Why K-State and not UTEP?

The latest column by Jason Whitlock, of the Kansas City Star and ESPN, should give pause and maybe food for thought for UTEP fans.

The column, K-State needs to reward Martin now, is about how Kansas State has become a powerhouse through head coach Frank Martin's recruitment of Hispanic players. Kansas State, as you probably know, is ranked in the top 10 and beat #1 Texas this week. Here's an excerpt:

Martin, if he can control his temper, has a chance to be the Latino/Brown/Cuban John Thompson, college basketball’s groundbreaking Hispanic coaching star.

America, as you know, is going Brown. In Denis Clemente and Luis Colon — almost half of K-State’s starting lineup — Martin has tapped into his own innate ability to relate to, motivate and recruit Latino players.

Sitting behind the K-State bench Monday night was Freddy Asprilla, a 6-foot-10, 280-pound Colombian version of Texas’ Dexter Pittman. I sat opposite the kid on the other side of the court. I thought he was some retired NBA player. He’s Martin’s next Hispanic difference-maker.

Like Thompson 20 years ago, Martin delights in being a father-figure/mentor to his players. K-State — or whichever school employs Martin — will enjoy the benefits of Martin’s skill at relating to America’s growing Brown community.

The column has to make you wonder why UTEP isn't at the forefront of the trend. On the other hand, it's hard to complain about the athletes Barbee has recruited. So maybe it's not an issue. Discuss.

And while you're discussing ... how do you expect UTEP to do tonight at Memphis? Vegas has installed Memphis as 8.5-point favorites.

Comments

[Pablo Villa]

I still wonder sometimes how the 2004-'05 season and beyond would have gone had Doc Sadler been able to retain Alex Galindo and Ivan Almonte.

UTEP did a good job in finding Filiberto Rivera, and his success here was a big part of the reason Almonte and Galindo steered this way. But when Billy Clyde left abruptly — and the Miners let Sergio Rouco go — both prized recruits went elsewhere. Could have been the start of a Latin explosion here.

Of course, it's a little late for coulda, shoulda, woulda. But the point is not lost on me.

[Rob]

Who cares?
Political Correctness and trying to be everything to everybody has reached ridiculous levels.

Get the best players available..end of story.

Personally I find the topic a desperate and lame attempt at creating controversy where it doesn't exist.

As far as tonght's game against Memphis, the Miners have their best chance to defeat Memphis to date..they have the athletes, the skills and ability to hand Memphis a solid loss, the question is..what Miner team shows up?

They better play hard on every possession, especially defense, get a score every time down and stay out of foul trouble, That staying out of foul trouble goes for Barbee too...his habit of pulling down a STUPID 3pt technical in virtually every game has come back to bite them several times.

GO MINERS!

[utep bball fan]

Pefectly said Rob! Couldn't agree with you more!

[Pablo Villa]

Rob, while I agree that this is all a moot point, I wouldn't call this an attempt to incite controversy.

Jay's offering his take on a current event. He also recognizes that UTEP is in one of the best places in the country to lure premier Latino players.

And, like it or not, UTEP was on the cusp of taking on two top 100 recruits who happened to be Latinos just a little more than five years ago. And as evidenced by Kansas State's success this year, sometimes the best players available are brown. Why shouldn't UTEP use its location and distinct Hispanic flavor to cash in on that?

It's just a question. Not political correctness run amok.

[mr hate]

Utep will lose as usual. No suprise in the outcome. Who gives a rats arse if the players are hispanic, black, white, or asian. It is the coach who hones his squad into a winning machine. Barbie doll, go play with your dolls.

[Mark Alvarado]

Coaches recruit through contacts and a network of relationships established through their career as players and eventually as coaches.

Barbee has done well by recruiting solid talent in an era where academics are not totally ignored by the University and NCAA. That's another factor.

There's a solid Latino player from El Paso up in Albuquerque who is helping his team and getting national attention. There's just not as many Latino youth being recruited for a variety of reasons, so the distribution does not allow for a mass of Latino players in Division I. But wait about 10 years from now, The Browing of America will change the demographics as the number of Latinos in the US continues to grow.

[Pablo Villa]

Regarding the game tonight, the Miners have played lights out in the River City the past two visits due in part to all the Memphis connections on the team. It just so happens that the past few years, Memphis has had one of the best teams in the entire NCAA, SAT scandals and all.

This year, the Tigers are good. But they're not John Calipari good. UTEP finally finds a way to beat Memphis and makes Bluegrass nation happy by keeping Adolph Rupp's 64-game conference winning streak record intact.

See Kentucky? We're not all bad.

[Rob]

Pablo...
Are you saying UTEP should target Hispanic recruits?

Why?

You think targeting recruits of one race over others because of the racial demographics of the city the school is located in is somehow beneficial?

Who would that be most beneficial to?

Are you saying California schools should target anglo, blue eyed, blonde, surfer recruits?

Should Hawaii only target players of Polynesian decent?

Stereotype much?

What part of "get the best players available, end of story" didn't you understand?

[CLEOFITZWITZ]

Don Haskins had recruiting ties to New York, Chicago and Houston. Tony Barbee goes where he is familiar with the talent and they are familiar with him. Recruiting outside of your established regions is foolish.