mexico basketball gets underway this weekend as UNM hosts the Jim Thorpe Classic. Ole Miss, South Carolina State and Southern Utah will be in town for the round-robin tournament that features three games in as many days for all four participants.
Friday’s action gets underway at 6:05 p.m., from the The Pit/Bob King Court in Albuquerque as the Lobos take on South Carolina State. The nightcap has Ole Miss meeting Southern Utah.
It’s game No. 2,200 for New Mexico on Friday. UNM has an all-time record of 1,232-967 since the first game was played Feb. 2, 1900, against the Albuquerque Guards.
On Saturday, UNM and Ole Miss meet at 6:05, followed by South Carolina State and Southern Utah. Sunday’s action begins at 2 with Ole Miss facing South Carolina State. UNM and Southern Utah play at 4:15.
SEASON TICKETS STILL ON SALE – Season tickets are on sale at the UNM athletic ticket office at The Pit through Friday, Nov. 18. Tickets start at $237 and can also be purchased by calling (505) 925-LOBO.
Individual game tickets are available at the following: online at unmtickets.com, by calling (505) 925-5858, at the UNM athletic ticket office at The Pit, at the box office at the UNM Bookstore and at all Oshman’s and Raley’s stores. Ticket office hours at The Pit are 8:30-5 Monday through Friday. For Saturday games, the box office opens three hours before tipoff. Call (505) 925-5626 for more information.
UNM AND SONIC PROVIDE STUDENT PROMOTION – UNM students can register at Sonic located in the Student Union Building for a chance to win four free men’s basketball tickets and four free meals courtesy of Sonic. The offer is good for every home game during the 2005-06 season. Winners will be recognized at every game.
THE JIM THORPE ASSOCIATION – The Jim Thorpe Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that encourages excellence in sports, academics, health and fitness; preserves our sports heritage and builds pride and positive lifestyles in the spirit of Native American legend Jim Thorpe.
The Jim Thorpe Association was founded in 1987, to manage the Jim Thorpe Award for college football’s best defensive back. The Association has expanded far beyond its original concept, but the Jim Thorpe Award remains the centerpiece of all activities, providing focus and inspiration.
JIM THORPE – THE LEGEND – In the eyes of most historians, Jim Thorpe was the greatest all-around athlete in the history of sports. A 20th Century internet poll by ABC’s Wide World of Sports designated him the “Athlete of the Century” with over 57% of the vote. Michael Jordan was second with less than 15% and Babe Ruth came in third.
Almost lost in history is the fact that Thorpe led a barnstorming basketball team, touring the country in the 1920s. He won gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon in the 1912 Olympics, was named a Walter Camp All-American in football in 1911 and 1912, played major league baseball for six years and was a legend in professional football. He was best known as a running back but was an outstanding defensive back and kicker, doing kicking exhibitions well into his 50s. Thorpe also was proficient in lacrosse, tennis, handball, rowing, gymnastics, swimming, skating and about anything else he tried.
SEASON NO. 103 – The 2005-06 season is the 103rd 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 1,232-967 (.560). New Mexico was 418-495 (.458) from 1900-62, but has gone 814-472 (.633) over the past 43 seasons, an average of nearly 19 wins per year. The Lobos have made 27 trips to the postseason during that span, including 11 appearances in the NCAA Tournament and 16 showings in the NIT.
EXPERIMENTAL RULES – The NCAA Basketball Rules Committee stated that all certified games (previously “exempt” games) that occur before January 1, 2006, will be required to use the following experimental rules in at least one exhibition game and during the Jim Thorpe Classic:
1) Moving the 3-point line 1 foot beyond the current line to create a new distance of 20 feet, 9 inches.
2) Widening the free-throw lane by 1 foot on each side.
3) Placing a restricted area arc which is 3 feet from the center of the basket.
NEW MEXICO IN SEASON/HOME OPENERS – New Mexico is 73-29 in season openers, but 37-6 since the 1962-63 season. The Lobos, are 73-25 in home openers and have won 40 of their last 44.
LOBOS PREDICTED FOR 5TH-PLACE FINISH IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST – New Mexico was picked to finish fifth in the 2005-06 Mountain West Conference race during the league’s preseason media gathering last month in Salt Lake City. Voters were a combination of head coaches and media. UNM was picked to finish fourth in 2004-05, but ended up second behind Utah.
SEATTLE PACIFIC RECAP – Seniors David Chiotti and Mark Walters combined to score 37 points and pull down 13 rebounds in the Lobos’ 71-53 triumph over Seattle Pacific last Saturday. Chiotti finished with 20 points and 8 boards in just 27 minutes of action. UNM held the Falcons to just 30% shooting (16-53) from the floor, including 22% (7-32) from 3-point. The Lobos dominated inside, holding a 40-12 advantage for points in the paint and a 46-35 rebounding edge. UNM received 18 points and 19 rebounds from its bench.
LOBO HEAD COACH Ritchie McKay – Ritchie McKay begins his fourth season in charge of Lobo hoops and his 10th year as a collegiate head coach. He was named UNM’s 18th head coach on March 28, 2002.
The 26-7 record in 2004-05 is easily McKay’s best season, surpassing a 19-11 ledger at Colorado State in 1998-99. The Lobos won the MWC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999. It was McKay’s first trip to the Big Dance.
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 133-128, 50-39 at New Mexico. In three years at UNM, McKay is 42-12 at home, 31-16 in non-conference games, 26-7 in non-league games at The Pit and 5-9 in road/neutral games. He is 19-23 in MWC games, 16-5 at home and 3-18 on the road.
