Several Lobos abroad; UNM-New Mexico State games still not set

Jul. 17—The roster in Year Three of the Richard Pitino era coaching Lobo hoops certainly has an international feel to it. And, since the goal is to also have some decent basketball players on that roster, it should come as little surprise that some of those international players who will be suit up for the Lobos have some pretty big summer-time opportunities in their home countries. Pitino talked with reporters Monday for a customary mid-summer check-in, which was followed by a lively practice showing off what appears to be one of the more talented mixes of players in some time for the program. The third-year coach pointed out the team's July mini-camp features just 10 of the 12 Lobos on scholarship, with one still available. Two players are currently out of the country and a third will be soon because of basketball opportunities back home — opportunities that, yes, cut into some offseason workouts for the Lobos and can run the risk of injury. That's what happened last summer with center Sebastian Forsling, whose season was injury-marred. But, as Pitino points out, these situations aren't about college coaches. "These are opportunities that are once in a lifetime for them," Pitino said, "... It's really hard to tell a foreign kid you can't go play for your country. That is an opportunity that I can't hold them back for selfish reasons on my part." Iona transfer Nelly Junior Joseph, a 6-foot-10 center from Nigeria, competed last week for the Basketball Africa League — a team of select players from various African countries — in the four-team GLOBL Jam tournament in Toronto along with Germany, Canada and the Kentucky Wildcats as the representative of Team USA in the event with rosters of players under 23 years of age. Against Kentucky, a perennial power expected to be nationally ranked in the preseason, Junior Joseph had 18 points and 9 rebounds on 6-of-9 shooting and 6-of-8 from the free throw line. "Nelly goes and plays against Kentucky and plays great," said Pitino. "You know, that's great for him to show that he can play with some of the most talented guys in the world." After the event, which ended Sunday, Junior Joseph flew home to Nigeria to finalize his visa situation for the coming school year and will be back at UNM later this summer. Mustapha Amzil, a Dayton transfer from Finland, is competing with nation's his junior national team in the July 28-Aug. 8 World University Games. As for Forsling, who was in good spirits and top shape, it was announced publicly just Monday that he has been invited to compete with Sweden's national team for a series of exhibitions in late July and early August ahead of some Olympic qualifying games later in August. SCHEDULE UPDATE: While it did hit social media last week that the Lobos and New Mexico State have settled in on two dates to play this year's home-and-home rivalry series after not playing in 2022-23, both schools also have made clear no contracts have been signed. There is still some possible hesitation about NMSU's tentative home date being one when students are away from campus in December. What's clear, though, is the games well be played, which both sides alluded to earlier this summer in agreeing to exchange security plans for home events this coming season. UNM had voiced safety concerns in light of last year's games being shelved after a series of brawls in the stands at the UNM-NMSU football game in Las Cruces then a shooting death on UNM's campus involving UNM students ambushing an NMSU basketball player who then shot and killed one of his attackers. While the Journal has confirmed the agreed-upon dates originally reported by independent college basketball journalist Rocco Miller — Dec. 2 in the Pit and Dec. 16 in the Pan American Center — there still have been no contracts signed. "I can't confirm those dates exactly," Pitino said Monday. "I think we're working to try to confirm those dates, but it's not 100% done yet. I think both schools want Saturday (games). Those are always good for attendance. We don't have a lot of room, and I don't know New Mexico State's schedule like ours, to where we can move a lot anymore. So, it's not totally confirmed yet. Hopefully it will be soon, but that's more administrative stuff with Eddie (Nuñez, UNM's athletic director) and Mario (Moccia, NMSU's AD) just logistically figuring everything out." Monday, Conference USA released its league schedule that includes rivals UTEP and New Mexico State playing in the same league. That schedule, however, included UTEP playing at NMSU on Jan. 6 — also before New Mexico State students return to campus from their holiday break.