Although the UNM men’s basketball teams schedule still hasn’t been set, the UNM women’s team is ready to roll into the renovated Pit.
The Lobos and head coach Don Flanagan announced the 2010-11 basketball schedule, which
includes 10 teams in the top 100 in the women’s 2009-10 NCAA
Ratings Percentage.
The Lobos will host seven nonconference games, including an exhibition game Nov. 9 against
Division II Western New Mexico.
On Nov. 12, the Lobos play
Texas Tech in the first regular
season game of the year. The game will be a part of he Pit’s re-opening celebrations that weekend.
The nonconference schedule is tough for Flanagan and his squad, as they will play Arizona at home Dec. 7 and WNIT champion California on Nov. 20.
UNM will also play at Oklahoma (Dec. 12), which advanced to the 2010 Women’s Final Four last season.
“This is the most aggressive schedule that we have put together in my tenure,” Flanagan said, in a press release. “With the combination of a successful season and a tough schedule, this positions our team for an opportunity to play in the postseason.”
In a home-and-home series, UNM plays NMSU in Las Cruces on Dec. 1, before the Aggies will head north for a contest in The Pit on Dec. 30.
“We wanted to bring in teams that give our fans an opportunity to see some strong basketball programs,” Flanagan said. “It also gives our players the same opportunity to go up against some strong nonconference opponents as they prepare for a competitive (Mountain West Conference) season.”
UNM begins MWC play Jan. 8, when the Lobos will host Wyoming, followed by two games on the road at Colorado State on Jan. 12 and San Diego State on Jan. 15.
The Lobos will play rival Utah on Jan. 19 in the Utes’ last appearance in The Pit as members of the MWC, then UNM will travel to Salt Lake City on Feb. 19.
The Lobos will finish up
conference play at home against BYU on the first of March and travel to Air Force to end conference play on March 5, before heading to the 2011 Mountain West Conference Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev., March 8-12.
