New Mexico Lobo Basketball
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The University of New Mexico (UNM) established basketball as a varsity sport in 1899, but it wasn't until 1920 when they hired a new basketball coach. It was at that point the UNM athletic department became competitive among colleges in the Western United States.
[edit] Coach Roy W. Johnson (1920-59)
When Johnson arrived in 1920, the school's gym was a small wooden building where the walls were out-of-bounds markers for basketball games. Johnson soon oversaw the construction of Carlisle Gym. He also built the first grass football field and bleachers at UNM.
Near the end of his career, he oversaw construction of the 7,800-seat arena that bears his name, Johnson Gymnasium, which opened in 1957. For many years, Johnson Gym was the most prominent feature of the UNM campus for those driving along Central Ave./Route 66.
During a seven year stretch of Johnson's time as basketball coach, the Lobos posted a 95-31 (.754) record. The Lobos won 157 games with Johnson as head basketball coach, a school record for thirty years and third on the all-time list.
[edit] The Bob King era (1962-71)
New Mexico Lobo Basketball achieved national prominence for the first time under Coach Bob King.
The Lobos had just two winning seasons between 1947 and King's arrival in 1962, and the team had gone a dismal 42-149 (.220) over the previous eight seasons.
King's impact was immediate. The Lobos won as many games in his first two seasons as they had won in the past seven seasons combined.[2] They compiled a record of 116-44 (.725) in King's first six seasons.
The Lobos won their first Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championship in King's second season, 1963-64, and won the championship again in the 1967-68 season.
After New Mexico State University hired Lou Henson in 1966, both programs became perennial winners, and a fierce rivalry grew statewide. The teams play twice every season, once at each home site, although they are not in the same conference. Many star players of the King era include Ira Harge, Mel Daniels, and Willie Long. All went on to post-collegiate careers in the ABA and NBA.
After his years at UNM, Bob King coached at Indiana State University. His 1978-79 team featured future Hall of Famer Larry Bird and reached the final of the NCAA tournament. King suffered a heart attack prior to the season and assistant Bill Hodges took over the head coaching duties. Indiana State lost in the final to another future Hall of Famer, Magic Johnson, and his Michigan State University team. The game marked the beginning of a legendary rivalry between Bird and Magic that would revitalize and dominate the NBA for the following decade.
In a formal ceremony on December 1, 1992, the basketball court at University Arena was dedicated and named Bob King Court in honor of the man who built the program and made The Pit possible. Coach King died on December 10, 2004 at the age of 81. He was remembered for his great integrity and ability as a basketball coach and educator.
[edit] The Norm Ellenberger era (1972-79)
When Bob King moved on to coach at Indiana State, his assistant, Norm Ellenberger, was named head coach. The Lobo program thrived in the 1970s, and Ellenberger became a local celebrity, restauranteur, and man-about-town, earning the nickname Stormin' Norman for his flashy attire, fiery coaching style, and flamboyant personality.
Under Ellenberger, the Lobos won WAC championships in 1974 and 1978 and compiled an overall record of 134-62 (.684).[4] His teams were frequently ranked among the Top 25 in the nation. His ability as a teacher of defense made him a frequent participant in basketball coaching camps, where he became friends with University of Nevada-Las Vegas coach Jerry Tarkanian, leading to a heated rivalry between their teams during the late 70s.
Ellenberger coached Michael Cooper for two seasons at UNM before "Coop" went on to become one of the greatest defensive players in National Basketball Association (NBA) history.
Ellenberger managed to remain popular in Albuquerque even after the Lobo-gate recruiting scandal decimated the program, forced him to resign as head coach, and left him with criminal liability. An NCAA investigation into Lobo recruiting practices found 57 rule violations, and Ellenberger himself was convicted on 21 counts of fraud in 1981. The program was sanctioned by the NCAA, including a ban on post-season appearances for three years.
In the wake of Lobo-gate, assistant Charlie Harrison was elevated to head coach for the 1979-80 season, leading a team made up of mostly walk-on players. The team limped to a woeful 6-22 record, as the program was forced to rebuild virtually from scratch. Harrison and his players gained fan sympathy for perservering under difficult circumstances, but he served primarily as a caretaker until a new coach was named.
[edit] The Gary Colson era (1980-88)
Gary Colson was brought to the program in 1980, inheriting the messy aftereffects of Lobo-gate. Colson was known as a genuinely nice man who took on the task of turning the Lobos into a winning team. However, he did fail to live up to the high expectations of Lobo basketball fans. Colson prided himself on integrity and honesty, which are values he tried to instill into the recruits that played for him.
