Miners not tested anymore

True, UTEP has always used the Sunnies' Christmas tournament (now invitational) as a final primp for conference play.

New Coach Tim Floyd was talking about that this week and the Miners went on to beat Western New Mexico Tuesday and Air Force Wednesday in the Sun Bowl Invitational. And there's one more pre-Conference USA game, Sunday vs. Sam Houston State.

His Coachency, Don Haskins, always said the same thing. And usually the Miners were ready for the January-February WAC games.

There's a big difference now.

UTEP's players were not tested this year, nor have there been strong Christmastime fields for some years now. This year the Miners might as well have been playing Western New Mexico or some other Division II school. Wait a sec! They WERE playing Western New Mexico, a Division II school. And Air Force?

No, Air Force, as the "other" decent basketball school in the Invitational, certainly was not a team the caliber of those who came to play when Sunny matchmaker Joe Gomez was rounding 'em up in UTEP's 1980s glory days. This isn't a shot on Gomez' successors. Matchmating is  tougher now.

Here's the 80s era, when it was possible to get good teams to come to your place:

1980: UTEP, Miami (Ohio),  Villanova, San Francisco.

1981: UTEP, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M.

1982: UTEP, SMU, Kansas State, Clemson.

1983: UTEP, Michigan, Arizona, Texas Tech.

1984: UTEP, Wake Forest, Purdue, Mississippi State.

1985: UTEP, Ohio State, Alabama, Nebraska.

1986: UTEP, Texas, Auburn, Iowa State.

1987: UTEP, Boston College, Cal, UAB.

1988: UTEP, Maryland, Cleveland State, Lamar.

1989: UTEP, South Carolina, Kansas State, Austin Peay.

By the time the 1990s hit, schools agreeing to come wanted at least one easy game. So a little guy was invited. Did you notice it kinda started in 1988?

An example in the 1990s:

1996: UTEP, Princeton, Texas A&M - and Northern Iowa.

By the late 90s, it was two little guys, on the norm:

1998: UTEP, Washington State, Grambling and Detroit.

Anyway, it was good to hear Floyd say he'll be glad to help the Sunnies do some future scheduling.  Gomez, back in the 1980s, needed no help. He knew everybody. EVERYBODY in college basketball, and he had the connections.

Now knowing people doesn't usually work. Schools can make more money beating a nobody in a home game. Why make no money beating a nobody on the road?

Any help Floyd can give, using his connections, will certainly be welcome, I would think. It's good that Floyd wants to play better opponents. Recall his predecessor, Tony Barbee, just wanted the two wins and that put some shackles on the Sunnies.

It's unlikely the Sunnies/Floyd can get a 1980s field again, but it would be a coup to have a three "bigs" and a sacrificial lamb. The fans would love it again.

Comments

[CLEOFITZWITZ]

Right on Joe. I had the privilege of watching many future NBA stars right here in the Don. I also got to see the Miners beat those teams in front of very loud and passionate crowds. I miss those days because they made Haskins' Miners that much tougher. I hope we can manage to bring in some top talent again one day soon.

[Rob]

Tested by someone like, say....hmmmmm....BYU? Seems they failed that test the other day.

[James]

Hey Joe, if anyone has basketball connections and influence, that would be Tim Floyd. This team is still growing into the Floyd mold and starting to play the kind of defense they'll need to shut down opponents.Although we were blown out of the gym,we saw glimpses of that defense against a vaunted BYU team that was in disarray for the first portion of the first half in provo. I guarantee you that as time moves on we will see the competition in our tournament improve to the point that good teams will be on the floor every year.I just hope that we don't start scaring the big boys from coming down to little old El Paso to play the Miners. Money is always a factor, but to beat little old UTEP on the road and improve your RPI might be enough of a lure. That, and the fact its a Tim Floyd coached team! And if you want to know just how good you are? C'mon down to little old El Paso! We will be waiting! No Fair Weather Fans Needed! Get The Orange ON! GO MINERS!

[leftcoastminer]

On the money Joe. UTEP should be aiming for the toughest competitors they can lure to the DHC. If the Miners want to enter the national picture again, they need to prove they can beat the best. There is no reason to bring in a DII school to pad the stat sheets. I don't remember seeing Duke or Kentucky playing anyone other than DI schools.

Step it up UTEP. The growing pains will pay off. Go Miners!

[Sal]

I agree. Utep needs to step up it's scheduling. Really, I'm tired of hearing how NO ONE wants to come play in El Paso because it's a hard place to win. Then how do so many other places all over the world now (it seems) can get great teams to participate in their tournaments? Enough already Utep! Utep seems to be going backwards in everything they do athletically. This thing about fans not attending or supporting is bullcrap! The sunbowl does great with the support of mostly El Pasoans because they are being treated to a great event. Those masterminds at Utep need to follow suit and learn, most of all, have faith that doing things right from the start will pay off in the end. El Pasoans are hungry for great teams and greater wins, if only????

[I know Joe]

Joe Gomez is still around, and STILL knows everyone. All he has to do is dial a number on his phone to a high profile coach and invite them down. How hard is that?

[James]

GO Joe GO! I am sure coach Floyd will be glad for any additional help in getting these high profile programs to come to our place! Just like the 80's he's gonna have a "somebody" in the coaching chair! And the talent(Miners)will be improving from year to year,"win-win"! A good win will be up for grabs, by either team. GO MINERS!Beat Tulsa! A must win for us! Can't settle for anything less.