Can't complain about winning. UTEP, at home, did what it was supposed to do - beat a so-so team. It was 56-49 over Southern Mississippi Saturday in The Don.
Perhaps the best news was that the Miners defeated a good coach, Larry Eustachy, whose style is ... not letting the opponents score a lot.
Perhaps the question must be asked: If the Miners (11-5) are a break-through team this year (NCAA Tournament), how come they couldn't crack up, then run over, the Golden Eagles?
This has to go down as a good-news night because it was the first time in several games that the Miners actually held - and held onto - the upper hand throughout the game.
Next is the big one - at Memphis Wednesday.
The Miners held control against now 10-7 So. Miss. That's a plus. Now it's time to go get a really big win - a type of win that has eluded the team all season.
Actually the best news is that UTEP out rebounded the 14th best rebounding team in the nation. Rebounding has been our biggest problem.
Why couldn't we run over S. Miss? Why couldn't Ole Miss run over S. Miss, who just beat Tennesse, who beat #1 Kansas? Why couldnt CUSA powerhouse Memphis(two point win)? Thats college basketball this year, Joe. This is a year where the top 50 teams in the country can beat anyone in the top 50 on any given night. It seems almost every night a top 25 team is upset by an unranked team. The talent is spread out tremendously between the 320+ D1 teams. So is it so terrible we beat a conference opponent by 7? Conference games, in every conference, are expected to be close, from top to bottom. That's college basketball, especially this year. Don't you stay glued to ESPN like me, following whats going on in NCAAM? If you did you would know all this.
Lets also keep in mind that Polk, who is averaging in double figures, was not in the game due to an ankle injury.
Barbee did good tonight. We switched to zone for just a little bit, and it worked. He substituted Caracter in and out of the game very strategically. A lot of good defensive plays( yes, yes, a few terrible moments as well). A lot of posters say there's no ball movement on offense. Well I was counting how many passes were made before a shot was taken, and they almost always had 5 passes, usually with everyone touching the ball.
Criticism: Free throw shooting. Ive said that since the opening game.
Posted by: stahala | January 17, 2010 at 12:06 AM
Memphis would be a huge win!
Posted by: Prospero | January 17, 2010 at 03:17 AM
Agree with Stahala. He actually stole my post!
Posted by: CLEOFITZWITZ | January 17, 2010 at 02:11 PM
I hurried to be the first one! Haha! Thanks for the support Cleo. GO MINERS!
Posted by: stahala | January 17, 2010 at 02:16 PM
How come they couldn't run over this team? Do you watch college basketball? Texas and Kansas have struggled against small teams from time to time...unless you're the lady huskees (meaning non-human), you will have about 5 bad games each season.
Posted by: Reality | January 18, 2010 at 09:45 AM
Unless you're Memphis from the past few seasons, no conference win will be easy. Opponents know each other way too well. The scouting report on UTEP seems to be to slow the game down and make it a half-court game, forcing the Miners to play defense for the full 35 seconds and on the other end usually a zone defense. That's the way SMU almost beat us and that's the way other teams will play us. UTEP's gotta get used to winning games scoring less than 70 points like the 2 home wins so far.
Memphis will be trying to break Kentucky's record for most consecutive conference victories (2 schools tied at 64 right now). I'd say being the team who ends the streak and keeps the Tigers from making history would definitely be something. Wouldn't make up for the non-conference losses, but it could start a Miner run.
Posted by: Lorenzo | January 18, 2010 at 04:07 PM
The Memphis game might bring the best out in the Miners. My prediction, it won't matter. Memphis still has teeth and the game will be a home game for them.
The danger is the game after the loss to Memphis. Will the Miners have the fortitude to bounce back on the road after a whipping by the Tigers? My money says no.
Posted by: dave | January 19, 2010 at 01:12 AM
i like stahala comments hes alot smarter than joe
Posted by: javi | January 19, 2010 at 09:30 AM
I want to be your friend Joe M. Help me out and and let's a great post.
Posted by: stahala | January 20, 2010 at 08:18 PM
The streak is no more...
Posted by: Pick Ax | January 20, 2010 at 08:29 PM