For Starters
UTEP (11-2, 1-0 WAC) hosts Rice (7-3, 2-0 WAC) on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. MST in the Don Haskins Center. It is a matchup of teams picked first and second in the preseason WAC coaches and media polls.
UTEP has won seven straight games -- its longest winning streak since the 2000-01 season -- and five consecutive home games. The Miners are 24-2 in their last 26 home contests dating back to the 2003-04 campaign. UTEP's 2004-05 home mark is 8-1. Rice is 0-3 on the road.
The Miners are 24-11 in WAC home openers. UTEP lost its league opener in the Don Haskins Center last season, bowing to Boise State 98-94.
On The Radio
UTEP's English flagship station is KROD 600 AM. The announcers are Jon Teicher (play-by-play) and Steve Yellen (color commentary). Teicher is in his 24th season as "Voice of the Miners." Yellen played for the Miners from 1977-81 under Hall of Fame coach Don Haskins. The pregame show begins at 7 p.m. MST. The game will also be carried on KBUY 1360 AM in Ruidoso, N.M. A Spanish language broadcast is available on La Consentida 1150 AM. KINT-TV weekend sports anchor Omar Ropele is the play-by-play man, and former Miner Victor Luces offers analysis.
On Television
There is no television for Thursday's game.
The Series
Rice leads the series 7-5. The Owls have won five of the last six games played between the Texas rivals. The schools split a pair of meetings in 2003-04, with Rice winning 84-68 in Houston and UTEP returning the favor 105-62 in El Paso. The Miners hold a 4-2 edge in matchups between the teams in El Paso.
The Last Meeting
Jason Williams scored 22 points as UTEP recorded its second-biggest Western Athletic Conference victory with a 105-62 demolition of Rice on Feb. 5, 2004 at the Don Haskins Center.
The 43-point margin of victory was the largest for the Miners in conference play since routing Arizona State, 108-64, on Jan. 17, 1970 in El Paso.
UTEP scored 60 first half points -- a school record. The previous mark of 59 points was set against Roosevelt on Dec. 11, 1982.
The Owls shot 62 percent in the opening half, but found themselves trailing 60-34 at the intermission. UTEP shot 70.6 percent in the first half, including 77.8 percent (7-9) from three-point range.
The Miners shot 61.4 percent for the game, made 12 of 20 three-point shots, outrebounded Rice 32-26 and forced 25 turnovers.
UTEP never trailed after scoring the game's first four points. The Miners' biggest lead was 52 points (101-49) on a three-pointer by Joe Devance with 5:01 remaining.
The Miners scored 100 points for the third time in the 2003-04 season, tying the school record set by the 2000-01 squad.
Chris Craig netted a career-high 20 points for UTEP, making 6-7 three-pointers. Williams was 9-11 from the floor, Craig 7-10 and Roy Smallwood 6-8. Smallwood finished with 14 points, John Tofihad 10 and Darius Mattear supplied 10 points and five rebounds in 10 minutes.
UTEP's 27 assists were one shy of the school record, and the Miners' 43 field goals were their most in a game in over 21 years.
Michael Harris had 17 points and Jason McKrieth 11 for Rice.
Scouting The Owls
The Owls jumped out to a 2-0 start in WAC action last week, beating SMU (66-64 in overtime) and Louisiana Tech (78-57) in Houston. Rice is 0-3 on the road, falling at Louisiana-Lafayette (75-61), Connecticut (81-72) and Syracuse (88-72).
Rice was picked second (behind UTEP) in the preseason WAC coaches and media polls.
Senior forward Michael Harris is averaging 20.6 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 60 percent from the field and 80.9 percent from the charity stripe. Senior guard Jason McKrieth and senior guard Brock Gillespie are averaging 13.4 ppg and 10.2 ppg, respectively.
The Owls are shooting 48.6 percent as a team, including 37.6 percent from three-point land led by McKrieth, who is hitting 48.1 percent of his attempts from long range.
Miners Versus Rice
Senior guard Filiberto Rivera shot 66.7 percent (8-12) from the field last year against Rice.
Senior forward Omar Thomas scored 19 points at Rice a year ago, and is shooting 58.8 percent (10-17) from the field lifetime versus the Owls.
