You can feel it the second you step toward the ticket gates at The Pit. It’s a specific kind of electricity that only exists when new mexico college basketball is actually good, and right now, things are getting weirdly interesting. We aren't just talking about a couple of teams scraping by in the desert. We are talking about a total identity shift.
Richard Pitino is gone—off to Xavier after a monster 2024-25 run—and yet the Lobos haven't skipped a beat. Enter Eric Olen. If you weren't paying attention, you might have missed the transition, but Olen has this squad sitting at 14-3 as of mid-January. They just absolutely dismantled Air Force by 42 points. 42. That’s the kind of margin that makes the rest of the Mountain West look over their shoulders.
The Eric Olen Era and the Freshman Phenom
Honestly, the biggest shocker hasn't been the coaching change itself, but who’s actually putting the ball in the hoop. Most people expected a massive drop-off once the veterans graduated or chased NIL deals elsewhere. Instead, we got Jake Hall.
The kid is a freshman. He shouldn't be doing this.
Hall recently set a new UNM freshman record with his fifth 20-point game of the season. He’s out there hunting shots like a fifth-year senior. When you watch him play, he doesn't have that "deer in the headlights" look most 19-year-olds carry into a hostile road environment. He’s currently sitting on 46 made threes, which puts him within striking distance of the all-time freshman record held by Kendall Williams.
But it’s not just a one-man show. You've got guys like Tomislav Buljan, a freshman forward from Croatia who is basically a vacuum cleaner on the glass. He pulled down 14 rebounds against Air Force. 14. In a college game, that’s essentially controlling the entire ecosystem of the paint.
The Lobos are currently 5-1 in conference play. They’re sitting right behind Utah State and San Diego State, and the way they’re playing defense—holding opponents to around 66 points per game—suggests they aren't going away.
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What’s Happening Down South in Las Cruces?
You can’t talk about new mexico college basketball without looking at what Jason Hooten is cooking at New Mexico State. It’s been a rocky few years for the Aggies, mostly for reasons we don't need to rehash here, but Hooten has them playing a brand of "grind-you-into-dust" basketball that is starting to pay off.
The Aggies are 9-6 overall, which might not look like a world-beating record on paper. But look closer.
They beat the Lobos back in November. 76-68.
In Las Cruces, that win was everything. It proved that despite the roster turnover, the Aggies still have that defensive teeth. Jemel Jones has been the heartbeat of that team, averaging over 15 points a game. He’s a senior who plays like his career depends on every single possession.
The Aggies have struggled a bit on the road—0-3 so far—but they are nearly unbeatable at the Pan American Center. They recently destroyed University of the Southwest 104-33. Yeah, the opponent wasn't exactly a powerhouse, but holding any college team to 33 points requires a level of defensive discipline that most teams just don't have.
The Mountain West Chaos Factor
The conference is a gauntlet this year.
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- Utah State is ranked #23 in the country and hasn't lost a conference game yet.
- San Diego State is, well, San Diego State—they’re 5-0 in the MW and still play defense like they’re trying to start a fight.
- Grand Canyon is the new kid on the block, and they just brought a 10-5 record into their first-ever "Pit" experience.
It’s a bloodbath. Every Tuesday and Saturday feels like a postseason game. For the Lobos to be 14-3 in this environment is, frankly, kind of a miracle given the coaching turnover. Eric Olen has kept the "Pitino speed" but added a layer of defensive stability that feels more sustainable long-term.
Why the Rivalry Still Matters
There’s a reason 15,000 people show up to The Pit and 12,000 jam into the Pan Am. Basketball is the soul of this state. When new mexico college basketball is healthy, the energy in Albuquerque and Las Cruces trickles down into everything else.
The Rio Grande Rivalry isn't just about bragging rights; it's about survival in the national conversation. Right now, both teams are statistically relevant. The Lobos have a NET ranking in the top 50 (around 41 as of this week). That puts them firmly in the "At-Large" conversation for the NCAA Tournament.
If you're looking for the "why" behind the success, look at the transfer portal. UNM brought in Deyton Albury from Utah State and JT Rock from Iowa State. These aren't just warm bodies; they are high-level role players who understood their assignment from day one. Albury is dishing out nearly 4 assists a game while keeping the turnover numbers low. It’s boring, efficient, and exactly what wins games in March.
Misconceptions About Playing at Altitude
One thing people always get wrong about new mexico college basketball is the altitude factor. Commentators love to talk about it like it’s some magical force field.
"The Lobos win because teams can't breathe!"
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Sure, it helps. Being 5,000 feet up isn't nothing. But you don't win 20 straight home games (which the Lobos did recently) just because the air is thin. You win because the crowd is so loud you can't hear your own thoughts. You win because the floor literally shakes when the opposing team tries to call a timeout.
The Pit is back to being one of the most terrifying places to play in the country. Just ask Wyoming or San Jose State, who both came in recently and left with double-digit losses.
What to Watch For the Rest of the Season
The schedule is about to get brutal. The Lobos have San Diego State and Nevada coming up. Those games will decide if this 14-3 start is a fluke or a foundation.
On the Aggie side, they need to figure out how to win away from Las Cruces. They have the talent, but they seem to lose their shooting touch the second they cross the state line. If Jemel Jones and Julius Mims can find a rhythm on the road, the Aggies could easily make a run in the Conference USA tournament.
How to stay ahead of the curve with New Mexico hoops:
- Watch the Freshman Wall: Keep an eye on Jake Hall’s shooting percentages over the next three weeks. Freshmen often hit a wall in February when the physical toll of the season kicks in. If he stays hot, UNM is a lock for the tournament.
- Follow the NET Rankings: Don't just look at the AP Poll. The Selection Committee lives and dies by the NET. As long as the Lobos stay in the top 50, they are safe.
- Check the Injury Report on JT Rock: The 7-foot-1 center is the defensive anchor for UNM. If he stays healthy, they can compete with the big frontcourts of San Diego State and Utah State.
- Las Cruces Road Survival: Monitor the Aggies' upcoming road trip to Liberty. If they can steal a win there, it proves they’ve solved their travel woes.
The reality is that new mexico college basketball is currently the best show in the Southwest. Whether you’re wearing Cherry and Silver or Crimson and White, the next two months are going to be a wild ride. Don't look away now, because the March Madness seeds are being earned right here in the desert.
Go get some tickets to The Pit or the Pan Am while you still can. These environments don't stay this electric forever, and right now, the state is the center of the mid-major universe.