EDITORIAL: New Lobo hoops coach promises fans a 'special ride'

Mar. 20—If it sounds familiar, it's because you've seen this page in the playbook before. Hire a personable young coach with a great basketball pedigree — but who is being forced out of a head coaching job at a Big Ten school.

The question now is whether Richard Pitino can re-create the magic of Steve Alford for an ailing University of New Mexico men's basketball program that just ended a disastrous season and has now gone seven years without an invite to the NCAA tournament, aka March Madness.

UNM Athletics Director Eddie Nuñez is betting he can, putting his chips on the 38-year-old son of the legendary — and controversial — Rick Pitino.

Minnesota ousted Richard Pitino this week after a 14-5 record — injuries derailed a season that started with most wins ever against ranked teams and a No. 16 ranking. Pitino immediately signed a $5 million, six-year deal to replace Paul Weir, who came to a separation agreement with UNM after the Lobos finished last in the Mountain West.

Nuñez said he wanted someone who could win the right way — key for a deficit-challenged athletics program. Basketball has been the cash cow, but that was on the decline even before home games and fans were banished by state COVID-related health orders. UNM desperately needs seats in the seats.

Pitino has glowing personal references: smart, honest, witty, engaging, etc. And while the win-loss stats may not be impressive — in eight years at Minnesota he was 54-96 in conference play with only three finishes higher than 10th place (the Big Ten has 14 teams), note he was the Big Ten Coach of the Year in his 30s. And he went to two NCAA tournaments and won the NIT in eight years. UNM hasn't been invited to either in seven.

That history offers a bright spot in the comparison to Alford, who was forced out at Iowa after eight seasons and an overall losing record. The Big Ten is serious basketball and this year is considered the nation's best conference. It is the big time.

Alford had a very good run at UNM, winning nearly three quarters of his games and reaching the postseason in all six seasons — three in the NIT and three in the NCAA. His Lobo teams never won fewer than 22 games and racked up four MWC regular season titles. He was the league's coach of the year three times. Alas, shortly after signing a contract extension, he ditched the Lobos for a glamour job at UCLA, which as we all know ended badly. He is now head coach at MWC foe Nevada.

It is now Pitino's job to restore the Lobo basketball brand to its once esteemed status. And to again make The Pit a place that makes opponents nervous. It's a big challenge in the short term given the shambles the program is in right now, so he will need some time. It's not realistic to expect to go "dancing" next year. It is realistic to expect hard-nosed, competitive Lobo hoops.

Pitino, naturally, said he was happy to be in an environment where fan frenzy and Lobo basketball go together. No question that in its heyday The Pit put The Barn, where Minnesota plays home games, to shame.

"We're excited," Pitino said in a social media post aimed at Lobo fans. "It's going to be a special, special ride, and we want you to be part of it."

Lobo fans would love to be on it. But after a grace period to pick up the pieces, that "special ride" needs to go at least as far as the second round of the NCAA. The Sweet Sixteen should be a realistic goal.

Lobo fans wish him every success in getting there.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.