University of New Mexico sports fans got a big lift late last week with star sharpshooter Jake Hall announcing he’ll be returning to the men’s basketball team for his sophomore season. The only underclassman on the All-Mountain West First Team, Hall will be a key cog for head coach Eric Olen as the Lobos vie for a conference crown and another trip the the NCAA Tournament in the 2026-27 season.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron chat about Hall’s decision, which came just after Hall’s younger brother, Dax, announced that he would be joining the Lobos. Will shares what Jake Hall had to say during a Monday Zoom meeting with New Mexico media members and the significance of Hall’s return to the program.

The guys then transition into talk about the New Mexico United’s push to get a new soccer-specific stadium and the challenges of sharing Isotopes Park with the Albuquerque Isotopes.

Before the break, Will and James share their favorite memories of getting splattered with blood while covering boxing matches.

In the second segment, the guys talk about their selections for NorthStars for the winter season and dive into district races in prep baseball. They also delve into the struggle of Santa Fe’s large school’s competing at the 5A level in baseball and softball.

University of New Mexico sports fans got a big lift late last week with star sharpshooter Jake Hall announcing he&rsquo;ll be returning to the men&rsquo;s basketball team for his sophomore season. The only underclassman on the All-Mountain West First Team, Hall will be a key cog for head coach Eric Olen as the Lobos vie for a conference crown and another trip the the NCAA Tournament in the 2026-27 season.
In the latest episode of &ldquo;The Sports Den&rdquo; podcast,&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;sports writers Will Webber and James Barron chat about Hall&rsquo;s decision, which came just after Hall&rsquo;s younger brother, Dax, announced that he would be joining the Lobos. Will shares what Jake Hall had to say during a Monday Zoom meeting with New Mexico media members and the significance of Hall&rsquo;s return to the program.
The guys then transition into talk about the New Mexico United&rsquo;s push to get a new soccer-specific stadium and the challenges of sharing Isotopes Park with the Albuquerque Isotopes.
Before the break, Will and James share their favorite memories of getting splattered with blood while covering boxing matches.
In the second segment, the guys talk about their selections for NorthStars for the winter season and dive into district races in prep baseball. They also delve into the struggle of Santa Fe&rsquo;s large school&rsquo;s competing at the 5A level in baseball and softball.

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.   
The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.&nbsp;&nbsp; The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of&nbsp;The Santa Fe New Mexican.

The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.  

The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of&nbsp;The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Discussing Jake Hall's decision to return to UNM, plus NM United stadium and prep sports talk

With state championships in football and basketball in hand, Kamal Stith has visions of a perfect senior year in focus as his attention turns to the track.

Santa Fe New Mexican sports reporters Will Webber and James Barron have spent a lot of time speaking with Stith over the years following big wins and had him back on “The Sports Den” podcast this week for a chat about his decorated career, his family support, his shoe game and his plans for the future.

The guys spoke with Stith about his performance at the recent Marilyn Sepulveda Meet of Champions, where he finished third in the long jump and fourth in the 300-meter hurdles. He also discussed his desire to wrap up his high school career with another title.

Stith then gets into what he wants to do after graduating from St. Mike’s. He took a recent visit to Santa Monica, where he said he plans to play quarterback at the collegiate level. The multi-sport star discusses why he is leaning toward football over other sports.

In the second segment, Will and James discuss the exodus from the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team since the Lobos' run to the NIT Final Four. They also address the hiring of Paul Weir as St. Michael’s new president.

With state championships in football and basketball in hand, Kamal Stith has visions of a perfect senior year in focus as his attention turns to the track.
Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;sports reporters Will Webber and James Barron have spent a lot of time speaking with Stith over the years following big wins and had him back on &ldquo;The Sports Den&rdquo; podcast this week for a chat about his decorated career, his family support, his shoe game and his plans for the future.
The guys spoke with Stith about his performance at the recent Marilyn Sepulveda Meet of Champions, where he finished third in the long jump and fourth in the 300-meter hurdles. He also discussed his desire to wrap up his high school career with another title.
Stith then gets into what he wants to do after graduating from St. Mike&rsquo;s. He took a recent visit to Santa Monica, where he said he plans to play quarterback at the collegiate level. The multi-sport star discusses why he is leaning toward football over other sports.
In the second segment, Will and James discuss the exodus from the University of New Mexico men&rsquo;s basketball team since the Lobos' run to the NIT Final Four. They also address the hiring of Paul Weir as St. Michael&rsquo;s new president.

