UTEP made the unbelievable believable ... and then not. The Miners needed just eight more seconds of their fingernails clinging to the cliff's edge to have played its best conference tournament ever.
As it was, Memphis came from 13 points down in the second half to win 67-66, taking its only lead of the game with 7.9 seconds to play Saturday morning in the Conference USA Basketball Tournament title game.
UTEP (25-9) fate as an at-large invitee to next week's NCAA Tournament? Maybe the tournament's Selection Committee, holed up like a jury panel, liked what they saw on the nationally televised game?
With UTEP's assignment of having three good teams to face in the C-USA tournament - and three wins in a row - one had to be a Miner fanatic to think a title could happen. It almost, almost did. For the record, it did, did, almost did.
UTEP has won some conference tournaments, all in the old WAC. That was back in the late 1980s. But the Tim Hardaway, Antonio Davis and Greg Foster team didn't have it this tough in 1988-89. Nor did the Davis, Foster, Prince Stewart and Marlon Maxey team in 1980-90.
And this year the Randy Culpepper, Julyan Stone ... Christian Polk and Jeremy Williams, would have pulled off ... Let's look back.
Against Marshall Thursday, UTEP showed that "tougher" beats huge. Against Tulsa Friday, UTEP showed that "tougher" beats real tough. And Saturday it was "tougher" whipping one of last year's top recruiting classes by double-digit points. "Tougher" was beating what looked like a delicate bunch of high-school all-Americans - stepped out of bounds four times in the first half and displayed hands of stone.
When Memphis got the ball inside to its bigs, Memphis scored. But UTEP built its lead by not allowing the ball inside that often. And it was a great UTEP shooting day.
Let's get to the shooting game: Polk scored 27 points and hit 11 of his first 12 shots. Alas, he missed his last two late when Memphis was catching up. Meanwhile, Culpepper was "clang" virtually all game. Polk, defense, and Stone being the general was enough to hold the lead ... hold the lead ... it's slipping.
Some think I've been wrong by saying said UTEP was running out of gas. UTEP ran out of gas in the last 2 1/2 minutes. That's when a 5-point lead went down, down, down. But that's still a pretty good miles-per-gallon.
And with 7.9 seconds to play, Memphis' Joe Jackson made two free throws for the eventual 67-66 win. UTEP had had a chance to make free throws with less than a minute to play, but didn't make 'em all. Memphis missed two with 12 seconds to play. Jackson didn't miss.
Now, does UTEP miss the NCAA field because it couldn't hang on the "unbelievable" for eight more seconds?
Free throws! free throws! free throws! ahhh!!!
i credit the loss to our missed free throws today.
* hit those free throws and your dancing!
we also had a few bad offensive posessions late where we made bad passes and got the ball stolen.
Those speedy memphis kids thrive off turnovers. they led the conference in steals.
Posted by: Prospero | March 12, 2011 at 03:04 PM
hey joe, don't forget the miner squad with ot, fili, ayala, tofi, and others that won the wac tourney in nevada back in 2005
Posted by: miner3223 | March 12, 2011 at 03:07 PM
Our senior-laden team was supposed to be the cool guys under pressure. The freshman from Memphis looked like the steady veteran team.
Floyd seemingly got outcoached in the second half. This is the Memphis team I warned everyone about the last time they came to El Paso. I guess a blowout win against them had everyone believing it was in the bag today.
Is it football season yet? Stahala and James come off of suicide watch already. It's really not that bad.
Posted by: JAT | March 12, 2011 at 03:24 PM
The Muench family is celebrating again. Good for you Joe. We all know how much you hate the Miners. I guess this is a good day for you. Congratulations.
Posted by: fan | March 12, 2011 at 04:13 PM
Congratulations UTEP on a tough game. To be honest, I was thought you had us beat again with about 10 min. left. It did come down to free throws, and as you may know, Tigers don't have the greatest track record there. But seriously - booing Joe Jackson for getting MVP?!? Show some class, UTEP fans!
Posted by: tigerbluelady | March 12, 2011 at 05:11 PM
The Muench family is celebrating again. Good for you Joe. We all know how much you hate the Miners. I guess this is a good day for you. Congratulations.