It took four years for Colson to reach postseason play. In 1984, they reached the National Invitational Tournament. This started an 11 year postseason streak for the Lobos. The 1986-87 was Colson's best season as Lobo coach. His team posted a 25-10 win-loss record, but lost in the Western Athletic Conference finals to Wyoming. When Colson returned the team to the NIT in 1988, he was abruptly fired.
Fans took the decision pretty hard since Colson was looking at his best season ever with returning players, such as, Luc Longley and Rob Loeffel.
[edit] The Dave Bliss era (1988-99)
Bliss helped the Lobos return to glory. He took the team to the NCAA tournament six of last seven seasons, reaching the second round in the last three years. Longley had left in 1991 for a career in the NBA. Bliss also had forward Kenny Thomas to work with from 1995-99.
The Lobos were ranked among the AP Top 25 team almost every week during Thomas' four-season career, cracking the Top 10 seven times, and the team reached the NCAA tournament all four seasons.
Thomas was selected as the 22nd pick in the 1999 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. He has also played for the Philadelphia 76ers and currently plays for the Sacramento Kings. Complete NBA stats
[edit] Fran Fraschilla (1999-2002)
Fran Fraschilla coached the Lobos from 1999 to 2002. His tenure was marked by a disappointing record (55-41 with no NCAA tournament appearances) and a poor relationship with his players.
[edit] The Ritchie McKay years (2002-present)
Ritchie McKay proclaimed that coaching the Lobos was a dream come true. His father, Joe McKay, was a starter for the Lobos from 1960-63, and he said he was happy to return to Albuquerque. Lobo fans, weary from watching the program crumble, remained skeptical but hopeful. McKay had a mixed record coming in, but getting rid of memories from recent years provided relief and hope for fans.
Coach McKay faced a major rebuilding project when he took over as head coach in 2002. The team was short on talent and scholarships, and once again had to resort to walk-on players. One player, Ruben Douglas, would provide a bright spot for the 2002-03 squad, leading the NCAA in scoring with 28.0 points per game.
The Lobo program abruptly stopped its slide and began to recover in December 2003. After sitting out the first semester for eligibility reasons, Granger and Troy DeVries made their Lobo debuts. DeVries was a solid, experienced player who stabilized a young backcout -- and who will play professionally in the German Bundesliga beginning in 2005. Granger was among the best few players in Lobo history. The young Lobos became competitive by the end of the season led by the two vets, though a late run for a post-season spot fell short.
In 2004-05, Granger carried the Lobos to a 26-6 record, the Mountain West Conference (MWC) tournament championship, and back to the NCAA tournament. He was named to the All-MWC first team, and recognized as an AP Honorable Mention All-American.
In June 2005, Granger was selected as the 17th pick in the first round of the NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers have been a regular playoff team in recent years, and the organization includes former Lobo Mel Daniels and Hall of Famer Larry Bird.
[edit] Lobo Basketball program
[edit] Athletic conferences
Lobo athletic teams began competing in the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association as a founding member in 1931, winning the conference basketball championship in 1944 and 1945. UNM left the Border Conference in 1951 to join the Skyline Conference.
In 1962, the Lobos became a founding member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), remaining until 1999.
Lobo basketball led all teams in the WAC in overall winning percentage over the seventeen season span from 1962 to 1979, posting a won-loss record of 328-161 (.671). The Lobos won the WAC regular season championship four times during that period (1964, '68, '74, and '78). They later won the conference tournament championship twice (1993 and '96).
In 1999, the Lobos left the WAC to become a founding member of the Mountain West Conference (MWC), their present league. The Lobos won the MWC basketball tournament championship in 2005.
[edit] National rankings
The Lobos were ranked as high as #3 in the AP poll in the 1963-64 season. They reached #4 in the UPI poll in 1967-68 and in 1977-78. They were regularly ranked among the Top 25 nationally during the 1990s.
[edit] The Pit
University Arena, commonly referred to as "The Pit," is located on the UNM campus and has a capacity of 18,018, including standing-room.
UNM was the only team ranked in the top 10 in national attendance every season from the opening of The Pit in 1966 through the 2000-01 season.
[edit] Mike Roberts
Mike Roberts has been the voice of New Mexico Lobo sports since 1968, broadcasting football and basketball games, The Mike Roberts Show, and the coaches shows on KKOB-AM in Albuquerque. He was also the sports anchor for many years on KOB-TV, the NBC affiliate in Albuquerque.
