Dent's return to experienced Lobos roster could bring huge payoff for UNM

As the Lobos took the floor on Thursday night for the start of the 2023-24 season, albeit in a low-stakes, exhibition format, some might have thought the roster had more of an AARP look than that of an NCAA game.

After all, the UNM roster includes a seventh-year college player in Jemarl Baker Jr., two players in their fifth season in college (Jaelen House and Isaac Mushilla, though both were hurt Thursday and in street clothes), three fourth-year players (Jamal Mashburn Jr., Mustapha Amzil and Nelly Junior Joseph), and a pair of third-year players (Sebastian Forsling and walk-on Deraje Agbaosi).

Some of the great BYU teams of the past would be jealous of that sort of experience.

And yet, in an NIL-happy, transfer-portal world that is still being impacted by extra seasons of eligibility due to COVID and more player movement than the sport has ever seen, Thursday’s biggest message was sent by a sophomore point guard who decided to stay put with the Lobos despite some rather compelling reasons to move on.

Donovan Dent, the former Mr. California prep player of the year in high school, went off for 26 points, 6 assists, 3 blocks, 3 steals, drew seven fouls, and went 10-for-11 at the free-throw line. He also showed off a chemistry with true freshman big man JT Toppin that had Lobo fans drooling about the possibilities of watching those two finishing at the rim for years to come.

“I’ve said from day one when we recruited Donnie, ‘That’s going to be the dude that’s going to help us win some championships,’” third-year Lobos coach Richard Pitino said.

The Lobos knew they got a steal in Dent, but so too did the rest of the college basketball world last season when they watched the 6-foot-2 guard shine at times in a reserve role behind All-Mountain West point guard House.

This offseason, when House decided to return to UNM, putting Dent’s role as the Lobos starting floor general on hold for another season, coupled with the reality that a power conference school closer to his California home tried to lure him away, the current state of college basketball would suggest it was a safe bet Dent’s time in Cherry and Silver was over.

“I just trusted what Coach P and (assistant coach Isaac) Chew were telling me,” Dent said when the Journal bluntly asked why he came back. “I liked what they told me in the offseason. We have a good lineup when we go small with three guards (him at 6-2, House at 6-feet and Mashburn Jr. at 6-2) running around, trapping on defense and I think we’re gonna be really good. Once House gets back and healthy, we’re going to be a really good team.”

So, while it is fair to point out Dent did get a nice NIL bump to stay in Albuquerque, what were the promises made by Pitino and crew about playing time? A starting role? Minutes on the floor?

“I don’t promise anybody anything. Never have,” Pitino said in July about Dent’s return. “I think they understand what their roles will be and what I think they’ll be. And if your game gets better, let’s go. You’re gonna get even more of an opportunity.”

Dent averaged 18.5 minutes per game as a freshman – a figure sure to jump this this season.

Dent on defense

His defense is vital for a Lobos team desperate to improve on that side of the ball to take the next step in the Pitino rebuild and break a 10-year NCAA Tournament drought.

Pitino said earlier in the summer that while his team didn’t have to be great on defense to take a big step forward, “it just can’t suck.”

Asked this past week where his team’s defense stands on that new scale, Pitino joked “We’re at a moderate level of suck.”

But Dent’s performance on Thursday showed that, even without the new transfers who are expected to help with the defensive improvements, the Lobos can make strides.

“Donovan is a key piece to what we’re doing,” Pitino said. “He’ll be in the game. He can block shots. … Although House has been out about three weeks (with a leg injury), it has helped Donovan’s progression.”

Dent on Toppin

Three of Dent’s six assists on Thursday went to true freshman Toppin, the 6-9 forward from Dallas. Two of this three assists led to dunks and the third was a layup.

The chemistry the two displayed playing off one another in the pick-and-roll in particular was something that will surely have to occupy some of the scouting attention of opposing coaches this season.

“That that starts in practice,” Dent said. “Me and him in practice, it’s just left and right pick-and-rolls and he’s gotten really good at catching my passes. He’s one of the best at doing it. And I just think we’re just really good at the two-man game, me and him.”

As for Toppin, the freshman went for 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting, grabbed five rebounds and blocked four shots in his first minutes on the Pit floor in front of fans.

UNM’s staff has been raving about him all summer and preseason, and Thursday shed some light on the reasons why.

“When we signed him, we really liked him,” Pitino said of Toppin, who signed with the Lobos last November before his senior season at Faith Family Academy in Oak Cliff, Texas, began.

“Then when we saw him play in the winter time, we’re sitting there kind of like, ‘Alright, don’t tell anybody this kid’s coming because he’s really, really good.’ We didn’t want any of the big boys trying to poach him. And since he stepped on campus, he’s been extremely impressive. It’s been good for him that Nelly hasn’t been here, but I want to see Nelly beat him up and see how (Toppin) handles it, as well as being able to play them together.”