PREVIEWING THE JIM THORPE CLASSIC – Ole Miss Rebels: Located in Oxford, Miss., and playing out of the Southeastern Conference, Ole Miss lost four starters from last year’s team that finished 14-17 overall and 4-12 in the SEC
The leading returning scorer is senior F Londrick Nolen, who averaged 9.8 ppg and 4.4 rpg in 2004-05
Head coach Rod Barnes (Ole Miss `88) is 127-93 in his eighth year at the school…he took over for Hobbs, N.M., native Rob Evans after Evans went to Arizona State…Barnes, the 2001 Naismith National Coach of the Year, has the most wins in his first seven years of any Ole Miss coach ever
Ole Miss defeated Spring Hill College 91-70 in an exhibition on Nov. 11…6-8, 290-pound sophomore post Dwayne Curtis, a transfer from Auburn, led the Rebels with 29 points and 18 rebounds
South Carolina State Bulldogs: Located in Orangeburg, S.C, and playing out of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, SCSU returns a pair of starters from last year’s team that finished 19-12 overall and 11-7 in the MEAC…the Bulldogs won at Miami (Fla.) last year, 60-50
South Carolina State was chosen as the favorite by the head coaches and Sports Information Directors to win the 2005-06 MEAC title…SCSU received 10 of the 20 first-place votes and was chosen over last year’s champion Delaware State
The leading returning scorers are senior F Thurman Zimmerman (15.2 ppg and 7.2 rpg) and sophomore C Chris Lee (13.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg) in 2004-05…Zimmerman and Brian Mason were selected to the MEAC preseason all-conference team…Zimmerman was placed on the first team for the third time in his career
Head coach Ben Betts, Jr. (Roanoke College `90) is 37-23 in his third year at SCSU
The Bulldogs beat Claflin 62-57 in an exhibition on Nov. 9…Brian Mason led the Bulldogs with 18 points
Southern Utah Thunderbirds: Located in Cedar City, Utah, and playing out of the Mid-Continent Conference, Southern Utah returns three starters from last year’s team that finished 13-15 overall and 6-10 in the MCC…SUU has just five returning players and nine newcomers, including walk-ons and redshirts
The leading returning scorer is senior wing Rand James, who averaged 8.7 ppg in 2004-05
Head coach Bill Evans (Southern Utah `72) is 183-189 in his 14th year at SUU…he is the winningest coach in school history
The Thunderbirds defeated Western New Mexico 77-65 in an exhibition on Nov. 5, and toppled Adams State 59-54 last Thursday
LOBOS VS. THORPE CLASSIC PARTICIPANTS – UNM/Ritchie McKay vs. South Carolina State: First meeting for the Lobos. McKay’s 2001-02 Oregon State team defeated the Bulldogs 62-46 in Corvallis on Dec. 23, 2001.
UNM/Ritchie McKay vs. Ole Miss: The 16th-ranked Lobos topped Ole Miss 75-64 in the championship game of the 1996 Lobo Invitational. Rebels Ansu Sesay and Keith Carter were named to the all-tournament team. UNM’s Clayton Shields was the MVP. The victory completed a 11-1 start for a UNM team that would finish 25-8. Ritchie McKay’s first game as a head coach came at Ole Miss on Nov. 23, 1996. The Rebels squeaked out a 56-54 win over Portland State.
UNM/Ritchie McKay vs. Southern Utah: The Lobos are 1-1 against the Thunderbirds with both games played at The Pit. UNM won 62-57 on Dec. 11, 1999, and lost 69-57 on Dec. 21, 2002 when current Lobos David Chiotti, Jeff Hart and Mark Walters were freshmen. McKay is also 1-1 against SUU. The loss was three years ago in Albuquerque, while the victory came when he was at Oregon State, 73-61 on Nov. 30, 2001.
2005-06 PERSONNEL PICTURE – The Lobos return eight lettermen, including two starters, from last year’s team that finished 26-7, won the MWC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999. Chad Toppert, a redshirt last season, gives the Lobos nine players total returning from 2004-05.
The biggest loss from a year ago is Danny Granger, the 17th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, going to the Indiana Pacers. The versatile 6-8 forward led the team in scoring (18.8 ppg), rebounding (8.9 rpg), blocks (2.0 bpg) and steals (2.1 spg). He was an All-American (AP honorable mention, Basketball Times 3rd Team), two-time first team All-MWC and the 2005 MWC Tournament Most Valuable Player.
Other starters lost include Alfred Neale and Troy DeVries, both who are playing professionally as well. The trio of Granger, DeVries (11.0 ppg) and Neale (10.3) combined to average 40.1 points a game. Additionally, they were the top 3-pointer shooters on the team, making a combined 43% (197-of-455) of their attempts.
Other lettermen not returning are 6-7 forward Bambale Osby, 6-0 guard Ryan Wall and 6-9 forward Sean Phaler. Osby, Wall and Phaler all decided to transfer following the 2005 season.
Returning starters include senior forward David Chiotti (10.4 ppg) and senior guard Mark Walters (10.5 ppg). Senior Kris Collins, who started 18 games before being sidelined with a foot injury, senior Jeff Hart, junior Kellen Walter and sophomores Tony Danridge, Blake Harden and Darren Prentice are also be back.
McKay and his staff welcome six new faces to the team in 2005-06, three junior college transfers (Joel Box, Kyle Prochaska and Anthony Teague), two freshmen (Daniel Faris and Ryan Kersten) and a Division I transfer from Kansas (J.R. Giddens eligible in 2006-07).