Junior guard Giovanni St. Amant contributed 13 points at Rice last season, one of his five double-figure scoring games on the year.
Junior forward John Tofi has a career field goal percentage of .560 (14-25) versus Rice.
Junior forward Jason Williams averaged 16.5 points against Rice last season, shooting 68.4 percent (13-19) from the field and 71.4 percent (5-7) from beyond the arc.
Last Game: UTEP 91, Boise State 77
UTEP hit 13 three-pointers -- tied for the third-top game total in school annals -- and dispatched Boise State, 91-77, in the Western Athletic Conference opener for both schools on Saturday night in Boise.
The Miners registered their biggest WAC road win since Jan. 7, 1995, when they posted an 83-61 victory at San Diego State.
Five players scored in double figures for UTEP, which established season-highs for points in a half (53) and game (91). Omar Thomas and Jason Williams each netted 19 points. Filiberto Riverachipped in with 18 points, Miguel Ayala had a career-high 14 and Giovanni St. Amant contributed 13.
UTEP shot 53.1 percent, including 60.6 percent in the first half in racing to a 53-38 lead. The Miners were 8-12 from beyond the arc in the opening stanza.
Boise State led just twice -- at 2-0 on a basket by Seth Robinson and 4-3 on a bucket by Tezarray Banks.
Leading 23-18, UTEP went on a 14-3 run to forge a 37-21 advantage on a layup by Williams with 7:08 remaining in the first half.
The Broncos closed the gap to nine points twice before the intermission, the last at 42-33 on a three-pointer by Jermaine Blackburn with 4:07 to go. But back-to-back three-pointers by Ayala upped the ante to 50-36 with 2:11 left.
UTEP -- which won for the first time in four trips to Boise -- led by as many as 22 points in the second half. A layup by John Tofi put the Miners ahead 64-42 with 16:52 to play.
Boise State drew within 69-59 on a three-pointer by Franco Harris with 12:03 remaining. The Broncos had a chance to pull closer, but Coby Karl missed a shot at the 11:37 mark and Ayala drained another triple to quell the rally.
UTEP outrebounded Boise State 34-31, as Tofi pulled down 11 rebounds. The Miners had 18 assists and eight turnovers. The Broncos committed 11 turnovers.
Miner-killer Eric Lane led Boise State with 22 points. He was 5-6 from three-point territory. Blackburn and Harris had 15 and 11 points, respectively.
UTEP climbed to 20-16 all-time in WAC openers and 16-20 in WAC road openers. The Miners were playing a basketball game on New Year's Day for the first time since 1965.
Miners Win Sun Bowl Tournament
UTEP defeated Alabama State (89-57) and Princeton (68-42) last week to capture its second consecutive State Farm Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament title. The Miners hadn't won the tournament in successive years since 1990-91.
Senior forward Omar Thomas was chosen tournament MVP for the second year in a row. He averaged 25 points in the two games, shooting 72 percent (18-25) from the field and 74 percent (14-19) from the line. In four career State Farm Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament games, Thomas has averaged 23 points on 71 percent (32-45) field goal shooting and 74 percent (28-38) free throw shooting.
Thomas is the first player to earn MVP honors of the tournament in back-to-back seasons since UTEP's Tim Hardaway in 1987 and 1988. Thomas joins Hardaway, Nate Archibald (1968-69), Gary Brewster (1972, 1974-75), Anthony Burns (1979-80) and Fred Reynolds (1981, 1983) as the only multiple MVP winners in the history of the tournament, which originated in 1961 (tournament officials first began selecting an MVP in 1968).
Doc Debut Ranks Among Best in Nation
UTEP's Doc Sadler is one of 38 coaches who are new at NCAA Division I-A institutions this season. He is one of three fresh faces in the WAC, joining Nevada's Mark Fox and SMU's Jimmy Tubbs.
Sadler is tied for the most wins (11) and is tied for the second-best winning percentage (.846) among the new head coaches.
Sadler's 11-2 start marks the best 13-game record by a first-year UTEP coach. Don Haskins is the only coach in school history to fashion a winning record in his first season at the helm of the program (his 1961-62 Miners finished 18-6).
Getting to 10
For the first time in four years -- and only the 10th time in 36 seasons as a Western Athletic Conference member -- UTEP posted 10 victories prior to entering league play. The Miners also recorded 10 or more wins entering WAC action during the 1971-72, 1974-75, 1983-84, 1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1991-92 and 2000-01 seasons.
UTEP reached postseason play in all nine of the aforementioned seasons, earning seven NCAA Tournament bids and two National Invitation Tournament berths (in 1972 and 2001).
UTEP in the WAC Stats
UTEP leads the WAC in scoring defense (58.5 ppg), scoring margin (+15.4 ppg), free throw percentage (.766), turnover margin (+3.00) and assist/turnover ratio (1.14). The Miners are third in scoring offense (73.9 ppg), field goal percentage (.467), field goal percentage defense (.392) and rebounding margin (+5.6 rpg).
Individually, senior forward Omar Thomas is fifth in scoring (19.8 ppg), fourth in free throw percentage (.804), fifth in field goal percentage (.532) and tied for seventh in steals (1.5 spg). Junior forward Jason Williams is 13th in scoring (13.8 ppg), 15th in rebounding (6.2 rpg), 10th in field goal percentage (.481) and tied for seventh in steals (1.5 spg). Senior guard Filiberto Rivera is first in assists (6.5 apg), free throw percentage (.900) and assist/turnover ratio (3.82).
Hot Shooting All Around
UTEP had one of its better shooting performances of the season on Saturday at Boise State. The Miners hit 53.1 percent of their shots -- including 60.6 percent in the first half. UTEP has now shot over 50 percent in three games this season, including two of the last three. Over the last three contests, the Miners' field goal percentage is .544 (87-160).
UTEP collected 13 three-point field goals against the Broncos, the most for the Miners since registering a school-record 15 in the 2003-04 season opener versus UT Permian Basin. UTEP's 59.1 three-point percentage versus Boise State ranks ninth-best (minimum 10 attempts) in school history.
Additionally, the Miners were perfect (10-10) from the foul line versus BSU for the first time since Jan. 13, 1977 against Arizona State (11-11).
Winning Streak Now at Seven
UTEP's current seven-game winning streak is its longest since December 2000 to January 2001, when the Miners reeled off eight victories in a row.
UTEP has been dominant during the winning streak, averaging 77.6 points to opponents' 55.9 (+21.7 scoring margin). The Miners' field goal percentage has been .480 during the streak, compared to .385 for foes. UTEP has also shot 168 free throws during this stretch (24.0 avg.), while opponents have attempted 99 (14.1 avg.). Foes have committed 116 turnovers (16.6 avg.) to only 80 for the Miners (11.4 avg.). UTEP has averaged 17 assists and 11 turnovers per game during the victory streak. The Miners are shooting 79 percent (133-168) from the foul line during this span.
UTEP has also surrendered an average of 25 points in the first halves of games during the winning skein. The Miners have led by an average of 13 points at halftime in the seven victories.
Junior forward Jason Williams is averaging 14.6 points during the streak while shooting 52.1 percent from the field and 47.1 percent (8-17) from three-point range.
Seventy = Success
The Miners have scored 70 points in five of the last six games after being held to less than 70 in the previous five contests. Scoring 70 points has translated to winning games over the last three seasons. Since the start of the 2002-03 campaign, UTEP is 33-4 when scoring 70 points (7-0 this season), and 8-30 when totaling less than 70 points (4-2 this season).
UTEP scored 53 points in the first half at Boise State on Saturday, the most for the Miners in a period this season.
The Miners have limited all but two opponents this season (Texas Tech, Boise State) to fewer than 70 points. While 70 may be the magic number on offense, 65 is the magic number on defense. UTEP is 25-1 in its last 26 games (10-0 this season) when holding opponents to 65 points or less. The only setback during this stretch was on March 6, 2004 at Boise State, 59-45.
UTEP at Home
The Miners are 8-1 at home this season, with an average margin of victory of 24.4 points. UTEP is shooting 46.7 percent from the field in the Haskins Center (opponents are shooting 36.6 percent), and 34.4 percent from three-point range (opponents are shooting 29.3 percent). The Miners' free throw percentage in home games is 77.5.
UTEP has averaged 15.2 turnovers in home games, and 13.8 in home victories. The Miners have forced an average of 18.9 turnovers in their nine home outings.
