The winner gets to host NCAA Tournament games?
Unfortunately for Lobo fans, it’s too late for that, but UNM did announce on Monday it has signed a home-and-home contract with Wichita State for men’s basketball — one game this season on Nov. 21 in Kansas and the second on a yet-to-be-determined date in the 2027-28 season in the Pit.
Last week, despite plenty of public sentiment for the six-decade-old Pit to win a bid to host preliminary round games of the newly expanded NCAA Tournament for the next two years, the NCAA chose Wichita State’s bid as the winner, citing its geographical advantage being closer to far more schools and fan bases than is Albuquerque.
As for the coming home-and-home basketball series between two of the more traditional top non-power conference programs, Lobos second-year coach Eric Olen has said he’s hopeful it can be a Quad 1 game on the road — a much-coveted distinction as the Lobos move into the newly configured Mountain West comes with the expectation of league play not helping the postseason resume as in years past.
“I think we’ve been able to put together a good schedule,” Olen told reporters last week, prior to the Wichita State game being announced. “St. Mary’s and Utah State are kind of marquee home games. And obviously we have New Mexico State at home, so we feel good about the home environments. And then we have a return to Santa Clara. We like that — theoretically a Quad 1 (game). Boise, Oregon State on neutral (courts). …
“We still have a few games left to get, so we’ll see how things play out.”
For the Lobos — as the road team this season — Wichita State would have to end the season with a NET ranking in the top 75. The Shockers finished tied for second in the American this past season and with a final NET ranking of 70.
The Lobos finished this past season with a NET of 46.
The schedule so far
Based on records requests and announcements from the schools, the 13-game UNM men’s basketball nonconference schedule for this season has nine games locked up, so far, plus two exhibition games:
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Exhibition: at Oklahoma State, Oct. 11
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Exhibition: vs. Washington State, Oct. 18 (The Pit)
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vs. Utah Tech, Nov. 2 (The Pit)
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vs. Northern Arizona, Nov. 10 (The Pit)
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at Santa Clara, Nov. 14
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at Wichita State, Nov. 21
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vs. Utah State, Nov. 29 (The Pit)
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vs. New Mexico State, Dec. 5 (The Pit)
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vs. Saint Mary’s, Dec. 12 (The Pit)
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vs. Boise State, Dec. 21 or 23 (TBD event in California)
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vs. Oregon State, Dec. 21 or 23 (TBD event in California)
Wanna see?
The Lobo men’s basketball team will hold a second open-to-the-public summer practice on July 21 in the Pit.
We’re running it back!
Who’s ready for another !?
July 21
️ The Pit—Powered by Nusenda
⏰ 6pm#GoLobos pic.twitter.com/lNPJeDliGz
— Lobo Basketball (@UNMLoboMBB) July 13, 2026
The event, free to the public, starts at 6 p.m.
There will be an Albuquerque Isotopes game going on that same night with charged parking. Parking at the Pit, for the practice, is free if drivers inform the lot attendant they are there for basketball.
Odds & ends…
• Former Lobo forward Josiah Allick got his first NBA Summer League action Sunday with the Charlotte Hornets. He grabbed one rebound in just 57 seconds on the court and did not take a shot. …
• Former Lobo Timeo Pons, who transferred this offseason to Abilene Christian, scored a game-high 23 points with 10 rebounds and three steals on Sunday for France’s U20 National team in a dominant 95-66 win over Germany in a group stage game in Slovenia. He hit 6-of-9 3-pointers. …
• The second Eric Olen kids camp of the summer for boys and girls in first through eight grades will be July 27-30 in the Pit.
For more information on attending the camp, contact assistant coach Michael Wilder at mwilder2@unm.edu.
Reach Geoff Grammer at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.
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