St. Michael’s standout Kamal Stith talks stacking titles and his college plans

Santa Fe New Mexican Sports Editor Will Webber has a lot on his mind after returning from the Final Four in Indianapolis — the uncertainty around the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team that will experience a major retooling this offseason, the expansive gap between UNM and the power programs that have the money to stay at the top of college athletics, and a hotel elevator ride that he and one unfortunate soul won’t soon forget.

Will shares it all on the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast. He and fellow sports scribe James Barron offer their perspective on how the NIL era is making it more challenging for mid-major programs to compete with the big dogs of college basketball. In a watered-down Mountain West, they think it may even become more likely to see the UNM football team to make the College Football Playoff than the men’s basketball team to make the Sweet 16.

The guys also talk about the roster turnover the basketball program is likely to see, and the players Eric Olen is likely prioritizing to try to convince to return.

After the break, Will overshares a bit when discussing how his road trip diet of three-meat sandwiches and chili cheeseburgers resulted in an agonizing elevator ride for an unsuspecting hotel guest in Indianapolis.

He also recounts his whirlwind experience covering the basketball bonanza in Indianapolis, from the intimate atmosphere of Hinkle Fieldhouse for the men’s NIT Final Four to the cavernous, expensive environment in Lucas Oil Stadium for the men’s NCAA Final Four.

Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;Sports Editor Will Webber has a lot on his mind after returning from the Final Four in Indianapolis &mdash; the uncertainty around the University of New Mexico men&rsquo;s basketball team that will experience a major retooling this offseason, the expansive gap between UNM and the power programs that have the money to stay at the top of college athletics, and a hotel elevator ride that he and one unfortunate soul won&rsquo;t soon forget.
Will shares it all on the latest episode of &ldquo;The Sports Den&rdquo; podcast. He and fellow sports scribe James Barron offer their perspective on how the NIL era is making it more challenging for mid-major programs to compete with the big dogs of college basketball. In a watered-down Mountain West, they think it may even become more likely to see the UNM football team to make the College Football Playoff than the men&rsquo;s basketball team to make the Sweet 16.
The guys also talk about the roster turnover the basketball program is likely to see, and the players Eric Olen is likely prioritizing to try to convince to return.
After the break, Will overshares a bit when discussing how his road trip diet of three-meat sandwiches and chili cheeseburgers resulted in an agonizing elevator ride for an unsuspecting hotel guest in Indianapolis.
He also recounts his whirlwind experience covering the basketball bonanza in Indianapolis, from the intimate atmosphere of Hinkle Fieldhouse for the men&rsquo;s NIT Final Four to the cavernous, expensive environment in Lucas Oil Stadium for the men&rsquo;s NCAA Final Four.

Will’s Final Four takeaways: The gap between the Lobos and the big dogs of college basketball

The rims may be the same height at Hinkle Fieldhouse as they are at The Pit, but they weren’t kind to the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team Thursday as a rough shooting night from 3-point land bit the Lobos in a 74-69 loss to Tulsa in the National Invitation Tournament semifinals in Indianapolis.

In a postgame edition of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican Lobos beat writer Will Webber reports from Hinkle after visiting UNM's locker room to provide the reaction from players and coaches and break down what went wrong against the Golden Hurricane.

Webber and colleague James Barron share their thoughts on the team’s first season under head coach Eric Olen, which ended with a 26-11 mark. They then talk about the team’s uncertain future and Will offers his opinion on the likelihood of Olen, Jake Hall and Uriah Tenette returning next year.

The rims may be the same height at Hinkle Fieldhouse as they are at The Pit, but they weren&rsquo;t kind to the University of New Mexico men&rsquo;s basketball team Thursday as a rough shooting night from 3-point land bit the Lobos in a 74-69 loss to Tulsa in the National Invitation Tournament semifinals in Indianapolis.
In a postgame edition of &ldquo;The Sports Den&rdquo; podcast,&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;Lobos beat writer Will Webber reports from Hinkle after visiting UNM's locker room to provide the reaction from players and coaches and break down what went wrong against the Golden Hurricane.
Webber and colleague James Barron share their thoughts on the team&rsquo;s first season under head coach Eric Olen, which ended with a 26-11 mark. They then talk about the team&rsquo;s uncertain future and Will offers his opinion on the likelihood of Olen, Jake Hall and Uriah Tenette returning next year.

Discussing Jake Hall's decision to return to UNM, plus NM United stadium and prep sports talk

In 1 playlist(s)

The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips