June 13, 2006
University of New Mexico men’s basketball head coach Ritchie McKay today announced the Lobos’ 2006-07 non-conference schedule. The slate for the upcoming season will feature match-ups against regional rivals Colorado, UTEP and Texas Tech, four possible games against Big 12 opponents, a showdown against 2006 Sweet 16 participant Wichita State and a possible tangle with Southern California from the Pac-10. The Lobos will play a total of 15 non-conference games, with five of those contests away from The Pit. It is the most non-conference games away from Albuquerque since UNM played six games outside of The Pit in 1987-88.
The Lobos will play four games in the Las Vegas Holiday Classic from Dec. 17-23. The Classic is an exempt tournament, giving UNM 31 games during the regular season. The 16-game Mountain West Conference schedule is expected to be released by July 1. The 2007 MWC Tournament is March 6-10 in Las Vegas.
“First and foremost, we are trying to adhere to the NCAA tournament selection committee guidelines by playing more games on the road and facing more upper-tier competition,” stated McKay. “We have five games away from The Pit for the first time in 19 years and have five contests against teams in last year’s final RPI top-100. We are also finding a competitive balance with regional competition that I think our fans will enjoy. With the 40th anniversary of The Pit coming in December, we are very excited about this year’s non-conference schedule.”
The Lobos start the season at home on Nov. 10 with a “Tip-off to 40 Years” celebration against Abilene Christian. The Wildcats were the first foe UNM faced in The Pit on Dec. 1, 1966. The sixth-ranked Lobos downed ACU 62-53 behind 19 points and 12 rebounds from All-American Mel Daniels. UNM will don throw-back jerseys as the entire night will celebrate the 40th birthday of one of the most famous arenas in college basketball. It will also mark the start of a season long celebration of the previous 40 years of Lobo basketball in The Pit. The Nov. 10 tip-off is the earliest start to a regular season in school history.
New Mexico hosts Sacramento State on Nov. 12. The Hornets are coming off their most successful season as a Division I program, posting 15 wins for the first time since 1990.
Nov. 14 will be the first of four possible dates with Big 12 opponents when UNM welcomes Colorado to The Pit for the first meeting between the two schools since 1980. The Buffaloes finished 20-10 last season and made an appearance in the NIT.
New Mexico will be looking for some payback on Nov. 21 when Kansas State visits The Pit. The Wildcats defeated UNM 68-56 in Manhattan, Kan., last season. This will be K-State’s first appearance in The Pit and its first game in Albuquerque since 1960. First-year head coach Bob Huggins will also be making his first trip to Albuquerque.
The Lobos close out the month with a highly anticipated match-up against arch-rival New Mexico State on Nov. 28 at The Pit. The Aggies posted a solid 16-14 record last season, and are expected to challenge for the Western Athletic Conference title in 2006-07.
UNM begins December with the first of five away games, traveling to UTEP on Dec. 3. The Miners were 21-10 last year and advanced to the second round of the NIT. UNM defeated UTEP 76-72 at The Pit last season. This will be New Mexico’s first trip to El Paso since Dec. 1, 1999.
UNM continues its two-game road-swing with a trip to New Mexico State on Dec. 5. The Lobos have dropped three of their last four games in Las Cruces, including a 67-61 setback last season.
New Mexico returns home to face North Carolina A&T on Dec. 15 before beginning a four-game stint in the Las Vegas Holiday Classic. The first two games will take place in Albuquerque with UNM entertaining Longwood on Dec. 17 and Charleston Southern on Dec. 19. The Lobos then travel to Las Vegas for a pair of games on Dec. 22-23. UNM faces Missouri Valley Conference champion Wichita State on Dec. 22 while USC takes on Kansas State. WSU posted a 26-9 record before falling to George Mason in the Sweet 16 last year. Depending on the outcome of the two games, the Lobos will face either the Trojans or the Wildcats on Dec. 23.
UNM returns home Dec. 28-29 for the 42nd annual Comcast Lobo Invitational. The opening night showcases the Lobos against Alcorn State followed by America East runner-up Binghamton against Pepperdine. Championship and consolation games will follow on the Dec. 29.
UNM closes out the non-conference schedule by renewing a series with Texas Tech on Jan. 1, 2007, in Lubbock, Texas. The two teams have played 80 times and the series is split down the middle with each winning 40 games.
2006-07 New Mexico Men’s Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Nov. 2 Western New Mexico (Ex.) 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 10 Abilene Christian 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 12 Sacramento State TBA
Nov. 14 Colorado 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 21 Kansas State 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 28 New Mexico State TBA
Dec. 3 at UTEP TBA
Dec. 5 at New Mexico State TBA
Dec. 15 North Carolina A&T 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 17-23 Las Vegas Holiday Classic
Dec. 17 Longwood TBA
Dec. 19 Charleston Southern TBA
Dec. 22 Wichita State (Las Vegas, Nev.) TBA
Dec. 23 USC/Kansas State (Las Vegas, Nev.) TBA
Dec. 28-29 Comcast Lobo Invitational
Dec. 28 Alcorn State 6:00 p.m.
Binghamton vs. Pepperdine 8:15 p.m.
Dec. 29 Consolation Game 6:00 p.m.
Championship Game 8:15 p.m.
Jan. 1 at Texas Tech TBA