Wednesday's game at Rice should be an easy win, but UTEP doesn't seem to win easily this year. For those posters who think post season is good, even if it's a pay-to-play, a win is virtually a must against lowly Rice.
But, UTEP at 15-9, had a hard time winning at home against Rice-like Marshall on Saturday. The game went to the wire when it should have been a 20-point rout. Rice is 8-16 and Marshall is 8-14.
A win is a win is a win, hard or easy.
NCAA, of course, and NIT are the tournament goals now. CBI is an embarrassment. Don't expect UTEP admin to make the mistake it made last year of shelling out $50K for another "pay to so you can say you were in postseason" desperation tournament. Even the Aggies said NO to that one.
Posted by: Granger | February 16, 2009 at 04:12 PM
Right on the nail Muench, no easy wins, this is a trap game because the players are looking past to Memphis!!!
SOS danger game ahead, and from now on minimal mistakes are allowed if Miners dream of doing the improbable run!
Lets wait and see as far as Im concerned im not believing just yet, maybe a Memphis win could do wonders but thats just a dream!!
Posted by: escapista | February 16, 2009 at 04:55 PM
Miners will win by at least 10, mark my word.
Posted by: Jack | February 16, 2009 at 08:50 PM
You bring up the "almost" losses because the games weren't huge blowouts. As disapointing as the year has ben UTEP has still beat who they were suppose to beat. Conference losses have only come against Houston, UAB and Tulsa. All top tier C-USA teams and all teams with similiar records to the Miners.
Plain and simple, this team beats who they are suppose to beat.
Posted by: Jon | February 17, 2009 at 07:03 AM
The Miners were not supposed to get blowout wins on the road against UNM and Tech. They should have beat NMSU and Santa Clara on the road as well. In conference play, they have split the road trips.
The place where the team has really tripped themselves up is at home with losses to UNLV, Houston, and Tulsa. This is the difference between having 18-20 wins at this point versus the 15 we have.
Now we need to win out the rest of the regular season and make it to the CUSA championship to have a chance at an NCAA invite. Winning out and losing the CUSA title game would put us at 24-10 with a signature win over top 5 Memphis, a tough non conference schedule, and an end of season hot streak.
It would still be a long shot to get in, so the Miners need to get on a roll and win the CUSA tournament. The team's roller coaster performance doesn't offer much hope for those two scenarios.
Posted by: CLEOFITZWITZ | February 17, 2009 at 08:06 AM
Just heard that K. Cooper has left the team for a pro career. Good Luck! Lets see if we have better rebounding by the rest of the teamnow that the slow footed one is gone.
Posted by: sick-o-joe | February 17, 2009 at 09:31 AM
Cooper leaves the team, it doesnt surprise what a joke, anyways he never was the impact player we tought it would be.
Thats what happens when UTEP takes chances with this type of players like Rouse, is a chance taken that for the most part usually isnt going to workout, now we are lookig at this 5 star basketball player
that i forgot his name is going to be a bust as well, and in football the Andress player too more than likely another 2nd chancer that is not going to take advantage of a second life line.
But at Utepia thats the only way to get a player of that caliber, also keep an eye on the Maryland player that played here in El Paso, and is not getting play time now, maybe he quits and wants back at UTEP?? long shot but we seem to be a school that takes players that were promising then didnt deliver for x or y reason UTEP gives them a chance and then they still find a way to screw things up oh well maybe one year we will have a miracle season in either basketball or football maybe, is free to dream right?
Posted by: Escapista | February 17, 2009 at 09:33 AM
i want to know why kareem cooper left during this part of the season?
that is strange, just to opt out and leave college basketball just like that...
makes one wonder
Posted by: john dooright | February 17, 2009 at 01:29 PM
This is just weird timing. I know his playing time and tounches were going down, but why now? And why after CTB had done so much for him and defended him at all cost.
There's definitely something else going on here IMO, just doesnt make sense to do this during the stretch run.
And not something Utep needed going into what I think will be a tough game at Rice.
Coach Barbee's time here continues to be interesting...he came in and quickly got rid of some decent players (Alvin, Mo Thomas), brought in a wave of his players including coop and caracter. Dont know how this really helps stability.
Posted by: RJ | February 17, 2009 at 01:32 PM
Oh ye of little and no faith!
We should all be encouraging UTEP to play within itself and with an urgency that they must win this game no matter what!
Forget about the next opponent, Memphis, That game, when it comes, will take care of itself!
Miners, just go all out to win, don't listen to the naysayers!
Posted by: BOOGIEMAN | February 18, 2009 at 11:39 AM