Normally being associated with something called "The Pit" is not a bragging fact. But things are different in "The Land of Enchantment -- Albuquerque in particular -- as basketball is king, queen and probably rest of the court there. Since 1966, the New Mexico basketball team has played underground on a court 37 feet below street level and that has apparently been quite amenable since average attendance is over 15,000 per game.
With Alburquerque itself being 5,000 plus feet above sea level, such a mix probably gives opposing players the bends.
Last but not least, "The Pit" has actually undergone a name change of sorts. In late 2014, a local restaurant chain paid five million dollars to own the naming rights through 2025 so it's actually now titled WisePies Arena. However, to the locals, it will always be called its birth name.
Lobo basketball was supposed to drop this season since two seven-footers graduated and the four-year starter at the point did likewise. Then Cullen Neal, the son of the coach, went out for this season with an injury after starting out at 17 points per game. But 13-7 and 5-3 (8-2 at home) indicate current life isn't, well, anything near the pits for New Mexico.
That's because defending has been the calling card in 2014-15. As the latest UNM press release spelled out: "The Lobos are one of only two programs in the nation to not allow 70 points or more in a game this season, joining the Cincinnati Bearcats. It’s a New Mexico defense that is on pace to finish the season with top ten marks in program history in points allowed, defensive field goal percentage, and defensive three-point field goal percentage."
Coach Craig Neal's guys are holding opponents to 39% overall shooting, 29% from long distance.
SJSU will not be matching up with an offensive powerhouse. 6-foot-5 Deshawn Delaney leads New Mexico in both scoring and rebounding with 12.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest averages. Guard Hugh Greenwood, who is cribbing a look from a certain Justin Graham, averages 11.9 points plus a team best 70 assists. No other Lobo is scoring in double figures.
The game begins at 6:00 p.m. Mountain Time
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