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If the nonconference schedule is any indication, coach Craig Neal’s Lobos won’t shy away from tough competition this coming season.
New Mexico released that portion of its 2013-14 slate Wednesday afternoon. Following two exhibition contests in early November, the Lobos kick off their campaign with a Nov. 9 home contest against Alabama A&M.
New Mexico will play at least four non-Mountain West teams that reached last spring’s NCAA tournament, all over the course of 17 days. The team will continue its long-standing in-state rivalry with New Mexico State with a Dec. 4 date in Las Cruces and a Dec. 17 battle at The Pit.
That stretch also includes a Dec. 7 home game against Cincinnati, a trip to Kansas to battle the Jayhawks a week later, and a neutral-site contest against Marquette. That game is Dec. 21 in Las Vegas, Nev., as part of the MGM Grand Showcase.
The Lobos are no strangers to big games in Las Vegas. They won the last two Mountain West Basketball championships at the Thomas & Mack Center, UNLV’s home stadium, also in Las Vegas.
“That will really give us a chance to play in an arena that is a true neutral site, and gives our guys a chance to play in a tournament-type atmosphere,” Neal said in a release, referring to the MGM Grand Showcase.
Last season those four teams combined had a 103-38 record, or a .730 winning percentage. Though No. 13 seed New Mexico State, No. 10 Cincinnati and saw second-round exits, Marquette reached the Elite Eight as a No. 3 seed. Kansas, holding a top seed, reached the Sweet 16.
UNM, also a No. 3 seed at NCAAs, did not survive the second round after losing to Harvard.
Taking Mountain West rivals San Diego State, UNLV, Colorado State and Boise State into account, UNM must deal with at least eight Big Dance participants during the season.
During its 29-6 season in 2012-13, UNM boasted one of the nation’s best RPIs and strength of schedule. New Mexico’s schedule for the upcoming campaign could make that the case once again.
The Kansas game stands out as the biggest in the nonconference slate. The Jayhawks are one of the most recognized basketball programs in the nation, capturing NCAA championships in 1952, 1988 and 2008, and reaching the Final Four 14 times. The Big 12 member had a 31-6 record in 2012-13.
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Marquette, meanwhile, went 26-9 before losing in the NCAAs to eventual national runner-up Michigan. The Golden Eagles, a Big East representative, won a national championship in 1977 and has three Final Four appearances.
“Games like that (against Marquette) and the Kansas game are to help us get better in the NCAA tournament, and those opponents and arenas prepare us for that,” Neal said.
UNM also has games against Charleston Southern, San Diego and Division I newcomer Grand Canyon. Charleston Southern participated in last season’s National Invitation Tournament and Grand Canyon made the NCAA Division II tournament.
The Lobos will participate in the Charleston Classic Nov. 21-24 in Charleston, S.C.. Alabama-Birmingham will be New Mexico’s first-round opponent. Nebraska, Massachusetts, Clemson, Davidson, Georgia and Temple are in the tournament as well.
“It’s a good schedule, maybe the toughest one ever here,” said Neal, a former assistant coach who enters his first year as the Lobos’ head man. “We tried to bring in opponents that if they aren’t in a major conference will do well in their leagues, because that helped us in the past.”
The Mountain West portion of UNM’s schedule is expected to be released in August. The conference tournament is March 12-15.
New Mexico men’s basketball nonconference schedule
Date Opponent
Nov. 2 vs. Eastern New Mexico (exhibition)
Nov. 6 vs. Jamestown (exhibition)
Nov. 9 vs. Alabama A&M
Nov. 17 vs. Charleston Southern
Nov. 21-24 Charlestown Classic, Charleston, S.C.
Nov. 30 vs. San Diego
Dec. 4 at New Mexico State
Dec. 7 vs. Cincinnati
Dec. 14 at Kansas
Dec. 17 vs. New Mexico State
Dec. 21 vs. Marquette (MGM Grand Showcase, Las Vegas, Nev.)
Dec. 23 vs. Grand Canyon
