Introduction to Lobos in College Basketball
The Lobos are a college basketball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The University of New Mexico Men’s Basketball team is nicknamed the Lobos, which is Spanish for “wolves”. The Lobos have been a part of the Mountain West Conference since 2011, and they have a long and successful history in college basketball. In this article, we will take a look at who the Lobos are and their successes in college basketball.
History of the Lobos
The Lobos have been playing college basketball since the 1920s and have a long and successful history. The Lobos have won two conference championships and have made three NCAA Tournament appearances. The Lobos have been to the NIT tournament 10 times and won the NIT championship in 1965. The Lobos have been to the NCAA tournament three times, the last being in 2014.
Notable Players
The Lobos have had some great players over the years. Some of the most notable are:
- Darington Hobson: Hobson was a First Team All-Mountain West selection in 2010 and was drafted in the second round of the NBA draft. He is one of the most successful Lobos to make it to the NBA.
- Cameron Bairstow: Bairstow was an All-Mountain West selection in 2014 and was drafted in the second round of the NBA draft. He was a big part of the Lobos NCAA Tournament run in 2014.
- Kendall Williams: Williams was a two-time All-Mountain West selection and was named the conference’s Player of the Year in 2013. He was also named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team in 2014.
- Kendall Williams: Williams was a two-time All-Mountain West selection and was named the conference’s Player of the Year in 2013. He was also named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team in 2014.
Recent Successes
The Lobos have had some recent success in college basketball. The Lobos have made three NCAA tournament appearances in the past five years, including a Sweet Sixteen run in 2014. The Lobos have also won back-to-back Mountain West regular season titles in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.
Head Coaches
The Lobos have had several successful head coaches over the years, including:
- Steve Alford: Alford was the head coach from 2007-2013 and led the Lobos to two NCAA tournament appearances and a Sweet Sixteen run in 2014.
- Craig Neal: Neal was the head coach from 2013-2017 and led the Lobos to two NCAA tournament appearances and two Mountain West regular season titles.
- Paul Weir: Weir is the current head coach and is in his third season with the Lobos. Weir led the Lobos to a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2019 and a Mountain West regular season title in 2020.
Rivals
The Lobos have some fierce rivals in college basketball, including:
- New Mexico State Aggies: The Lobos and Aggies have been playing each other since the 1920s and it is one of the fiercest rivalries in college basketball. The Lobos lead the all-time series 91-64.
- UTEP Miners: The Lobos and Miners have been playing each other since the 1940s and the rivalry is known as the Battle of I-25. The Lobos lead the all-time series 83-68.
- UNLV Rebels: The Lobos and Rebels have been playing each other since the 1950s and the rivalry is known as the Duel in the Desert. The Lobos lead the all-time series 94-57.
Mascot
The Lobos have a unique mascot, Lobo Louie. Lobo Louie is a wolf dressed in a cowboy hat, vest, and boots. He is the official mascot of the University of New Mexico and has been the mascot since 1996.
Current Team
The current Lobos team is coached by Paul Weir and is led by senior guard JaQuan Lyle. Lyle is a transfer from Ohio State and is one of the best players in the Mountain West Conference. The Lobos also have a talented freshman class that includes guards Makuach Maluach and Zane Martin, and forwards Carlton Bragg and Drue Drinnon.
Conclusion
The Lobos are a college basketball team with a long and successful history. The Lobos have had some great players and coaches over the years, and the current team looks to be one of the best in recent years. The Lobos have some fierce rivals in college basketball, and their mascot Lobo Louie is one of the most unique in the country. The Lobos are a team to watch in the Mountain West Conference, and they are sure to be a force in college basketball for years to come.