Story by
Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
'Real One' No. 1: Lobo season starts with Uriah Tenette poised to run the show
- Story byAlbuquerque Journal, N.M.
- 'Real One' No. 1: Lobo season starts with Uriah Tenette poised to run the show
Lobos Men's Basketball
Who: Utah Tech vs. UNM Lobos
When: Monday, 7 p.m.
Where: The Pit
Broadcast: MW+ (online stream), 96.3 FM/770 AM (radio), ABQJournal pregame preview webcast, 6 p.m. ( YouTube.com/ABQJournal )
Advertisement
In an era of offseason uncertainty across the college basketball landscape, Uriah Tenette was first.
The 5-foot-11 point guard didn't need to wait to see if Jake Hall was coming back, or to learn which transfers, freshmen or international imports Eric Olen was going to bring in.
Tenette was basketball's "Real One" No. 1 — UNM's marketing campaign for all players who chose to return instead of transfer, not to mention his new jersey number this season.
He announced almost immediately after the Lobos' loss to Tulsa in the NIT semifinals in Indianapolis that he was back to run the offense for the Lobos.
Advertisement
And Monday night at 7 p.m. in the Pit, when the Lobos tip off the 2026-27 season against the Big Sky's Utah Tech Trailblazers, while the offense may revolve around maximizing the skillset of shooting guard Hall, it's Tenette who is being asked to set the table, set the tone and set the pace of program.
"Tank (UNM assistant Tom Tankelewicz) and I were talking about how we felt like (Tenette's) NIT games were super valuable, and he played really well down the stretch last year," Olen said late last week when asked about the progress of Tenette in year 2. "I think he's building on that. He's playing really good basketball. He had a couple really impressive practices the last two days (late last week), just in terms of his efficiency, and I think you can see his comfort level is pretty high. So yeah, we're encouraged. We have high expectations for what Uriah can do this season."
Tenette, voted to the preseason All-Mountain West team, averaged 10.6 points. 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals as a freshman in 2025-26 and over three preseason games was at 14.3/3.7/1.0 in those three stats. Maybe more importantly, he was the unquestioned floor general running the show.
"More of just being that leadership role, being more talkative, more vocal out there," Tenette said when asked what his job is now that he's the starting point guard from Day 1. "Also being aggressive, trying to have that aggressive mindset the whole game. It's not just shooting, but just aggressive with my dribble, making plays out there."
Advertisement
Over the team's three preseason games, while focusing first on getting his team going, if anything, Tenette could have been more aggressive, according to Olen.
"He's playing the game the right way. He's making good decisions on the ball," Olen said. "If anything, I think he can be more aggressive at times. I thought maybe in the Arizona State game (Oct. 25), for example, he got kind of aggressive late and scored the basketball. I think he probably could have put his foot on the gas a little earlier, but he's just trying to take what the defense gives him and make good decisions.
"And I think each time out he's getting better. He's watching film. ... I'm sure there's going to be nights where he scores a bunch of points, and there'll be some nights where maybe he doesn't — it's more like having a higher assist game. But I think Uriah is playing really good basketball, and excited to see what he does this season."
Health check going in
Advertisement
The Lobos are relatively healthy heading into the season.
Graduate transfer forward Rytis Petraitis is unlikely to play Monday due to an ankle sprain, but it still isn't one considered overly worrisome. The former Cal Bear and Air Force Falcon started the Lobos' first preseason game at Oklahoma State and missed the next two exhibitions, but in both instances was with his team during shoot around — in street clothes, but no walking boot or noticeable limp.
Junior college transfer A.J. Pierre-Jerome, a 6-9 forward, and freshman Nate Murithi, a 6-6 guard, didn't see much action in preseason (Pierre-Jerome 3 minutes in one game, Murithi did not play in preseason) aren't expected to be regular parts of the rotation to start the season.
Geoff Grammer is the Sports Editor of the Journal, a podcaster, columnist and covers UNM Lobos basketball, among other things. Reach him at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.
Advertisement
More UNM Lobos men's basketball coverage
*
TALKING GRAMMER PODCAST
Talking Grammer, Ep. 131: UNM Lobos guard Jake Hall
Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year on the season ahead, the receipts he keeps and living with Dax
1 day ago
*
UNM LOBOS BASKETBALL
Can Jake Hall lead the nation in scoring?
UNM's offense is built to give the Lobo star more efficient looks as he pursues team success and a possible scoring title
1 day ago
*
UNM LOBOS HALLOWEEN
Grammer: Time to get serious. What are UNM's coaches doing for Halloween?
UNM's football and basketball coaches share their Halloween plans, costume choices and opinions on candy corn
Advertisement
3 days ago
*
UNM LOBOS BASKETBALL
Lobos face slim margin for NCAA bid
With fewer opportunities in the MW, UNM is counting on a demanding nonconference schedule
4 days ago
*
UNM LOBOS BASKETBALL
Dax Hall spent preseason proving to Lobo fans he belongs on the court, too
Freshman guard Dax Hall has impressed UNM coaches, while rebounding and free-throw shooting remain key concerns
5 days ago
*
UNM LOBOS BASKETBALL
Lobos confident they maximized preseason opportunities — on and off the court
Former Lobo, two former New Mexico prep stars drafted into G-League
6 days ago
*
UNM MEN'S BASKETBALL
Mixed bag in the Pit: Lobos rally late but fall to Arizona State
Advertisement
Sun Devils' 16 3-pointers fuel a decisive middle stretch in UNM's final exhibition
8 days ago
*
UNM MEN'S BASKETBALL
Arizona St. coach Randy Bennett has high praise for former player Chris Howell as Sun Devils visit the Pit
Lobos wrap up preseason with Big 12's Sun Devils
9 days ago
*
UNM MEN'S BASKETBALL
Football-loving Olen, Lobos put final touches on preseason prep; Rytis Petraitis still injured
UNM hosts Arizona St. in key preseason test while forward Petraitis remains sidelined with an ankle sprain
10 days ago
*
UNM MEN'S BASKETBALL
Olen pleased with 'collective' effort on glass in Washington State blowout
UNM's work on the glass improved sharply against Washington State after Oklahoma State exposed early concerns
14 days ago
