The UNM men's basketball team showed off a new coach, new players a new offense and new uniforms Friday night at the Pit in a 97-86 win over the EA All-Stars.
Who are these guys?
To the untrained eye, the 2002-03 team could be questioned about its real identity.
In this, the 100th anniversary of Lobo basketball, the program has undergone a dramatic facelift. Let's begin with the head coach.
Ritchie McKay came into the program soon after Fran Fraschilla resigned. McKay stepped into a desperate Lobo country with a low profile and a reputation of demanding hard work on the court and in the classroom from his players. He is UNM's third coach in the last five years, beginning with Dave Bliss' departure in 1999. McKay's father, Joe McKay, donned a Lobo uniform four decades ago and now his son will try to lead the Lobos back to national prominence.
"This is the first time I have been in a position of having one of the best jobs in the league, if not in the country," McKay told golobos.com. "Without question, I have desire to build the program for the long haul and hopefully make a long-term impact on UNM basketball."
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Along with a new coach, comes a new offense and a new recruiting pipeline. The basis to McKay's offense is motion. The guards are constantly moving, setting screens and ball movement is key. The guards are free to roam and find their shots, inevitably leading to better scoring opportunities. There are fewer sets plays and isolation than last year.
"The offense flows so well," senior guard Senque Carey said. "We're not standing around and pressing to get shots. It seems like the offense gets people shots of their own. I think you'll see a more rounded team."
The new offense seems to be a perfect fit, with this year's prolific backcourt of seniors Carey and Ruben Douglas.
"This offense gets everybody involved," Douglas said. "Everybody is a threat out there. The defense can't just focus on Senque or I. They have to focus on everybody. There is a lot of movement out there and we have a lot of threats."
The Lobos welcome six new faces to the roster -- four freshmen and two junior college transfers. The most touted of the newcomers is transfer Javin Tindall. He is a true point guard with lightning quick speed and deadly range from behind the three-point arc.
He demonstrated that on Friday hitting five-of-eight threes while scoring 21 points in 35 minutes.
The two new post players bring big bodies to the inside. Freshman David Chiotti and transfer Michael McCowan are listed at 6 feet 9 inches, 250 pounds and 6 feet 7 inches, 245 pounds respectively. They can bring immediate depth and contribution to the unproven front line. Chiotti is a freshman from California's St. Francis High School, the same school that produced Carey and former Lobo, Patrick Dennehy.
McCowan comes from Northeastern Junior College in Colorado. He is a bruiser in the paint and will need to use his big frame to box out defenders and grab rebounds.
The final three newcomers are freshmen and are from New Mexico. They are new to UNM, but should not be new to the community. Highland High School's Mark Walters, Sandia High's Jeff Hart and Cibola High's Mikal Monette look to contribute instantly. Hart and Walters, a pair of shooting guards, were impact players on their high school squads.
Hart, a walk-on, can shoot lights out and will see some quality playing time, according to McKay.
Walters brings muscle to the backcourt. He can penetrate, shoot the mid to long range jumper and play stifling defense. On Friday he showed his athleticism skying for six rebounds while chipping in seven points.
Monette looks to contribute to the inexperienced frontcourt. At 6 feet 6 inches, Monette will need to rebound and defend against taller and stronger opponents.
Not a newcomer, but unknown to most Lobo fans, is junior Ryan Ashcraft. He is a former walk-on from the Albuquerque area and was awarded a scholarship from McKay this year. He was unanimously recognized as the hardest-worker on the team last year as a practice player, but will see some quality minutes this season.
"Ryan is one of those guys that you might not pay a lot of attention to in the scouting report," McKay said. "But when you look at the stat sheet, he could make a big difference. He has a lot of intangibles, making the extra pass and screening so his teammate gets open. People will be surprised at how much he plays for us."
The hint of turquoise on the sleeve concludes the Lobos' facelift. UNM welcomes the significant changes in hopes of redirecting a program that found itself spiraling downward just six months ago. Attending The Pit, fans will notice the obvious external changes, but the Lobos will also show a trait that UNM has not showed in recent years -- heart, desire and the passion to rebuild the program