The Miners have enjoyed a sizable advantage in free throw attempts when playing in the friendly confines of "The Don." UTEP is averaging 26.2 charity shots at home, compared to 14.9 for the opposition. The Miners have shot more free throws than their opponent in eight of nine home games (the only exception being the Texas Tech contest), including each of the last five.
Junior guard Giovanni St. Amant is shooting 50 percent (12-24) from three-point territory at home this season. Junior guard Miguel Ayala is shooting 36.8 percent (14-38) from beyond the arc. Freshman guard Kelvin Davis and freshman forward Stanley Branch have scored all of their points at home in 2004-05.
Free Throw Line a Friendly Place
UTEP is leading the WAC in free throw percentage (.766) for the second straight season. The current Miner record for seasonal field goal percentage is .766, established during the 1968-69 campaign.
Senior Filiberto Rivera leads UTEP with an .900 free throw percentage in 2004-05. UTEP's regular rotation of guards -- Rivera, Giovanni St. Amant and Miguel Ayala -- have combined to shoot 88.9 percent (72-81) from the foul line.
The Miners have made more free throws (233) than their opponents have attempted (205) for the second year in a row. Overall UTEP is 20-1 in its last 21 games when shooting more charity shots than the opposition. The only loss during that span was on Nov. 27 against Southern Illinois, when the Miners fell 68-62 despite enjoying an edge in free throw tries, 20-17. UTEP has gone to the line more often than the opposition in 10 of 13 games this season, including four of the last five. UTEP is 7-0 in 2004-05 when shooting a better free throw percentage than foes.
The Miners outshot New Mexico State 42-18 from the foul line on Dec. 18, and Princeton 36-12 on Dec. 28. UTEP has shot at least 12 more free throws than the opposing team in six games this season.
Gio Adding to Offense
Junior guard Giovanni St. Amant was UTEP's leading scorer as a freshman in 2002-03 (13.6 ppg), while starting 25 of 30 games. Last year, he came off the bench for all 32 contests and his scoring average dropped to 5.9 ppg. His shooting percentages also fell across the board from his rookie year -- field goal percentage (.426 to .389), three-point field goal percentage (.397 to .373) and free throw percentage (.828 to .736).
This year, with the loss of last year's senior sharpshooter Chris Craig, St. Amant has become more of a focal point in the Miner offense. He has started 10 of 13 games, averaging 8.5 points while shooting 46.1 percent from the floor, 40 percent from beyond the arc and 89.3 percent from the foul line. St. Amant has scored in double figures on five occasions, including a season-high 17 points versus Occidental College on Dec. 21. St. Amant made 6-10 field goals, 3-4 triples and 2-2 free throws against the Tigers. The 17 points marked his highest total in a game since March 11, 2003 versus San Jose State (21). He also led the Miners in scoring against Occidental College for just the second time in his last 46 games.
Thomas 15-Point Streak Now at 14 Games
Senior forward Omar Thomas has scored 15 points or more in 14 straight games, the longest streak by a Miner player since Brandon Wolfram hit for 15+ points in 17 straight contests a few years ago.
Thomas has shot 50 percent or better from the floor 30 times in 45 games as a Miner. He has scored in double figures 40 times in the 45 games, and produced 20 points or more on 12 occasions.
While Thomas has put up some eye-popping numbers in two seasons in the Sun City, statistics indicate that the Miners are a better team when they are spreading the wealth. UTEP is 13-8 in Thomas' career when he leads the team in scoring, and 23-2 when someone else is the high point man (includes the Boise State game on Saturday when Thomas and Jason Williams tied for high-point honors).
Winning Time With Williams
While Omar Thomas may be UTEP's leading point producer and Filiberto Rivera may be perceived to be the team leader, UTEP's fortunes have generally hinged on Jason Williams'performance. The Miners are 25-5 in Williams' career when he scores in double figures, 12-0 when he leads the team in scoring and 6-0 when he has a 20-point game.
The jack-of-all-trades Williams is first on the team in rebounding (6.2 rpg) and steals (1.5 spg), and second in scoring (13.8 ppg) and assists (3.1 apg). He has scored in double figures in 10 games this season, second only to Omar Thomas who has recorded 10+ points in all 13 outings.
