UTEP has Caracter

Twice now in three games UTEP transfer Derrick Caracter has had 15 points and 15 rebounds. It looks like he wants to play real basketball, after all. And if he can keep the "h" out of his name (character) UTEP has two exceptionally good big guys — best in a long, long time. Both are even more proficient scorers than the 1988-90 Greg Foster/Antonio Davis duo. Both had long NBA careers.

That 20-point negative turnaround vs. Ole Miss still stings, as does the home loss to New Mexico State. But what has UTEP done lately? The Miners won big at Oklahoma and should win handily vs. Air Force tonight and be 9-2 when they go to Texas Tech Sunday. Tech is 10-1 and ranked No. 20.

We are learning Caracter (who started at Louisville before being kicked to the doghouse there), is showing he's a true big-time talent. Is he a real good talent, or a TOP talent?

If he's a TOP talent, UTEP is among the top 40 or 50 teams in the RPIs this year.

Caracter, Arnett Moultrie and Randy Culpepper (if he's not a wild shootist again), give UTEP the potential to have a TOP 1-2-3, too.

Comments

[just a thought]

Yup, we look to have balanced scoring all over the place. Guys that can play traditional post-up, guys with a nice pull-up jumper and even a 3-point threat at unconventional times ("what is he doing? -- Yes!") in Culpepper.

If we keep some garbage men under the boards every game we can score with anybody in C-USA. All this firepower but will we have enough defense to win against sharpshooters? They better pull out all stops against BYUs Fredette. Did anybody see his 49 point highlight on SportsCenter? Yikes. They better guard the perimeter not like the NMSU game.

[KnowLedge]

This team has it all.... when Stone is playing well. Is Coach mad at him? His playing time has gone done and he is playing with his back to the basket again. David, Arnett and Randy are all great talents but great teams have great PGs I just hope Stone becomes the PG Coach thinks he can be.

[Aristotle]

Oh Joe, you're so clever using the young man's name in a double sense like that. I bet no one has ever thought of that before. Hahahahahaha. You should muench-en clever remarks like that more often. Or better yet, just quit now; you'll never be this clever again.

[Aud]

Joe, you have the mentality and writing skills of a middle-schooler. I'm happy I don't know you personally, else I'd be horribly embarrassed every day.....

[CLEOFITZWITZ]

This team almost has it all. We can score inside and out. We can rebound. We defend when we set our minds to it. The one aspect still missing is free throw shooting. It could be the dagger that does in CUSA foes and gets us some wins the the NCAA tournament.

[2myeye]

Actually, a pretty good article, Joe. Keep it postive and look for the good things to happen.

[fhchg111]

Joe utep can be a top 50 top 40 in the RPI??????? the miners have the potential to easily be one of the top teams in the nation so being a top 25 team doesnt sound biassed at all. Utep should be in the top 25 in a couple of weeks, and if it wasn't because of the two games that they should have won easily they would be already in the top 25.

[Mike A.]

My prediction: UTEP and Texas Tech will both be 10-2 after the Tech Game.

[shyminer]

Miners are definetely balanced...

Polk had an off night, and they still win BIG

Stone was ill and got into foul trouble early, they still won BIG

let's see how they do against AF... I thought Niagara was the better team?

[shyminer]

by the way there is no DAVID on the team, they do have a Derrick

[miner3223]

Good article joe, but I think that the air force game will be harder than many think. They play a deliberate style of basketball and like to run a zone. If UTEP is unable to play with a decent lead, they may be in for a long night since AF will be able to stick with their game plan. I wonder how long UTEP will stay man to man or if they will simply have to go zone. The miners are really going to have to talk on defense tonight and rebound or AF will take a minute off the clock every possession. Should be a great game.

[Manny]

I will be attending the Texas Tech game on Sunday! Anyone know where to get the tickets? Here or there? Thanks for any information!

[Lowercase Ray]

By RPI Niagara had the better RPI, they had an RPI of 74 while Air Force had an RPI of 249. That was an upset last night; Niagara now has an RPI of 103 and Air Force has climbed to 232. UTEP actually lost in RPI for playing Norfolk St, they're now at 171. So really UTEP probably will not move up any for beating Air Force, but they'll definitely move down if they should to lose to them.

Wasn't Air Force a part of the old WAC? So UTEP vs Air Force may actually turn out to be a better drawing game then Niagara would have been. Count me in, I'll be there.

[CLEOFITZWITZ]

I appreciate LRay's RPI updates and I hope he continues with them. But they just go to illustrate how poor a system it is in determining a team's ranking. It's sad that it is one of the factors that determines a team's postseason fate.

[Bensonhurst]

BroHawk is awesome.

[Pick Ax]

Caracter is a manchild among boys...

A few observations from the Oklahoma game they need to work on...

1. The lazy outlet pass--Caracter in particular. You get a guard to hangout there he will pick off a few passes. Go to the basics--two handed chest pass please.

2. Make some free throws--This can make a difference between making NCAA dance or NIT. I would have them shooting free throws to begin and end practice and some in between. I often wonder how often they practice free throws. Anyone knows?

3. Have a killer instinct--easier said than done but good teams have them. After having a big lead how about stepping on the gas and keep it there. Stop messing around.

A couple more wins will get us some recognition.

Pick Ax