NCAA Basketball: Ranking of top 25 team backcourts for 2023-24 season

21. New Mexico Lobos

New Mexico was the last team to use a game in NCAA Basketball last season, thanks to the star-studded guard duo of Jamal Mashburn and Jaelen House. They were All-Mountain West performers and both are back for an extra year. So even without guards Javonte Johnson and KJ Jenkins, this team still has a ton of firepower.

Mashburn, who started his career at Minnesota, led the Lobos with 19.1 ppg while shooting 38% from three-point range. He was in double figures in all but two games, including a season-high 33-point effort against Nevada. House was second on the team with 16.9 ppg, along with 4.7 apg. He also made 38% of his three-point attempts, while having his own season-high of 29 points on the road at San Diego State.

Joining them is one of the most experienced and well-traveled players in the sport. Jemarl Baker was in the 2017 recruiting class, starting at Kentucky. He spent the last two years at Fresno State, coming off a career average of 12.5 ppg and 2.9 apg. His experience goes well with the older Lobos squad and he can be an ideal 6th Man if they want.

With Donovan Dent back and four-star freshman Tru Washington joining, New Mexico has the depth to support the star duo. They’ll have to avoid the late season collapse that ultimately cost them a shot at making the NCAA Tournament this time around but assuming they learned from that, should be able to bounce back.