Opponents Getting Their Fill of Fili
UTEP senior guard Filiberto Rivera returned to the lineup on Dec. 15 at New Mexico State after missing the previous three games with an ankle injury.
The Miners went 2-1 in Rivera's absence, beating IPFW (67-58) and Oklahoma Panhandle State (69-44) and losing to Texas Tech (72-57). UTEP averaged 64.3 points in the three games, shooting 42.7 percent from the field and averaging 19.0 turnovers. Over the last six games -- with Rivera back at the controls -- the Miners have averaged 79 points and 10.5 turnovers. UTEP has had 15 turnovers or more just three times in Rivera's 10 games this season. The Miners have had single-digit turnovers in four games this season, including three of the last four overall. With six turnovers versus Princeton and eight at Boise State, UTEP has put together back-to-back games with fewer than 10 turnovers for the first time since February 1999 (three straight games versus San Jose State, New Mexico and Utah).
Rivera has had an unbelievable run over the last four games. He has played 127 minutes during that span, collecting 33 assists and only three turnovers.
40-40 Club
UTEP is 9-1 this season when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, and 7-0 when holding opponents to less than 40 percent accuracy. The Miners lead the WAC in scoring defense, allowing a stingy 58.5 points per outing.
Teams are shooting 39.2 percent from the field against the Miners (best since 1973-74) and 32.4 percent from three-point distance (best since 1996-97). UTEP has forced 221 turnovers in 13 games (17.0 avg.). Last year, the Miners coerced opponents into turning over the basketball 521 times (16.3 avg.), the second-best single-season total in school annals. The record is held by the 1986-87 Miners, who forced 551 turnovers in 32 games (17.2 avg.).
Only three teams have shot 50 percent against the Miners in their last 60 games, and none in 2004-05. UTEP's current streak stands at 18 games holding foes under 50 percent shooting. The last team to shoot 50 percent against the Miners was SMU on Feb. 28, 2004 (.553).
The Miners turned in a stellar defensive effort versus Princeton on Dec. 28. UTEP allowed just 42 points, the lowest total by a Miner opponent since Air Force also scored 42 points versus UTEP on Feb. 7, 1991. Thirty of Princeton's 36 field goal attempts were three-point shots, including 17 of 19 in the second half.
UTEP has held three teams to less than 50 points (Oklahoma Panhandle State, Occidental College, Princeton) this season, marking the first time that has happened at the school since 1990-91 (three times).
Sellout City
UTEP has had capacity crowds of 12,000 in 10 of its last 22 home games dating back to last season. The Miners have had two sellouts in 2004-05 (Texas Tech, New Mexico State). UTEP's average home attendance this season is 9,166.
The Miners have had 98 sellouts all-time in the Don Haskins Center, which opened for business on Feb. 3, 1977. UTEP averaged 10,282 fans a year ago; the Miners haven't averaged 9,000 or more patrons in back-to-back campaigns since 1989-90.
Bench Bits
UTEP has had an edge in bench points in three of the last five games. The Miner reserves were outscored in each of the previous seven contests.
The subs produced 27 points on Dec. 27 versus Alabama State, the second-most bench points for UTEP in 2004-05. The high was 35 points in the season-opener against Delaware State.
UTEP's bench is averaging 17.1 points in 2004-05. Over the last seven games UTEP has averaged 19.6 bench points, compared to 8.3 in the previous four.
Junior guard Miguel Ayala is the Miners' top scorer off the bench this season (58 points in 10 games, 5.8 avg.). Ayala netted 14 points off the pine on Saturday at Boise State, tying the best scoring game by a UTEP reserve in 2004-05 (Giovanni St. Amant also had 14 points on Nov. 30 versus IPFW). Ayala and St. Amant have both scored in double digits twice off the bench this season, while junior forward John Tofi has accomplished this feat once.
Rebound of Sorts on the Boards
If there was one weakness on last year's Miner team that galloped to a 24-8 record, it was in the rebounding department. UTEP had a -0.1 rebound margin on the year, including -1.9 in WAC games, and was outboarded in 18 of 32 contests.
Improvement has been evident early in the 2004-05 campaign. The Miners have a +5.6 rebound margin through 13 games, their best since 1981-82 (+6.5 rebound margin). UTEP had double-digit rebound margins against Jackson State (51-30), Arizona State (42-31) and Alabama State (41-22).
