ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The University of New Mexico Lobos are getting ready for the March Madness tournament. The Lobos haven’t won a game at the Big Dance since 2012. Up until last year, they hadn’t made the tournament since 2014. The ten-seeded Lobos gathered for practice Thursday afternoon getting ready for their Friday night prime-time match-up with seven-seed Marquette.
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“A lot of teams think we struggle in the tournament. A lot of people think we struggle in tournaments. So, we just try to go out there and compete and show that we can play at this level at any time,” said Donovan Dent.
On top of all that, Head Coach Richard Pitino was named Mountain West Coach of the Year. He said Lobos fans are a big part of their success. “I truly appreciate my situation at New Mexico. We’ve won 52 games in the last two years. A lot of that has to do with the support I’ve gotten and I greatly appreciate it…As a coach, you gotta be in a place you can win and New Mexico is certainly that,” said Pitino.
The Lobos come into the game with a 26-7 record and won the Mountain West regular season title while tying the conference record for the most wins in a season. Donovan Dent was named the Mountain West Player of the Year and is the only player in the nation averaging 20 points and six assists per game in league play. CBS Sports called Nelly Junior Joseph the best rebounder in the tournament averaging more than 11 per game.
The Lobos are hoping to capitalize on a great season saying they have something to prove this year. “Last year, I don’t think we took it for granted ’cause I think Clemson was a really good team. A bad matchup for us. But when you’ve had the success that we’ve had you wanna make noise in the tournament,” said UNM Head Coach Richard Pitino.
It’s not uncommon for a tenth-seed team to beat the seventh-seed. Since 1985, nearly 40% of them have advanced to the second round. A tenth seed is also more likely to make the Sweet Sixteen than the eighth or ninth seed with the tenth having roughly a 15% chance to advance, that’s the same percent for the combined chances for the 8th and 9th seeds. However, a tenth seed has never won the tournament.
The winner of this game will face either Michigan State or Bryant in the second round. The Lobos have never made it to the Sweet Sixteen in their history. Their game airs Friday on TBS. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:25 p.m.
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