In 1999, Roberts was named an inductee of the University of New Mexico Athletic Hall of Honor by the Alumni Lettermen's Association and received the Distinguished Service Award.
[edit] Lobo Basketball records
[edit] Win-Loss records
Pre-Bob King:
| Years | Coach | Record | Pct. | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1899-1911 | none | 20-10 | .667 | Sporadic games, six in 1908 most for one year |
| 1911-17 | Ralph Hutchinson | 28-7 | .800 | More frequent games, but tail off again |
| 1917-19 | John F. McGough | 2-4 | .333 | |
| 1920-30 | Roy Johnson | 86-42 | .688 | Carlisle Gym opens, reg sched estab’d |
| 1930-33 | Tom Churchill | 32-19 | .627 | |
| 1933-40 | Roy Johnson | 71-96 | .425 | join Border Conf; Johnson, 157-138 (.532) |
| 1940-41 | Dr. Benjamin Sacks | 5-17 | .227 | |
| 1941-43 | Willis Barnes | 13-29 | .310 | |
| 1943-44 | George White | 11-2 | .846 | Border Conf. Champions, ‘44 |
| 1944-51 | Woody Clements | 84-76 | .525 | Border Conf. Champions, ‘45 |
| 1951-52 | Berl Huffman | 6-19 | .240 | |
| 1953-55 | Woody Clements | 29-43 | .403 | Clements, 113-119 (.487) |
| 1955-58 | Bill Stockton | 14-58 | .194 | |
| 1958-62 | Bob Sweeney | 21-75 | .219 |
Notes:
- Johnson 102-46 (.689) after 1934 season, 140-80 (.636) after 1937, 17-58 in last 3 yrs
- Clements 41-19 (.683) after 1947
- Lobos 113-252 (.310) from 1948-62
- Seven seasons prior to Bob King, 35-133 (.208)
Bob King era:
| Year | Record | Pct | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962-63 | 16-9 | .640 | |
| 1963-64 | 23-6 | .793 | WAC championship , NIT (lost in final, Bradley) |
| 1964-65 | 19-8 | .704 | NIT |
| 1965-66 | 16-8 | .667 | |
| 1966-67 | 19-8 | .704 | NIT |
| 1967-68 | 23-5 | .821 | WAC championship , NCAA tournmt |
| 1968-69 | 17-9 | .654 | |
| 1969-70 | 13-13 | .500 | |
| 1970-71 | 14-12 | .538 | |
| 1971-72 | 15-11 | .577 | |
| 1962-72 | Bob King totals, 175-89 (.663) |
Norm Ellenberger era:
| Year | Record | Pct | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972-73 | 21-6 | .777 | NIT |
| 1973-74 | 22-7 | .759 | WAC championship, NCAA tournmt |
| 1974-75 | 13-13 | .500 | |
| 1975-76 | 16-11 | .593 | |
| 1976-77 | 19-11 | .633 | |
| 1977-78 | 24-4 | .857 | WAC championship, NCAA tournmt |
| 1978-79 | 19-10 | .655 | NIT |
| 1972-79 | Ellenberger totals, 134-62 (.684) | ||
| 1979-80 | 6-22 | .214 | Charlie Harrison |
Gary Colson era:
| Year | Record | Pct | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980-81 | 11-15 | .423 | |
| 1981-82 | 14-14 | .500 | |
| 1982-83 | 14-15 | .483 | |
| 1983-84 | 24-11 | .686 | NIT (Tenn. Lamar 64, New Mexico 61, at Albuquerque, N.M.) |
| 1984-85 | 19-13 | .594 | NIT (New Mexico 80, Texas A&M 67, at Albuquerque, N.M; Fresno State 66, New Mexico 55, at Fresno, Calif.) |
| 1985-86 | 17-14 | .548 | NIT (Texas 69, New Mexico 66, at Albuquerque, N.M.) |
| 1986-87 | 25-10 | .714 | NIT (Oregon State 85, New Mexico 82, at Albuquerque, N.M.) |
| 1987-88 | 22-14 | .611 | NIT (New Mexico 86, Pepperdine 75, at Albuquerque, N.M.; New Mexico 78, Oregon 59, at Albuquerque, N.M.; Ohio State 68, New Mexico 65, at Albuquerque, N.M.) |
| 1980-88 | Colson totals, 146-106 (.579) |
Dave Bliss era:
