The test - finally - is solid: UNM duels ranked UCLA in Sin City
HENDERSON, NEV. -- He said he would do it. And he’s done it.
That pesky good-for-nothing non-conference schedule that has haunted the UNM men’s basketball program year after year.
UNM head men’s basketball coach Richard Pitino said Lobo fans deserved a harder non-conference schedule.
And so, here it is.
It starts on Friday with a hot date in Sin City: No. 22-ranked UCLA in the Las Vegas Hoopfest at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nev.
Pitino said this season's schedule is tougher (at St. John’s on Nov. 17, at home against Virginia Commonwealth on Dec. 18.) and has a heightened sense of urgency, unlike past years.
“You’re playing two top-25 teams in your first four games, so, I play whoever is ready,” Pitino said. “I do think that we have depth. But you never have as much depth as you think you do. But yeah, everybody has got to be ready. Especially with those types of games. UCLA and St. John’s are going to press. Nothing is going to come easy to anybody.”
Photo: Erik Moulton/ThePitPress
As far as history goes, far and few between have one in the sport like the University of California, Los Angeles.
John Wooden.
The late great Bill Walton.
Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.
Tyus Edney in Boise, Idaho in 1994. Coast-to-coast with 4.8 seconds to advance UCLA to the Sweet 16.
And who could forget Gus Johnson and his “Batista with the catch!” screech in 2006’s Round of 32. UCLA rallied back down 71-62 with 3:26 left in the game to win and get the National Championship game.
UCLA head men’s basketball coach Mick Cronin and Pitino had a friendship that dates back to the late 1990s.
Croinin joked with reporters that Pitino should thank him for his coaching success.
"He's going to get mad at me first this,” Cronin said in Sports Illustrated article about tonight’s matchup. “Got him his first job. So freshman in Providence College, I got him a job with the legendary coach -- Barrington, Rhode Island, St, Andrews -- Mike Hart, who's still coaching. A true legend of the East Coast. Northeast high school basketball, Mike Hart, so he got to start off with a legend. So, it was better for him than being a manager at Providence. His dad and I talked about it. So, he was an assistant coach as a freshman in college. That was my realm. While you're in college, be a high school. So ... I'm part of their family, which I'm proud to say.”
Cronin enters his sixth season with the Bruins. He was 16-17 last year and missed the NCAA Tournament.
When asked about UCLA, Pitino joked that his hope is the Lobos beat the Bruins.
“I know it’s going to be very challenging, but Mick (Cronin) is a friend of mine,” Pitino said. “A lot of respect for (the Bruins). Obviously, UCLA is one of the top brands in all of college basketball. Mick is a phenomenal coach and they’ve got some talented players.”
UCLA (1-0) opened the season with an 85-50 home victory over Rider on Monday.
Oregon State transfer Tyler Bilodeau scored 18 points in his UCLA debut. The 6-foot-9-inch forward added six rebounds.
Guard Dylan Andrews scored 14 and had six assists. Kobe Johnson, who transferred from crosstown-rival USC, had 12 points and eight rebounds.
Bilodeau averaged 14 points and six rebounds with the Beavers last year. He’s not considered a shot blocker but will be a tough matchup for UNM’s Nelly Junior Joseph.
Junior Joseph, who had one of his best college games, tied a career-high with 28 points and 16 rebounds in UNM’s (1-0) home-opening win against Nicholls. The Lobos held off the Colonels, 91-84, on Monday in The Pit.
Junior Joseph said he expected to start the season like that.
“I feel like I will come every game and play hard every single day,” Junior Joseph said. “That is what you are going to expect from me.”
Three Lobos posted double-doubles in the opener, which included Junior Joseph.
Mustapha Amzil had 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Donovan Dent – with a wrapped left knee and leg – had 15 points and 11 assists against the Colonels.
New Mexico Lobos vs. No. 22 UCLA Bruins
Time: Friday at 9 p.m.
Location: Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nev.
Listen: KNML The Sports Animal (95.9 FM/610 AM)
Watch: CBS Sports Network
History: The all-time series for UNM against UCLA is tied 2-2. The teams haven’t played since 1997-98, a 69-58 UCLA win at the Wooden Classic in Anaheim. The Lobos’ last win in the series was a 77-66 victory in The Pit in the 1987 Preseason NIT.