New Mexico will host the Days Inn and Suites Lobo Invitational for three home games, away from the team’s home court.
For the first time in three years, UNM will be playing a home game at WisePies Arena aka The Pit. Although head coach Jeff Nelson said the Lobos prefer to play in the team’s home gym at Johnson Center, he doesn’t anticipate any less of an advantage despite venturing down the street.
“Home is home,” Nelson said. “Home is where your fans are.”
New Mexico is being forced away from the intimate ambiance of Johnson Center due to “The Book of Mormon” musical playing at Popejoy Hall this weekend. Nelson said it is better for fans not to have to battle for parking with the musical as Johnson can draw thousands of fans for big games, which he anticipates Saturday night's game against LSU (1-7) to be.
Nelson added that the relationship his squad has with the women’s basketball team has reduced some of the pressure and nerves the Lobos have about venturing away from the team’s usual court.
UNM will begin play tonight against Cal State Northridge (1-8) with the first serve scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The Lobos will be looking to claim the tournament outright, after failing to do so in the first three of the season. Following the Cal State showcase, UNM will welcome the winless Long Island University Brooklyn Blackbirds (0-8) on Saturday at 1 p.m.
UNM is coming fresh off the toughest tournament of the season, in the USC Classic. Although the Lobos managed just one win on the weekend in a five-set thriller
“The tournament was a tough tournament; all the teams were in the top 50,” Nelson said.
He said the atmosphere of playing in the WisePies arena will be similar to that of a big gym like the Galen Center, where the USC Classic was being hosted. The Galen Center holds over 10,000 fans while WisePies Arena holds over 15,000.
While the Lobos will not fill every single one of those seats, he expects to bring in a big crowd in the second game of Saturday’s double header.
“It’s a ‘white-out game’. T-shirts are being provided for fans when they come in the door,” Nelson said. “We’re doing high school night along with it and we’re expecting to get 2,000 or 3,000 fans out and having a really good final at The Pit on Saturday night.”
Nelson said the high school buses coming out to support the team will all be able to park at The Pit for free, a luxury the schools may not have with the event at Popejoy.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
UNM (5-4) has more wins than all three of their opponents combined (2-23) and the team will be looking to build on its confidence with the first conference game against San Diego State set to follow the Lobos’ final regular season tourney.
Liam Cary-Eaves is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at assistant sports@dailylobo.com or on twitter @Liam_CE.
