UTEP has now lost four games in a row, and its record is 10-13. This is how this season will pan out because the Miners really can't get much better. Enough improvement is ... enough. Can't ask these guys for much more now that the season is nitty-gritty and all teams in all the conferences know everybody else. UAB knew UTEP Saturday.
There's only so much "getting better" for such a Miner team that has put forth really good efforts with freshmen and sophomores. Bt now it's February and Conference USA opponents have everybody's number.
Simply: Young teams that aren't Kentucky or Kansas, even when well coached, don't have the major-college smarts/experience/oomph to put on a late-season surge and run up their conference ladder. Too late.
On Saturday, the Miners lost at home - at HOME - to a C-USA team with a losing record. But UAB (now 9-13), and coached by a good one (Mike Davis) ,won 61-60. Down to the wire. Home teams don't lose at the wire against teams with losing records. UTEP missed the last shot to win it.
UTEP lost at Houston and at Rice on the road - the same way.
As much as this Miner team tries, and listens to coaches, it has hit the wall.
You know, there's enough talent on the team that, even though the Miners are stocked with freshman and sophomore players, we shouldn't have a losing record.
Maybe it's time for a new coach.
Posted by: a fan | February 05, 2012 at 02:13 AM
Please someone tell me "fan" is kidding! If not, he should be deported out of this city for the sheer stupidity of his statement. Please!
Posted by: madmangunner | February 05, 2012 at 01:51 PM
Hey a fan,
Hilarious. You got a taker.
Posted by: Earl | February 05, 2012 at 06:11 PM
yeah, it will be a much better season next year. we'll have Chris Washburn Jr. whose a nice big post man, he's bigger than his brother.
Also Twymond Howard is good small foward who got offers from Big 12, SEC, and Big East schools. Hes on board too next year.
*theres also Anthony January from Compton, California who verbally committed to UTEP but hasnt signed yet. It would be awesome if we can sign this guy, some have compared him to DeMar Derozan.
I think things are really looking bright. Bohannon and Perez are doing damage as sophomores. Lang looks promising. And Julian Washburn is super athletic,who might have a shot at the NBA by the time he's done here.
* the great thing is this years team is not horrible. Once in the C-USA tourney they have the ability to knock out anyone, and it would be awesome if our young guys could beat Memphis on their own floor, the way they did it to us last year.
Posted by: Prospero | February 06, 2012 at 12:22 AM
Prospero is right. Look out for the Miners come tourney time.
Posted by: Todaysspecial | February 06, 2012 at 10:16 PM
According to Minerrush.com, Anthony January has all but taken back his verbal commitment to UTEP. I think it might have something to do with the Miners already having Julian Washburn and Twymond Howard at his position. He's now leaning toward San Diego State. In any case, next year should be better just based on depth. The Miners are basically playing 6 or 7 guys every night. These last few games have been close, and I love the heart and grit this team has, but I just can't see a team with no depth win 4 games in 4 days in Memphis. Hope they prove me wrong though.
Posted by: Lorenzo | February 07, 2012 at 09:22 AM
Prospero unfortunately January decommitted recently and has talked about going to SDSU. Still should be a great recruiting class with Howard, Washburn and Dustin Watts. Can't wait to see this team in 2 years when Bohannon and Perez are seniors!
Posted by: UTEP fan in SA | February 07, 2012 at 11:27 AM
I ve been away from this blog for awhile. Too many Price butt kissers. Anyway, something has been gnawing at me for awhile. What was the Moultrie situation? That guy is a monster at Mississippi State. Is Floyd gonna be a pansy when guys give him attitude? Haskins had more backbone than that!
Posted by: John Franco | February 07, 2012 at 02:08 PM
Just came from MSU website. Moultrie is a top 20 finalist for Oscar Robertson trophy. Way to let him leave Timmy!
Posted by: John Franco | February 07, 2012 at 02:18 PM
Franco, the pansy was Barbee, who basically let Moultrie play however and wherever he wanted during his 2 years here. "Wanna shoot a million three's Arnett? Sure, have at it. Doesn't matter that you only shoot 23% from there, go ahead mijo." Ever wonder why Arnett was listed as a forward yet played more like a guard? Moultrie ran Barbee, not the other way around. Floyd had the backbone and told him no more, not with me. Moultie threw a fit and left. At Mississippe State, somehow, somebody showed Moultrie that indeed he's not a guard and has matured into the player he could and should have been. Good for him. Good for Mississippi State, at least for this year. He'll be gone next year. At any rate, I wish people would quit bringing him up. He left, out of sight...out of mind. Lets talk up and support our current and future Miners. As Floyd said when Moultrie left, "I don't support players with personal agendas. I want team players." Sure this year is fustrating, but there will be a huge payoff. Don't wait for the bandwagon...get aboard now John.
Posted by: madmangunner | February 07, 2012 at 11:22 PM
Last time I checked, Barbie won a conference championship and went to the big dance. Something Floyd wasn't able to do with basically the same team.
Posted by: Adrian | February 08, 2012 at 02:38 PM
Come on Adrian...I'm sure you're smarter than that. Floyd didn't have Caracter...that's who got the Miners to the dance. Then they got to the dance and quit on him(Barbee) in the middle of the game. Like I said...get aboard this train, or will you be one of the bandwagoners claiming, "I knew it all along! Yay Floyd, Yay Miners!" Phony players not needed...Phony fans not wanted.
Posted by: madmangunner | February 08, 2012 at 04:56 PM