The University of New Mexico is a very diverse place. Some of this diversity expands to the team of men's basketball players. Members include freshman forward A.J. Hardeman from Del Valle Texas, sophomore guard Jonathan Wills from Carson California, freshman guard Curtis Dennis from the Bronx New York, freshman guard Dion Williams from Albuquerque New Mexico, sophomore guard Dairese Gary from Elkhart Indiana, freshman guard Nate Garth from Sacramento California, freshman Will Brown from Dallas Texas, freshman guard Philip McDonald from Cypress Texas, junior guard Roman Martinez from El Paso Texas, senior guard/forward Tony Danridge from San Bernardino California, senior guard Chad Toppert from Albuquerque New Mexico, freshman guard Chris Johansen from Albuquerque New Mexico, freshman center Kem Nweke from Missouri City Texas and senior forward Daniel Faris from Albuquerque New Mexico.
Helping from the coaching and staff includes head coach Steve Alford, associate head coach Craig Neal, assistant coach Ryan Miller, assistant coach Chris Walker, director of operations Duane Broussard and video coordinator Chris Monette.
Coaches, staff and players alike will be pooling their resources, talents, abilities and the like to finish out the 2008-2009 schedule. For games left to be played, the Lobos will play against Utah in Salt Lake City Utah on January 31, Wyoming in Albuquerque New Mexico on February 3, UNLV at Albuquerque New Mexico on February 7, Air Force in Colorado Springs Colorado on February 11, BYU in Provo Utah on February 17, San Diego State in Albuquerque New Mexico on February 21, TCU in Albuquerque New Mexico on February 24, Colorado state in For Collins Colorado on February 28, Utah in Albuquerque New Mexico on March 3, Wyoming at Albuquerque New Mexico on March 7.
The MWC Championships will begin on March 12, 2009 and last through March 14, 2009. The MCW Championships will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
So far, statistics this season show the Lobos are doing relatively well on the court. Overall games are broken down into 13 wins and 8 losses. For home games, the tally is 10 wins 2 losses. For away games there have been 3 wins and 4 losses. And for neutral games, there have been no wins and 2 losses. Conference statistics reflect 4 wins and 2 losses overall with 3 wins no loss at home, 1 win and 2 losses away and no wins or losses in neutral areas.
With players like Danridge, Faris, Toppert, Martinex, McDonald and Gary pulling down as many points as possible during games, fans may be able to look forward to even more wins in remaining games.
All of the home basketball games are play at The Pit, which opened its doors for the first game on December 1, 1966. The Lobos men have won 80.6 percent of their home games. Renovations planned for The Pit will expand it to 60,000 square feet with 40 luxury suites and 300 club seats. There will also be state-of-the-art scoreboards, new locker room facilities, expanded concessions new restrooms and an expanded concourse. The new renovations will cost $60 million.