Posted by: fan | March 12, 2011 at 04:13 PM
----------------------------------
Your team just played and came within two points of making it back to the tournament, and this is what you post. In my opinion, you are worse than Joe.
Why not congratulate the Miners on a job well done this season. Why not wish them luck on either the NCAA or the NIT tourney.
Some fan..
Posted by: Morgan | March 12, 2011 at 05:44 PM
Agreed Morgan. Just because Joe says what he sees and happens to be an Aggie doesn't make him an idiot.
I've been sick to my stomach all day thinking of what could have been. It seems we rant out of gas the last five minutes. By the way, wanna know why Randy was clank-friendly? No legs! That's what happens when you play 38 minutes per game for three nights in a row.
Congrats to the seniors on a good season. Its going to be a while until we're competitive like this again.
Posted by: Godhelpusall | March 12, 2011 at 06:01 PM
UTEP is a very good basketball team and might get an invite to the NCAA with this senior dominated team, along with Memphis...we'll know late Sunday but if not, they WILL get an NIT invite and have a chance to win a national title even if its the NIT; ....
Earlier today SMU accepted an invitation to the CIT to be played in Dallas...are you kidding me???We have the NCAA tournament, the NIT, CBI and now the CIT....
Posted by: ScoutWest | March 12, 2011 at 06:17 PM
My final comment of the basketball season(I have been trying to stay away from this blog and its Mike Price worshipping posters).
UTEP will not get an invite to NCAA, CUSA gets no respect, along with a variety of other mid majors. NCAA would rather pick 10 teams from Big East and watch 8 of them lose in first 2 rounds.
Miners had great heart and athleticism, but lacked leadership and composure in big games the past 2 years. I thought Floyd's coaching ability could overcome this, but either team didn't listen or Floyd did not have enough time with these guys to show them how to finish big games. Miners have nothing to hang their heads about though. They were weak in the front court and still managed to make it to CUSA championship. Congratulations guys!
Posted by: john franco | March 12, 2011 at 08:03 PM
Godhelpusall, I'm with you; very disappointing, the outcome of the game. You know, the Miners left it all out on the court today. You can't ask for anything more from a team.
I look forward to the Miners postseason play in the upcoming week.
Posted by: WilliamS | March 12, 2011 at 09:59 PM
WillamsS,
You CAN ask for more from this team -- like not blowing a big lead on your home floor in the last minutes of a game that sends the winning team to the NCAAs.
Posted by: Barry | March 13, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Perhaps the committee will see this photo....
Scroll to photos 18 & 19. While I personally hate for games to end at the charity stripe, and believe this game should've never come to this, I do believe the fact that Memphis was given FT's on the preceding posession should've warranted this obvious call.
http://krod.com/c-usa-championship-game-pictures/
Posted by: MinerMike | March 13, 2011 at 11:06 AM
I'm with you, Barry. Disappointment seems too small a word to cover this one...free throws were always going to be our achilles heel, and sure enough it happened! The Miners' tendency to become cavalier and casual when way ahead, and the lack of a killer instinct has plagued us all year and this game was no different. Congratulations to the Miners for a good season and it's too bad it has to end with "if only" tacked on.
Posted by: trueblueorane | March 13, 2011 at 11:30 AM
C-USA: BUSH LEAGUE!!!!!
They got the team they really wanted in the NCAA, didn't they?
What a crock of caca!!!
Posted by: Monchis | March 13, 2011 at 08:35 PM
Hey Joe, nothing to whine about, the guy's had control of their destiny and fell short! Time to move on! Great season and I am proud of the team. According to a few Nay Sayers we were not gonna be good enough to get to where we did! Whip UNM it will be some consolation! Thanks coach, now lets replace the seniors with the same kind of talent and heart we saw this year! Throw in the Floyd blue chippers that I am confident we will see and to coin a popular phrase; "Were Back"! To the Memphis fan who said that the fans should have shown more class! Take your own advice! See you next season, can't wait to see who coach will bring to the table! Congratulations Team and Coach, for a season to be proud of! GO ORANGE! GO MINERS! No Fair Weather Fans Needed!
Posted by: James | March 14, 2011 at 02:38 PM