UNM scheduled to square off against Nebraska; Lobos finalize recruitment of two European athletes
Alright, let's get down to business, shall we? The Lobos are gonna lock horns with the Nebraska Cornhuskers in one of the big games for Eric Olen Lobo's debut season. The Big Ten squad was announced as our first-round opponent in the Hall of Fame Classic taking place in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 20-21.
Nebraska didn't have a stellar season last year, wracking up a record of 21-14, including 7-13 in the Big Ten (tied for 12th). But hey, every game is a new chance to prove themselves. This game between the Lobos and Cornhuskers is set to kick off at 5 p.m. Mountain Time on the 20th, with Kansas State and Mississippi State facing off later at 7:30 p.m. MT.
The winners of these two games will go head-to-head the following day at 7:30 p.m. MT, and the two first-day losers will square off at 5 p.m. MT on November 21. Games will be streamed on the Peacock app and NBC Sports Now[1][2].
As for the UNM-Nebraska history, the Lobos secured an 83-71 victory back in 2009 in the NIT. Remember the name, Daniel Faris? He scored a game-high 28 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in that win[4].
Now, let's talk about our fresh recruits. UNM officially unveiled the signings of 6-foot-8 guard Timéo Pons from France and 6-9 power forward Tomislav Buljan from Croatia. While Pons is currently playing for the France U19 national team in the FIBA World Cup in Sweden, and Buljan is still waiting for his student visa paperwork approval, they're both expected to join the Lobo family next week[5].
Buljan, who averaged 12.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game last season, had second-team All-League honors and even posted a triple-double. Olen is confident that Buljan's physical presence and creative play will cause matchup problems for opponents[6].
Buljan still requires an NCAA ruling on his eligibility, as he did play in a professional league. Not to mention, Pons has the size and skills that Olen values in a perimeter player, considering his ability to shoot, pass, and create defensive activity[6].
On a different note, Colorado State's Nique Clifford became the 16th Mountain West player drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft thanks to a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, eventually landing with the Sacramento Kings[7].
Lastly, twoformer Lobos, Lamont Long and Jaelen House, made Arizona Republic high school sports guru Richard Obert's list of the Top 50 players in Arizona over the past 40 years. Long, known for his rivalry with Mike Bibby in high school, became UNM's No. 3 all-time scorer from 1997 to 2000. House, UNM's No. 11 all-time scorer and No. 2 in steals, started the fast break with his steals and sometimes finished with points on the other end[8].
Lastly, J.R. Giddens, a former UNM player who has been in the professional circuit for most of the past 17 years and coached the women's team at Northern New Mexico College for two seasons, has joined ABC Prep as one of the program's coaches[8].
The upcoming game between the Lobos and Nebraska Cornhuskers on the 20th is not only a significant one for Eric Olen Lobo's debut season, but it’s also a chance to make a mark in the sports world, especially in the realm of NCAAs basketball. The French recruit, Timéo Pons, who has shown promising skills in the FIBA World Cup, is anxiously awaiting his approval to join the Lobo family and potentially contribute to the team's performance in this match.