UTEP has won the rebounding battle in nine of 13 games this season -- including six of the last seven. The Miners have outboarded their last five foes by a combined tally of 184-141 (+8.6 margin).
Junior forward Jason Williams (6.2 rpg) and senior forward Omar Thomas (6.1 rpg) are the Miners' leading rebounders. UTEP has four players averaging over five boards per game for the first time since 1973-74 (Jim Forbes 7.4 rpg, Gus Bailey 6.3 rpg, Gary Brewster 5.4 rpg, Ed Lynum 5.1 rpg).
The 6-5 Thomas has already had three double-double (points-rebounds) games this season after having none in 2003-04.
Youmans is New
Freshman guard Ervin Youmans (Hobbs, N.M.) is not in the UTEP media guide, but has played in five games this season.
The 5-11, 165-pound Youmans led the state of New Mexico in scoring last year at Hobbs High School, collecting 28 points per outing. He also averaged five assists, five steals and two rebounds. A two-time All-State honoree as a prep, Youmans had game-highs of 41 points and six assists. He was the second-leading scorer in New Mexico as a junior, when he averaged 21 points.
Starting Lineup is Mix-and-Match
Injuries have forced UTEP coach Doc Sadler to employ seven different starting lineups this season. The Miners used only three starting lineups last season.
The most common unit -- guards Filiberto Rivera and Giovanni St. Amant, forwards Omar Thomas and Jason Williams and center Will Kimble -- has posted a 5-1 record.
Ten different players have started games for the Miners already this season. Last year, only six different players made starts. True freshmen Vernon Carr and Kelvin Davis have each started one game in 2004-05.
Rivera Has 10-Assist Game
Senior guard Filiberto Rivera picked up his first career 10-assist performance on Dec. 15 at New Mexico State. He had 12 assists on Dec. 27 versus Alabama State, tied for the third-top game total in school annals.
Rivera is the ninth Miner to post 10 or more assists in a game, joining Tim Hardaway (four times), Eddie Rivera (three times), Prince Stewart (three times), Joe Griffin (twice), Eggie McRae (twice), Rudy Alvarez, Eugene Costello and Ed Haller.
Rivera has had no turnovers twice this season, and seven times in 42 career games. He has had more turnovers than assists just three times in his career.
Tofi Getting in Shape
Junior forward John Tofi has been gradually working his way back to form after undergoing two foot surgeries over the summer. Tofi got off to a slow start in 2004-05, totaling 21 points in the first seven games. He failed to score against Texas Tech on Dec. 4 for the first time in 65 games with the Miners.
Over the last six contests, he has looked more like the player who averaged 10.8 points and 5.9 rebounds last season. Tofi has collected 30 points (5.0 ppg) and 39 rebounds (6.5 rpg) in 122 minutes during that stretch. He had 11 boards on Saturday at Boise State. Tofi netted a season-high 10 points on Dec. 27 versus Alabama State.
17-0 is Longest Run
UTEP had a 17-0 scoring run in the first half versus Delaware State, turning a 15-14 deficit into a 31-15 advantage. UTEP had a 14-0 spurt against Oklahoma Panhandle State. The Miners had runs of 21-0, 17-0, 16-0 and 15-0 (twice) during last season's march to the NCAA Tournament.
The longest opponent run in 2004-05 is 11-0 by Texas Tech on Dec. 4.
Still the One
UTEP is the only school in the state of Texas to win a national title on the hardwood (1966). The Miners have made 23 postseason tournament appearances and captured 12 WAC titles (eight regular season, four tournament).
The 1966 national champion Miners are the subject of a Disney feature film, Glory Road, coming in 2005. The film stars Josh Lucas (A Beautiful Mind, Sweet Home Alabama) as legendary UTEP coach Don Haskins and Academy Award winner Jon Voight as Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp.
Miners Picked First
UTEP was listed first in both the preseason WAC coaches' and media polls, which were released in October.
In the coaches' poll, the Miners received 77 total points and five first place votes. Rice was second (75 points/five first-place votes), Louisiana Tech third (59 points), Nevada fourth (53 points), Hawaii fifth (51 points), SMU sixth (45 points), Boise State seventh (32 points), Tulsa eighth (27 points), Fresno State ninth (21 points) and San Jose State 10th (10 points).
