3 Questions Lobo Basketball Fans Want Answered
With the 2024-25 Lobo Basketball season days away from tipping off, the hype and the expectations that come with it are real.
The hype is warranted.
UNM head men’s basketball coach Richard Pitino has assembled one of the most talked about non-conference schedules for the Lobos in a very long time - if not ever.
The Lobos will open the season on Monday against Nicholls (KenPom No. 187).
UNM will be tested immediately against No. 22 UCLA (KenPom No. 28) on Nov. 8 in the Drew Gordon Tribute Game in Las Vegas. The Bruins and the Lobos play at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nev.
The following week, UNM heads to New York to play Rick Pitino and his St. Johns team, currently No. 19 in KenPom. The game is at Madison Square Garden.
Other notable early-season matchups have the Lobos playing in the Acrisure Classic in Palm Springs, Calif. against Arizona State (KenPom 70) and either Saint Mary’s (KenPom 34) or USC (KenPom 56) on November 27th and 28. The Acisure Classic is over Thanksgiving weekend.
The Lobos wrap up their non-con schedule with a home game against VCU. The Rams are another Top 50 Ken Pom match-up (No. 41).
It’s a loaded November with plenty of opportunities to earn Quad 1 wins early in the season. A key offseason focus of Pitino and UNM was to bulk up the non-con schedule and alleviate the bubble talk at the end of February and early March. This is given that the Lobos were on the bubble late in the season last year. UNM could’ve missed the Big Dance if they didn’t win the Mountain West Conference outright. UNM controlled their destiny.
But before we start talking about March basketball in Albuquerque, a lot must happen between now and then to begin to think about being in the bubble conversation. This season poses many questions, transfers, role changes, and pressure. Here are 3 questions Lobo basketball fans are thinking about and want answered.
Photo: Erik Moulton/The Pit Press
Jaelen House and Jamal Mashburn Jr. contributed just about 40 percent of the team's offensive scoring last year. Who can the Lobos count on to fill the void (or bucket)?
Jaelen House (graduation) and Jamal Mashburn (transferred to Temple) are gone and took about 40 percent of the Lobos offense. So, who will be the key contributors on offense this year?
Donovan Dent is receiving - by far - the most pre-season accolades of any Lobo this season. The Preseason All-Mountain West First Team selection dazzled last season but did exceptionally well when House and Mashburn suffered injuries. Dent averaged around 19 points when House and Mash didn’t play.
Dent’s ability to change direction and get by defenders is a key game component. He excels with a high pick-n-roll game and can thread passes through the zone - an elite passer and a strong finisher around the rim.
Dent’s backcourt counterparts Tru Washington and CJ Noland (North Texas transfer) could also be key contributors to the scoring offense.
Lobo fans watched Washington’s game evolve over his freshman year last season (6.6 ppg and 3.3 rpg) and saw him elevate his play during last year’s Mountain West Conference Tournament and NCAA Round of 64 round matchup against Clemson (six points and seven rebounds).
Washington is a slasher, a decent ball handler and with his talents, he’ll see more minutes., he should also see more shot attempts and, as a result, more points per game.
CJ Noland originally committed and played at Oklahoma during his freshman and sophomore seasons and then transferred to North Texas.
Last year with the Mean Green, Noland scored in double figures in 20 games and had over 20 points in two of them. A true 3-level scorer because of his build and knack for scoring in the mid-range and around the rim. He’s also a consistent 3-point marksman, shooting 38 percent from the 3-point line.
Pitino and the Lobos can also look to 2024 Mountain West Conference Sixth Man of the Year, Mustapha Amzil to pick up some of the scoring. Increased minutes and a starting role should push Amzil’s scoring average up from 6.7 points per game (saw double-figures in 14 games last year).
Amzil could slide over to the small forward position more, which should translate to more offensive opportunities (The Lobos were not very deep at the 4-5 last year, so Amzil was asked to play bigger than he was used to.)
Look for Nelly Junior Joseph to increase his point total off some of those screen and rolls to the rim.
Via The Bracketeer.org (Rocco Miller - @RoccoMiller8)
With the beefed-up non-conference schedule, how will it play out for the Lobos?
As exciting as the Lobos non-con schedule is, it looks as challenging as one in program history.
How will UNM fair in the upgraded non-conference slate? Richard Pitino didn’t want it any other way. He wants to continue to build this program and the scheduling piece is part of the formula - he said UNM’s 2024-25 schedule was “doing it for the fans because they deserve it.”
In an interview at Mountain West Conference men’s basketball Media Days with The Pit Press, Pitino discussed the challenges of a tough non-conference schedule and what the fans should expect.
Pitino alluded to the Lobos starting 12-1 last season and 14-0 in 2022-23 and said he doesn’t think the Lobos will post the same kind of records heading into MWC play this season - but didn’t rule it out either.
Challenges are good, there are opportunities to knock off top-ranked teams on a neutral floor or on the road. If UNM and Pitino want to keep moving the needle upward, then these games of this caliber need to be scheduled consistently.
Photo: Erik Moulton/The Pit Press
Seven returners, 5 transfers, and 4 incoming freshmen - who can the Lobos count on to be this year's X-Factor?
Nine new faces will be dressed in the cherry and silver this season in The Pit. The Lobos have seven returners, five transfers, and four incoming freshmen to round out UNM’s roster in 2024-25.
Minus the glaring New Mexico household name of Dent, who else on this roster embodies the “X-Factor” role? The Glue Guy? Every great team has one - or two.
It’s hard not to look at guys like Amzil or Nelly, players who were key components to last year's team, but I’m looking for the guy(s) who make the biggest leap (statistically and figuratively) from last year.
Washington has the most upside.
Although he didn’t see significant minutes last year, those minutes were still very impactful and will increase this year.
His ability to shoot the 3 wasn't a consistent part of his game, but he worked on his triple in the offseason. It showed in an exhibition game against UTEP (3/5).
Defense is where Washington will make the biggest impression though. His size and ability to face-guard the opposing team's best players is a key attribute to his game. He’s physical, added 15 lbs to his frame over the summer and has the instinct to be the Lobos; best defender. He’s an energy guy and he’s hungry. Pitino has high expectations of Washington and thinks he can make a run at the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year award.
Get to know Jovan Milicevic’s name now.
A four-star recruit by ESPN which ranked him the No. 27 power forward nationally, and the No. 6 player in Arizona, he played for the Arizona Unity EYBL circuit.
At 6 feet 10 inches and 240 lbs., you’d think he would be a 4/power forward or 5/center. But he’s neither of those, however, he could probably fill in if Pitino needed him to.
Milcevic is a do-it-all mid-range player who can knock down 3’s. He has great court vision and isn’t afraid to play small. He’s a decent ball handler who passes well for someone 6’10.
Milicevic could be a good fit within the pick-n-roll game with Dent, who can either roll to the rim or pop out and shoot the midrange. He also poses a matchup nightmare since he will require other bigs to defend him around the perimeter.
It’s hard not to get caught up in exhibitions and stats, but Milicevic only saw 8 minutes against UTEP and scored seven points on 3-of-4 shooting with three rebounds.
Despite several unknowns, the 2024-25 UNM men’s basketball team is much deeper, more experienced, and bigger than a year ago.
Watch Pitino’s press conference from Nov. 1 below.
