On Monday, UTEP had one of its best, and loudest crowds. It was a nobody opponent, as far as name recognition goes here (Northeastern U.), and it was in a rinky-dinky, third-tier tournament (the CBI, not to be confused with the prestigeous NCAA and the also-ran NIT).
Why, all of a sudden? The Don was fairly quiet all season. Then rafter busting for Northeastern?
Could it be that ticket prices were $10, and more (real) Miner fans could afford to go? I think so.
This puts UTEP's athletic department on kind of a spot. They need money to operate (new turf in Sun Bowl is overdue). Attendance in football is so-so. Attendance in basketball, when the audits come in, will likely show, as usual, that crowd intinial estimates were didn't match money intake. Football will likely show that, too.
Bet that The Don will be sold out, or nearly sold out, for Wednesday's and the "if-needed" April 3 game(s) in the best-of-three CBI finals vs. Oregon State.
Why?
At least Oregon State is a name, and is coached by President Obama's brother-in-law. But mostly its because the Miner fans, who have been the true, loud, cheering Miner fans, can afford a $10 ticket.
Anyone else think UTEP was at least NIT material this year? This series should be a very entertaining Championship.
What excuse can I use to get out of Footloose on Wednesday night? Hmmmm....
Posted by: just a thought | March 26, 2009 at 07:54 AM
UTEP was NIT material this year. It's too bad that they underperformed so many times this year. If they had beaten Houston and had another good showing against Memphis, they would have probably been in.
But if they had taken care of business on 4 or 5 more occasions during the season, we wouldn't be talking NIT vs. CBI.
Posted by: CLEOFITZWITZ | March 26, 2009 at 08:10 AM
"...Anyone else think UTEP was at least NIT material this year?..."
Not really. In my mind, you have to win the CBI to be considered NIT material. If you're playing in the NIT, you have to win it to be NCAA tournament. You get the idea.
Posted by: dagwood | March 26, 2009 at 08:13 AM
GOOD WIN AGAIN. JUST NOT A FAN OF A 3RD TIER TOURNAMENT..........
WHO GETS INVITED TO A PARTY AND HAS TO BRING ALL THE FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT (PAY)...... I LIKE THE HONOR OF BEING SELECTED.
Posted by: jerry | March 26, 2009 at 08:38 AM
Maybe it's the March Madness in the air? Maybe it's the $10 tickets? I think it just the fact that El Paso fan and fair weather fans and for the first time in a long time this time is on a good win streak when it matters and playing wonderful basketball. What ever it is keep showing up to the games and I hope they take this for some validation that this team does have heart and Coach isn't as bad as he seems at times. Thanks Joe for not being negative for once. GO MINERS!
Posted by: Rooster | March 26, 2009 at 09:10 AM
You Still Suck Joe! Go Miners!
Posted by: El Hijo Del Santo | March 26, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Lets sell out the Don Haskins Center and bring this Championship home!! We are due another banner! As far as me I know ill be there with my boys!
Posted by: Manny | March 26, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Is Joe suggesting that season ticket holders like myself are not real Miner fans? Am I not a true, loud, cheering Miner fan?
Posted by: CLEOFITZWITZ | March 26, 2009 at 11:07 AM
As much as I hate to admit, Joe is right on this one. The loud and crazy fans are in the student section and in the rafter seats...those who can afford to buy a ticket. The season ticket fans (except the 2 or 3 crazy ones in this group) for the most part, sit on their hands. Thats the way it is and has always been. Maybe the caviar crowd are too well-bred and classy to go the native route like the rest of us. Like I said though, this is nothing new.
Posted by: SnB | March 26, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Hey Joe,
...and when the Miner fans speak, SHUT UP!
Posted by: jack | March 26, 2009 at 01:18 PM
Good Lord. You Miner fans that post on the elpasotimes comment section and on these blogs are idiots. Quit praising mediocrity and this completely ridiculous tournament.
