Sorry about the lack of posts regarding UTEP basketball's march through the CBI ... I was in New Orleans while on furlough.
But while walking the streets of the French Quarter, I still quickly learned of UTEP's victory over Richmond from an El Paso Times text alert. If you haven't already, you can sign up for those here.
And now I'm pretty excited for this three-game championship series. Last Monday's home game against Northeastern was a lot of fun, and I expect the atmosphere to be even better in El Paso on Wednesday. You can watch game one, of course, at 8 p.m. tonight on HDNet.
Who would have thought UTEP would be playing even later into March than my beloved Kansas Jayhawks Conference USA-darling Memphis?
Some reader comments: First, Unbekannt asks, "Why doesn't someone from the Times staff do some live blogging from UTEP's home games?"
That's not a bad idea, Unbekannt. If there's enough interest, maybe we will in the future. I have live-blogged many events in the past, including the WAC basketball tournaments in Las Cruces, and today we unveiled a new live blogging tool at the border forum with Sen. John Kerry, so maybe we'll try that tool again soon.
Caesar says, "Jay, here is some food for thought. If Kentucky hires John Calipari, Tony Barbee is a great candidate for the Memphis job. You heard it here first!!"
Well, Caesar, you're right, that's the first I've heard of that crazy theory. But Memphis is too much of a big-league program for Barbee to jump there. Even Billy Gillespie, who had great success at UTEP, had to also have great success at Texas A&M before he could make the jump to big-league Kentucky.
Barbee, meanwhile, hasn't even had great success at UTEP. He hasn't been a failure, by any means, but he hasn't done anything that would make Memphis hire him considering all they'll have to choose from.
Before making it to Memphis, Barbee will need to find his "Texas A&M" success story. But I'm hoping he'll stick around for his UTEP success story, first.
I do agree with you, thats why I believe Mike Anderson of Mizzou will likely be the frontrunner if Calipari departs. Barbee will certainly be in the mix though.
Posted by: Caesar | March 30, 2009 at 02:35 PM
Hey, Caesar, did you see the latest? You were right on each count. Nice work. http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_12031457
Posted by: Jay Koester | March 30, 2009 at 04:58 PM
I know, lets hope they go with Anderson, it seems UK and Calipari are just waiting to make things official to the public.
Posted by: Caesar | March 30, 2009 at 06:13 PM