New Mexico Lobos

The New Mexico Lobos play in one of the most legendary venues in college basketball, The Pit, where the elevation and a rabid Albuquerque crowd have made life miserable for visiting teams for decades. New Mexico basketball is woven into the fabric of the state's sports identity, drawing crowds that rival programs from far bigger conferences. The Lobos lean on a raucous home-court edge and physical, up-tempo play, and have been perennial contenders in the Mountain West. Few mid-major arenas carry the same mystique as The Pit.

New Mexico has fielded basketball since 1899, with the program gaining national traction under coach Bob King in the 1960s and 70s. The Lobos have won conference championships across three different leagues — the Western Athletic Conference, Mountain West, and their tournament — most recently piling up regular-season and tournament titles since joining the Mountain West in 1999. The Pit, opened in 1966, has been the backbone of the program's home-court dominance ever since. Notable alumni include NBA champions Michael Cooper and Luc Longley.