When UTEP can do something worth celebrating, like get into the NCAA tournament, win a Conference USA title, or hand Memphis their first conference loss in over 2 years, then you can go dancing in the streets. But for being the 98th best team in the country? WAKE UP!! UTEP will not get anywhere with fans that do not get upset when they perform poorly.
Save your money and do something worthwhile with it instead of handing it to UTEP for an underachieving basketball team.
Posted by: Sean | March 26, 2009 at 02:30 PM
Pack the Don on Wednesday, I already got my tickets! I am not a season ticket holder but know that they provide a valuable monetary base for all athletics. UTEP is playing for a championship and has competed against quality teams in the CBI. Stop labeling this as 3rd tier, do you label all pre-season tournaments as such? I like Jack's comment for Joe, "when the Miner fans speak, SHUT UP!" At least we haven't made the national sports news by having our mascot's fake mustache torn off by a bull, HA! Aggies can't do anything right including it appears growing a mustache.
Posted by: 84 UTEP'er | March 26, 2009 at 02:34 PM
A = Season ticket holders that help pay coaches salaries, travel, uniforms, meals, etc. but that don't show up to every game.
B = rabid fans, probably with kids, that can't shell out $300 for them, mom, jr. and little goyle and have to sit in section xx 39 seat 15 when they can afford to take the fam out to the game a couple of times a year.
C = Empty seats
D = wins
E = losses
F = Fun
((a+b)-c)/(d+e)/d = F
Posted by: Toasted Whitebred | March 26, 2009 at 02:35 PM
'84 UTEPer...you say theyve played quality teams in this CBI? You must not be watching the same tournament, because the team UTEP is playing in the finals, Oregon St., HAS A LOSING RECORD!!
UTEP will never become anything by playing with the likes of Richmond, Northeastern, and a Pac 10 team that isnt even over .500 for the season.
Your argument is piss poor, just like UTEPs performance this season for the talent they had.
You want to pay coaches salaries and whatnot by buying a game ticket? I WOULD IF THE COACHES WERE DOING A JOB THAT MERITED ME BUYING A TICKET!
By the way, I am a UTEP alum also. UTEP needs to stop being underachievers and EARN THE MONEY FROM TICKETBUYERS!
Posted by: Sean | March 26, 2009 at 03:15 PM
Sean,
Are we having a bad hair day? Stop being a hater and do something constructive with your life. Aside from DJ, UTEP played with freshmen and sophomores this year, no junior players. It's a team building year, not rebuilding. Stay home Wednesday, we don't need fickle fans, including (disappointed to say) alumni that think like you. Take a chill pill.
Posted by: 84 UTEP'er | March 26, 2009 at 03:30 PM
The first 6 teams in the Pac 10 made the NCAA tournament. The 7th place team went to the NIT. The 8th (Oregan St.) and 9th place teams made the CBI. every team in the Pac 10 except 1 made post season play. The Pac 10 is an extremely talented conference.
Richmond was a 20 win team in the A-10, another conference rich in basketball talent.
Northeastern won 19 games.
Oh yeah, and sean neglected to mention Neveda who came in second in the WAC and who many thought would hands down beat UTEP at Home.
This team has won 22 games. that is the most since coach sadlers first season when he had seniors Fili Rivera and Omar Thomas.
And this team is extremely young with 10 out of the 12 players being either frosh or sophs.
It's not UTEP's fault that the NCAA only gave 4 at large bids to non BCS conference teams.
Sean, keep your sorry, bandwagoning arse home. I'm also an Alum, and fans like you make me sick.
Posted by: Jon | March 26, 2009 at 04:29 PM
Just a some quick comments,
Randy Culpeppers Dunk was featured on ESPN's first take this morning
and Andy kats Talked about the CBI championship game on his blog at ESPN.com.
UTEP has also not lost a penny on this tournament thanks in large part to the great turn out last week at the Don and expect the university to make even more cash when OSU comes to town.
