Here’s the previous teams we ranked in this series:

54. Arizona State Sun Devils

55. Utah State Aggies

56. Colorado State Rams

57. Seton Hall Pirates

58. SMU Mustangs

59. South Carolina Gamecocks

60. Nevada Wolfpack

61. TCU Horned Frogs

62. Villanova Wildcats

63. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

64. Saint Louis Billikens

65. Syracuse Orange

66. Nebraska Cornhuskers

67. Pittsburgh Panthers

68. Iowa Hawkeyes

69. NC State Wolfpack

70. Butler Bulldogs

71. Princeton Tigers

72. Virginia Cavaliers

73. Saint Joseph’s Hawks

74. Oklahoma Sooners

75. West Virginia Mountaineers

76. Georgia Bulldogs

77. UAB Blazers

78: Wisconsin Badgers

79. San Diego State Aztecs

80. Missouri Tigers

81. Northwestern Wildcats

82. Loyola Chicago Ramblers

Here’s where each of our analysts had New Mexico ranked:

Steven	Maxwell	Kam	Cody
48	59	77	44

2022-2023: Richard Pitino at New Mexico

Richard Pitino took over as head coach of the New Mexico Lobos in 2021 after an extended tenure at the University of Minnesota. His first season with the program was a continuation of the team’s struggles, finishing with a 13-19 overall record and 5-12 in Mountain West Conference (MWC) play. However, by his second season (2022-2023), Pitino had begun to shape the team with a clearer vision, leveraging both recruiting and the transfer portal to bring in key players. These included Josiah Allick and Morris Udeze from the transfer portal, 4-star guard Donovan Dent, and the retention of standout players like Jamal Mashburn Jr. and Jaelen House.

The 2022-2023 season was a marked improvement. The Lobos finished with a 22-12 overall record, a significant leap from the previous season. After an electrifying 14-0 start, they faced a grueling conference schedule, ultimately compiling an 8-10 record in MWC play. Despite a late-season slide and a second-round exit in the MWC tournament to Utah State, their performance earned them a spot in the NIT Tournament. Unfortunately, they were eliminated in the first round by an impressive Utah Valley team coached by now-Cal head coach Mark Madsen.

Offensively, the team embraced Pitino’s fast-paced style, reminiscent of his earlier successes. Averaging 80.9 points per game (12th nationally), they saw a dramatic improvement from the previous season’s 89th-ranked offense. However, turnovers (11.2 per game, 301st nationally) and a lack of three-point shooting (348th nationally in attempts) remained glaring weaknesses. Their strategy relied heavily on transition opportunities and attacking the rim, limiting their versatility.

Defensively, the Lobos struggled, allowing 74.3 points per game (298th nationally). Opponents frequently matched their high-paced style, leading to shootouts that New Mexico wasn’t always equipped to win. A lack of depth also posed challenges, as Pitino relied heavily on his top eight players, leading to fatigue during crucial moments. This was evident in their close games, where they lost five contests by five points or fewer.

The season served as proof of concept for Pitino’s philosophy. New Mexico had clearly bought into his system, and their offensive resurgence showed that the foundation was in place for continued success. Jamal Mashburn Jr., a dynamic scorer, averaged 19.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, while transfer center Morris Udeze contributed 16.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Jaelen House, Mashburn’s backcourt partner, added 16.9 points and 4.7 assists per game. These three accounted for 65.4% of the team’s total offense, underscoring their importance to the program’s resurgence. With only Udeze exhausting his eligibility, the team looked poised for more growth in the coming seasons.

2023-2024: Progression

The 2023-2024 season saw New Mexico take further strides under Pitino’s leadership. The Lobos finished with a 26-10 record and a 10-8 mark in MWC play, demonstrating their progression as a program. Offensively, they continued to thrive, averaging 81 points per game (26th nationally) and ranking first nationally in two-point attempts per game (45.3). However, issues with three-point shooting (250th nationally in percentage) and turnovers (323rd) persisted, highlighting areas needing improvement.

While there were some improvements defensively, they continued to allow too many points (70.7 per game, 133rd nationally). Their reliance on offensive production left them vulnerable to teams that could slow down the pace or execute in the half-court. Despite this, their strong play in the competitive MWC earned them a spot in the NCAA Tournament as a #11 seed, but they were eliminated in the play-in game by a tough Clemson squad.

Individually, Jaelen House earned All-MWC Third Team honors, averaging 15.9 points and 3.5 assists per game. Sophomore guard Donovan Dent took significant strides, carving out a key role in a crowded backcourt. He averaged 14.1 points and 5.4 assists per game, earning All-MWC Second Team honors. Forward JT Toppin also emerged as a significant contributor, averaging 12.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, earning himself a spot on the All-MWC Second Team. However, with House and Toppin no longer with the program, the team’s makeup for the following season would be drastically different.

Looking Ahead: 2024-2025 Season Outlook

As the Lobos prepare for the 2024-2025 season, they face questions about how to replace key contributors like Jaelen House and JT Toppin, the latter transferring to Texas Tech. Despite these losses, New Mexico will return important pieces, including standout point guard Donovan Dent. Now a junior, Dent will be the focal point of the offense, tasked with setting the tempo for the team’s high-octane attack. Forward Nelly Junior Joseph, who averaged 8.9 points and 8.2 rebounds last season, will return as a high-motor player expected to complement Dent’s playmaking.

Pitino and his staff were active in the transfer portal, bringing in promising talent to shore up the roster. Among the additions are Ibrahim Sacko, a 6’6″ forward from Georgia Tech who was part of the Nike Hoop Summit in 2022, and Atiki Ally Atiki, a 6’10″ center from BYU. Sacko brings versatility to the frontcourt, while Atiki provides the size and shot-blocking ability needed. Additionally, Filip Borovicanin, a 6’8″ forward and former 4-star recruit from Arizona, adds more depth and skill to the roster. The Lobos also landed 6’10 4-star recruit Jovan Milicevic, along with 3-star recruits guard Kayde Dotson and forward Daniel Thomas.

With 45% of last season’s minutes and 51% of the scoring returning, the Lobos are set to maintain their high-paced, high-scoring offense. Pitino’s ability to develop players and implement his system will be crucial, especially as the MWC grows more competitive. New Mexico will continue to thrive in transition, but its defense remains an area of concern. The added depth could help address their defensive lapses, especially late in games when fatigue sets in.

Despite losing key players, New Mexico is expected to contend for a top-five spot in the MWC. The season will likely hinge on how well Dent can orchestrate the offense and how quickly the new additions acclimate to Pitino’s system. The potential is there for another run at an NCAA Tournament bid, but improving their defensive metrics will be essential if they hope to make a deeper postseason push.