Since he was hired, UNM men’s basketball coach Richard Pitino has talked up the power of the Pit at every opportunity.
And why not? The old gym built 37 feet into the New Mexico soil at the corner of Avenida Cesar Chavez and University can still pack a punch … when the Lobos let it.
Sunday, however, visiting UTEP walked into the Pit and took the crowd out of the equation by punching the University of New Mexico early and often, imposing its will in a surprisingly one-sided 77-69 win over the Lobos in front of a frustrated announced crowd of 9,044.