Top that off with the national Coverage UTEP has been recieving on HDnet (which is provided to anyone who has HD service around the country)...
And I would say UTEP has done pretty good for itself. It has built great momentum for next season and is only one of 22 teams still playing right now. Not bad for playing in a 3rd tier tournament.
Posted by: Jon | March 26, 2009 at 04:53 PM
Joe, I'm not sure that tickets prices are the sole reason for the increase in attendance. A lot has to do with the fact it is 'postseason', alas, in a rinky-dinky tournament.
We just want to see these miners win...
Posted by: dv | March 26, 2009 at 05:32 PM
To be realistic UTEP has a long shot to win the NCAA championship. if Memphis cant do it neither can any other Mid major team even come close to it. Our best bet to win any kind of championship is gonna be the NIT or CBI. lets use this as a stepping stone. i gurantee for the next couple of years were going to be making noice in the big dance and NIT. but it all begins with confidence that we can win tournaments. what better way to begin than by winning the CBI
Posted by: javi | March 26, 2009 at 08:14 PM
UTEP beat 3 NIT teams st mary, UNM, UAB. and came very close to upseting #2 Memphis n #4 Wake Forest. Pack the Don and we would of gone undefeated at home
Posted by: javi | March 26, 2009 at 08:16 PM
I think this tournament will help UTEP for next year. With an excellent recruiting class I think the Miners are set to have a better season.
First, we have a total of 4 division 1 transfers who saw significant playing time at their previous schools.
Second, all of those 4 transfers have averaged at least 8 points per game at the division 1 level. Now say they average another 8 points that's 32 points per game that we will get from them (in order to replace DJ). If I'm not mistaken all of them will be Juniors next year.
In case you don't know who they are:
Myron Strong-San Francisco
Jeremy Williams-Colorado
Christian Polk-Arizona State
Derrick Caracter-Louisville
UTEP will also return Juniors Randy Culpepper, Julyan Stone, Claude Britten, Gabe McCulley, Wayne Portalatin and Isaac Gordon. The Sophomores will be Arnett Moultrie, Jason Jones, Chano Rashidudin and Blaise Ffrench.
UTEP will add another talented freshman named Marcus Ruppel who had several big time programs after him.
We will have plenty of talent, experience and depth. Look for us to make a run in the NCAA Tournament. Mark my words.
Posted by: dee | March 26, 2009 at 11:45 PM
Only the best basketball teams in the Nation are still playing.
Joe your not invited wednesday.
Posted by: Miner Charro | March 28, 2009 at 10:37 PM
what would el paso prefer a first reound lost in the NCAA or a NIT championship. if we make the tournament will be seeded like 13,14 maybe an 11
Posted by: javi | March 29, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Yes, Javi, El Pasoan's and anybody with an ounce of common sense would prefer that UTEP make and lose in the second round of the NCAA tournament than have to pay $60 grand for the "right" to play 11-17 Oregon State who finished 9th in the Pac 10.
Why are people being so foolish? Because just making the NCAA tourney is far more prestigious than winning a garbage tournament against Richmond or Northeastern on a channel nobody watches. It's March Madness. UTEP would be on the bracket. UTEP would be on CBS. UTEP would play an opponent that can walk and chew gum at the same time.
I tend to agree with Sean's posts here. He is amazed that Miner fans are so pleased with being a less than mediocre program at this point. I'm also so sick of hearing the "we won 20 games" card. Winning 20 games used to mean something, when NCAA teams only played 27-30 games. Now, NCAA teams are playing well over 30 games a season. Remember when it was rare that 20 win teams didn't make the tournament? Not so rare anymore, is it?
Posted by: Austin | March 29, 2009 at 12:55 PM
What i dont get is all these people unhappy with coach barbee and the miner mens team.If its so bad joe you and all your benedict followers should move to las cruces and cheer on the aggies. THIS IS MINER TOWN!
Posted by: Reynaldo Huerta | April 04, 2009 at 04:00 PM