OK, here's the BUT
When I call this team "fragile," it's because no team can put "athletic" together on defense and offense enough times to win the needed 20-plus games. That is, unless the team is one of the most talented athletic teams in the country. Usually good medium-to-top-level teams need some workmanlike traits in their game as a hedge.
UTEP has shown it can play face-to-face with everyone if it's having the good athletic/athletic night. Wake Forest is a good example.
I'm thinking many will agree that UTEP is now the fourth or fifth best team in Conference USA right now: Memphis remains first. Then there's Houston and or Tulsa. Right now UAB is probably just ahead of UTEP for the No. 4 power spot.
Wednesday UTEP plays at UAB. It will take designer UTEP to win this one.
UTEP is going to lose @ UAB sad but true & also at Houston and like i said before no NCAA, only via the automatic ticket and thats doubtful at best.
So is frustrating to be looking at the NIT as the only real hope, i want to be proven wrong but reality says otherwise!
Posted by: Escapista | January 19, 2009 at 05:56 PM
As much as I hate to admit it, we may be the 5th or possibly 6th best team in the CUSA right now.
Don't forget Southern Miss, they just beat Houston at home over the weekend.
I really thought this was a multiple bid league, but no one really got any good OOC wins, so it may be one and done again for CUSA.
Schedule makers didnt do us any favors either so now's the time to make a move if you're UTEP.
We still have a chance for big wins, but cant afford too many more losses.
Posted by: RJ | January 20, 2009 at 06:14 AM
Like i said UTEPs lost im writting before it ends, they dont have what it takes to be a postseason teams!
It hurts but its true!!
Posted by: Escapista | January 21, 2009 at 07:54 PM
UTEP's season down the toilet aka (toledo) i hate it so bad, now its Tulsa beating us at home and then Houston.
It doesn't matter that Culpepper and Jackson are scoring 26 & 24 if it means a loss who cares, again the season as far as im concerned flushed down the toledo!!!!
Now JAT OR LOWERCASE; give reason to believe otherwise!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Still sad but GO MINERS!
Posted by: Escapista | January 21, 2009 at 08:11 PM
I wonder if our opponents have figured out that only two Miners do all the scoring. Just let the two Miner guards have their combined 50 points and hold the rest to single digits to get a fairly easy win.
Posted by: Granger | January 21, 2009 at 11:25 PM