ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Lobo basketball team ended the 2023-2024 season as one of the best in the Mountain West and are once again predicted to be in the mix. It was revealed on Thursday that UNM has been picked second in the 2024-2025 preseason poll. The second place selection is the highest for New Mexico since 2013-2014 (first) and comes following a Lobo win in the Mountain West conference tournament and a bid to the NCAA tournament. The Lobos (233 points, 1 first place vote) trail only Boise State (276 points, 19 first place votes). UNM is one of six teams (Nevada, SDSU, UNLV, Utah State) to earn at least one first place vote. Two of the Lobos key returners, Donovan Dent and Nelly Jr. Joseph were each named to the all-conference preseason team. UNM is just one of two teams (Boise State) with multiple players selected to the team. Dent enters his junior season following a career year in points (14.1) and assists (5.4) per game as a sophomore. Jr. Joseph averaged 8.9 point and 8.2 rebounds in his first season as a Lobo.