| Year | Record | Pct | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-89 | 22-11 | .667 | NIT (New Mexico 91, Santa Clara 76, at Albuquerque, N.M.; New Mexico 86, Pepperdine 69, at Albuquerque, N.M.; Saint Louis 66, New Mexico 65, at Albuquerque, N.M.) |
| 1989-90 | 20-14 | .588 | NIT final four, lost to St. Louis (New Mexico 89, Oregon 78, at Albuquerque, N.M.; New Mexico 90, Oklahoma State 88, at Albuquerque, N.M.; New Mexico 80, Hawai'i 58, at Albuquerque, N.M.; Saint Louis 80, New Mexico 73 (semi-final); Penn State 83, New Mexico 81 (ot)(third place)) |
| 1990-91 | 20-10 | .667 | NCAA tourmt |
| 1991-92 | 20-13 | .606 | NIT (New Mexico 90, Louisiana Tech 84, at Albuquerque, N.M.; New Mexico 79, Washington State 71, at Albuquerque, N.M.; Virginia 76, New Mexico 71, at Richmond, Va.) |
| 1992-93 | 24-7 | .774 | NCAA tournmt |
| 1993-94 | 23-8 | .742 | WAC Championship , NCAA tourmt |
| 1994-95 | 15-15 | .500 | |
| 1995-96 | 28-5 | .848 | NCAA tourmt |
| 1996-97 | 24-8 | .750 | NCAA tourmt |
| 1997-98 | 24-8 | .750 | NCAA tourmt |
| 1998-99 | 25-9 | .735 | NCAA tourmt |
| 1988-99 | Bliss totals, 246-108 (.695) |
Fran Fraschilla era:
| Year | Record | Pct | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-00 | 18-14 | .563 | NIT |
| 2000-01 | 21-13 | .618 | NIT |
| 2001-02 | 16-14 | .533 | NIT |
| 1999-02 | Totals, 55-41 (.573) |
Ritchie McKay era:
| Year | Record | Pct | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-03 | 10-18 | .357 | |
| 2003-04 | 14-14 | .500 | |
| 2004-05 | 26-7 | .788 | MWC tournmt championship , NCAA tournmt (L, Villanova) |
| 2005-06 | 17-13 | .567 | |
| 2002- | McKay current totals, 67-52 (.563) |
[edit] Coaching records
| By ## Wins | Years | Win-Loss | Pct | By Win Pct.* | Years | Win-Loss | Pct | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dave Bliss | 1988-99 | 246-108 | .695 | >< | Dave Bliss | 1988-99 | 246-108 | .695 |
| Bob King | 1962-72 | 175-89 | .663 | >< | Norm Ellenberger | 1972-79 | 134-62 | .684 |
| Roy Johnson | 1920-30,33-40 | 157-138 | .532 | >< | Bob King | 1962-72 | 175-89 | .663 |
| Gary Colson | 1980-88 | 146-106 | .579 | >< | Gary Colson | 1980-88 | 146-106 | .579 |
| Norm Ellenberger | 1972-79 | 134-62 | .684 | >< | Fran Fraschilla | 1999-02 | 55-41 | .573 |
| Woody Clements | 1944-51,53-55 | 113-119 | .487 | >< | Ritchie McKay | 2002- | 67-52 | .563 |
| Ritchie McKay | 2002- | 67-52 | .563 | >< | Roy Johnson | 1920-30,33-40 | 157-138 | .532 |
| Fran Fraschilla | 1999-02 | 55-41 | .573 | >< | Woody Clements | 1944-51,53-55 | 113-119 | .487 |
* - at least 75 games coached
Conference championships
- 3, Dave Bliss (WAC: 1994; WAC tourmt, 1993, 1996)
- 2, Bob King (WAC: 1964, 1968)
- 2, Norm Ellenberger (WAC: 1974, 1978)
- 1, Ritchie McKay (MWC tourmt: 2005)
- 1, Woody Clements (Border: 1945)
- 1, George Ellis (Border: 1944)
NCAA Tournament appearances
- 7, Dave Bliss (1991, 1993-94, 1996-99), 4-7 record in NCAA tourmt
- 2, Norm Ellenberger (1974, 1978), 2-2
- 1, Bob King (1968), 0-2
- 1, Ritchie McKay (2005), 0-1
20-win seasons
- 10, Dave Bliss (high: 28 - school record)
- 3, Norm Ellenberger (24)
- 3, Gary Colson (25)
- 2, Bob King (23)
- 1, Ritchie McKay (26)
- 1, Fran Fraschilla (21)
