New mexico state university basketball

New Mexico State University (NMSU) has a rich basketball tradition, with a strong program that has produced many talented players and coaches over the years. Here are some key facts and information about NMSU basketball:

Program History

• NMSU's men's basketball program was established in 1922.
• The Aggies have won 14 conference championships, including 10 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) titles.
• NMSU has appeared in 14 NCAA Tournaments, including 10 since 2000.

Current Team

• The Aggies currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and are led by head coach Chris Jans.
• The team plays its home games at the Pan American Center, which has a seating capacity of approximately 8,500.
• NMSU has a strong recruiting class, with several talented players returning from last season's team.

Notable Players

• Some notable players who have played for NMSU include:
  • Herb Pope (2008-2012): A two-time WAC Player of the Year and current assistant coach for the Aggies.
  • Sim Bhullar (2012-2015): The first player of Indian descent to play in the NCAA Tournament and currently plays professionally in Europe.
  • Pascal Siakam (2014-2016): A current NBA player with the Toronto Raptors, who was drafted 27th overall in the 2016 NBA draft.

Rivals

• NMSU has several rivalries, including:
  • New Mexico Lobos: The Aggies and Lobos have a long-standing rivalry, with the two teams competing for the "Land of Enchantment" trophy.
  • UTEP Miners: The Aggies and Miners have a strong rivalry, with the two teams competing for the "Battle of I-10" trophy.

Championships

• NMSU has won several championships, including:
  • 14 conference championships (10 WAC, 4 Border Conference)
  • 1 NCAA Tournament appearance (2007)
  • 1 NIT appearance (2013)

Coaches

• Chris Jans is the current head coach of the Aggies, who has led the team to two WAC Tournament championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances since taking over in 2016.
• Other notable coaches in NMSU history include:
  • Lou Henson (1966-1975, 1984-1997): A Hall of Fame coach who led the Aggies to three NCAA Tournament appearances and two WAC championships.
  • Neil McCarthy (1975-1984): Led the Aggies to two NCAA Tournament appearances and one WAC championship.

I hope this information helps!