In the media poll, UTEP garnered 186 total points and 13 of a possible 20 first-place votes. Rice was second (178 points/five first-place votes), Nevada third (136 points/one first-place vote), Hawaii fourth (130 points/one first-place vote), Louisiana Tech fifth (127 points), Boise State sixth (111 points), SMU seventh (75 points), Fresno State eighth (71 points), Tulsa ninth (65 points) and San Jose State 10th (21 points).
UTEP senior guard Filberto Rivera was named first team All-WAC by the coaches, and senior forward/guard Omar Thomas was a second team honoree. Rivera was also tabbed to the media's preseason All-WAC squad.
Miners Sign Two
UTEP Coach Doc Sadler announced in November that guard/forward Moses Gonzalez and guard Stefon Jackson have signed national letters of intent to play for the Miners beginning with the 2005-06 season.
Gonzalez will have two years of eligibility at UTEP, while Jackson will have four years of eligibility.
The 6-5 Gonzalez is entering his sophomore year at Ventura (Calif.) College. He is rated the #7 junior college wing forward in the country by Lindy's preseason magazine, and is also a preseason Junior College All-American by Street & Smith's. Ventura College is ranked fifth in Street & Smith'spreseason top-25 junior college poll.
A native of The Bronx, N.Y., Gonzalez was a member of Ventura's 2003-04 team that was 23-6 and ranked ninth in the state of California. He averaged 19.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 59 percent from the field, 35 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the line. He was a first team All-State honoree a year ago, as well as MVP of the Western State Conference. Gonzalez attended Walton High School in The Bronx, averaging 20 points as a prep senior. He is of Cuban and Puerto Rican descent.
The 6-4 Jackson is currently attending Lutheran Christian Academy in Philadelphia. He is rated the 42nd-best prep player in the country by Hoop Scoop. Jackson averaged 35 points this past summer at the Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas and was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Fall Jam Fest. He was also chosen MVP of both the Five-Star Camp and Rick Barry's Adidas All-Star Game earlier this year.
Jackson averaged 27 points last season at Lutheran Christian Academy. He averaged 18 points during the 2002-03 campaign at King High School in Philadelphia. Jackson helped King to a 22-5 record en route to being selected second team All-Public League by The Philadelphia Daily News.He also earned first team All-City honors.
C-USA in '05
UTEP will shift to Conference USA effective on July 1, 2005. The Miners will join WAC brethren Rice, SMU and Tulsa in the new-look league which will also include Central Florida, East Carolina, Houston, Marshall, Memphis, Southern Miss, Tulane and UAB.
Last year C-USA advanced eight men's basketball teams to postseason play (six NCAA, two NIT).
UTEP has been a member of the Western Athletic Conference since September, 1967.
Miner Nuggets
Starters have scored 739 of UTEP's 961 points in 2004-05 (77 percent)...UTEP has forced 125 turnovers in the first half this season (9.6 avg.), and 96 in the second half (7.4 avg.)...junior forward Jason Williams is shooting 53.1 percent (43-81) in the first half and 40.7 percent (22-54) in the second half...senior guard Filiberto Rivera joined senior forward Omar Thomas on the State Farm Sun Bowl All-Tournament Team...Thomas is shooting 54.9 percent in UTEP victories, and Williams is shooting 52.2 percent (45.8 percent from three-point distance)...Thomas is on pace to become only the third UTEP player to total 1,000 points in two seasons, joining Jim Barnes (1962-64) and Antoine Gillespie (1992-94). Thomas owns 752 career points...Thomas has shot a free throw in 43 of 45 career games. He is the only Miner to go to the line in every game this season...UTEP has made at least one three-pointer in 118 straight games...UTEP overcame a 10-point deficit to beat Arizona State. The Miners trailed 39-29 and 41-31...two UTEP road games -- at Nevada (Jan. 12) and Rice (Feb. 5) -- will be nationally televised on ESPN2...the Miners shot 62.5 percent from the field in the season opener versus Delaware State, their best effort since hitting 64 percent of their shots at Colorado State on Feb. 29, 1992.
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