Got a Nicholls? UNM opens up the 2024-25 season hoping to shine again
Photo: Erik Moulton/The Pit Press
“The No. 1 thing we have to do is get this state back– rolling again– talking about New Mexico (basketball).”
Those were the words profoundly spoken at UNM head men’s basketball coach Richard Pitino’s introductory press conference at University Stadium three years ago.
Pitino, who enters his fourth season as the face of the UNM men’s basketball team, indeed has Albuquerque and the rest of The Land of Enchantment – and for that matter, the college basketball nation - buzzing about Lobo basketball.
Again.
The Providence College graduate has improved UNM’s record in his first three seasons in The Duke City. Last year Pitino helped in the return of UNM to the peak of the Mountain West Conference, a memorabilia four-day run in the conference tournament in Las Vegas Nev.
The Lobos won four straight in early March and earned the program’s first MWC Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth in 10 years.
Pitino hopes the momentum from 2024-25 will continue to build and he can keep it snowballing down the Sandia Mountains. This time on early Monday evening, with the season and home opener in The Pit against Southland Conference foe: the Nicholls Colonels.
“They’ve got two all-conference players and like any non-conference games, it’s a unique style of play,” Pitino said. “Smaller guys and match-up wise, always a challenge. But fired up, obviously, for (the season) to kick off.”
Nicholls was picked third in the Southland Conference Preseason Poll behind McNees State (picked first) and Stephen F. Austin (picked second). McNeese State won the regular season and Southland Tournament in March to get the Southland’s lone auto bid.
Nicholls had a solid 2023-24. The Colonels went 20-14 (13–5 Southland). As a team, they both scored and gave up an average of 73.9 points per game. The Colonels lost to the eventual Southland Tournament Champion, McNeese State in the tournament championship game, 92-76.
Jamal West Jr was selected on the Southland Preseason All-Conference First Team. West enters his senior season and averaged 13.4 points per game and 7.4 rebounds last season. He led the Southland in blocks (1.6 per game).
Senior guard Robert Brown III was second team. Brown had a standout season in 2023-24. He was the Colonels' best 3-point shooter – maybe one of the best in the entire country. He shot 40.8 percent beyond the arc last year. He had an 8-of-8 performance in a win against Incarnate Word, where Brown also had a career-high 28 points.
Pitino said there is an unknown for every program heading into the first game of the season.
“You’ve got to stick to your principles, as best you can,” he said. “It’s not going to be an easy game, I think it’s similar to, in a lot of ways, a UTEP, where they are aggressive, athletic and they attack the basket. So, it’s going to be a really good challenge.”
The Lobos are coming off a scrappy exhibition win against the University of Texas at El Paso. UNM defeated the Miners, 74-70, last Monday night in The Pit.
North Texas transfer CJ Noland experienced his first game in The Pit (not to be confused with the UNT Coliseum or The Super Pit) in the exhibition game against the Miners.
Noland said every game is a learning experience.
“I think the biggest thing for me is to just continue to shoot, make shots,” Noland said. “I mean, that’s all it is. A confidence thing… Super excited to get back out there. (On Thursday) we were just talking about how we wanted (The Pit) to be even more packed out.”
In his first game with the Lobos, Noland struggled against the Miners. In just south of 16 minutes, he missed all four shots he took, which included three 3-pointers.
But familiar face and sophomore guard Tru Washington looks to have a more impactful year with the Lobos.
Washington will have to take a bigger role with the graduation of Jalen House and Jamal Mashburn Jr. Mashburn transferred to Temple in the offseason.
He played 28 minutes and was second on UNM with 17 points. He hit three 3s and two to open the game against UTEP.
Washington said in the UTEP postgame exhibition interview he wasn’t happy with his role last season.
“I came in and was back up,” Washington said. “But I learned a lot from the guys in front of me. So, it’s just a learning experience.”
Pitino said he will get a lot more minutes than last year because of offseason growth and he wants Washington to be more of a nuisance on the other side of the ball.
“My goal for him is to be in the conversation of (Mountain West Conference) Defensive Player of the Year. I think he has the ability to do that. Obviously, making three 3s was great,” Pitino said. “I don’t think Tru is a bad shooter but, you know, making shots is very important, especially at that two or three spot. Our guards have got to make shots… but his role is going to increase, for sure. He brings dynamic defensively, energy-wise, deflections. He should really, really buy into that because he could be elite at that.”
Nicholls Colonels at New Mexico Lobos
Time: Tonight at 7 p.m.
Location: The Pit
Listen: Lobo Radio Network (96.3 FM/770 AM)
Watch: Mountain West Network
History: UNM leads the series 2-0 with both wins coming in The Pit. The first was a 75-63 win on Nov. 25, 2015 and an 83-59 win on No. 20, 2009. Elijah Brown and Cullen Neal led the way for the Lobos during the 2015 win while combining for 30 points.
