For Starters
UTEP (12-2, 2-0 WAC) attempts to extend its winning streak to nine games on Saturday when Tulsa (2-9, 0-3 WAC) comes to El Paso. The Miners haven't registered nine consecutive victories since the 1991-92 season, when they reeled off 12 successive wins en route to a 27-7 record and a berth in the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA Tournament.
The Miners have won six in a row in the Don Haskins Center, and are 25-2 in the venue over the last two seasons (9-1 in 2004-05). Tulsa is 0-2 on the road and coming off a 72-71 setback at Boise State on Thursday. The Golden Hurricane is trying to put a stop to a six-game losing skein that started on Dec. 18. During the skid, Tulsa has lost five games by six points or less.
UTEP's 2004 WAC championship and NCAA Tournament banners will be hoisted at halftime of Saturday's game.
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 6:30 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 Saturday's game.
The Series
Tulsa has enjoyed a 19-7 edge in the series ledger (5-3 in El Paso). Tulsa had dominated the UTEP series before the Miners swept the Golden Hurricane a year ago. UTEP snapped a 21-game WAC road losing streak with a 59-56 victory at the Donald W. Reynolds Center, and the Miners downed Tulsa by a 78-66 count in El Paso. The Golden Hurricane had won 12 in a row over UTEP before the Miners halted the skid last season.
The Last Meeting
UTEP completed a season sweep of perennial WAC power Tulsa with a 78-66 win on Feb. 7, 2004 in the Don Haskins Center.
The Miners opened up a 20-point second-half lead, then watched Tulsa close the gap to 10 points before righting the ship for the win.
After the Miners scored the game's first four points, Tulsa responded with an 8-0 run, capped by Anthony Price's layup.
Tulsa trailed 21-20 when Charles Ramsdell hit a three-pointer with 7:55 to go in the half, but UTEP answered with a 13-3 spurt for a 34-23 lead. The Miners were up 41-33 at the break.
UTEP's biggest lead was 57-37 with 12:52 to play on a bucket by Jason Williams.
Filiberto Rivera scored 20 points and Roy Smallwood had a season-high 16 for the Miners. Omar Thomas had 14 points and Williams 12. Smallwood and John Tofi each collected 10 boards, as the Miners enjoyed a 41-35 rebounding advantage.
UTEP shot 47.5 percent and had only 11 turnovers. The Miners held Tulsa's Jason Parker -- the WAC's third-leading scorer coming in -- to eight points, nearly 11 below his season average. Parker had two points at halftime and finished 3-14 from the field.
Scouting The Golden Hurricane
Tulsa fell to 0-3 in league play on Thursday, losing at Boise State 72-71. Freshman guard Deion James led the Golden Hurricane with 19 points.
Tulsa lost its first two WAC games last week at home, dropping decisions to Louisiana Tech (58-52) and SMU (95-83 in overtime). Junior forward Anthony Price scored 39 points against the Mustangs.
Price is averaging 16.5 points on the year, shooting 52.2 percent from the field. Senior forward Jarius Glenn is next in line, contributing 16.3 points per contest. Glenn is the team's leading rebounder (8.3 rpg).
Head Coach John Phillips announced his resignation in late December, leaving assistant Pooh Williamson to lead the team.
The Golden Hurricane is shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from three-point distance.
Miners Versus Tulsa
Senior guard Filiberto Rivera collected 20 points on 8-13 shooting against Tulsa last season in the Don Haskins Center.
Senior forward Thomas Gehrke is averaging 9.5 points in his career versus the Golden Hurricane -- his highest scoring average against any WAC opponent.
Junior guard Giovanni St. Amant has a career scoring average of 10.6 ppg against Tulsa, but has hit just 32.2 percent (19-59) of his shots versus the Golden Hurricane. He scored 20 points on 6-17 shooting against Tulsa on Jan. 16, 2003 in El Paso.
Junior forward John Tofi has averaged 9.8 points and 7.5 rebounds in four career games versus Tulsa, shooting 53.3 percent (16-30) from the floor.
Last Game: UTEP 96, Rice 67
Five players scored in double figures as UTEP routed Rice, 96-67, on Thursday night at the Don Haskins Center. The Miners won for the eighth straight time, and registered their second consecutive lopsided victory over the Owls.
Last year, UTEP blasted Rice 105-62 in El Paso. The Miners were picked to win the WAC in the preseason coaches and media polls, while the Owls were pegged second behind preseason player of the year Michael Harris.
Harris, who was averaging 20.6 points and shooting 60 percent from the field entering the game, finished with 10 points on 5-11 shooting in 35 minutes. Harris and Jason McKrieth, the Owls' senior leaders, were limited to a combined 19 points after averaging 34.0 between them heading into the contest.
Harris did have 15 rebounds, helping the Owls to a 40-39 advantage on the boards.
Little else went right for Rice, which dropped to 0-4 on the road this season. The Owls fell behind 48-38 at the half and shot 35.5 percent in the second period in being outscored 48-29.
The Owls led, 30-28, on a dunk by J.R. Harrison with 6:32 to go in the opening half. But UTEP erupted with an 11-0 run to take a 39-30 advantage on a layup by Filiberto Rivera with 4:34 remaining in the half.
Rice couldn't get closer than seven points the rest of the night.
UTEP opened up a 35-point lead (91-56) on a three-pointer by Omar Thomas with 5:30 to play.
The Miners shot over 50 percent in both halves of a game for the third time this season, finishing at 50.7 percent. The Miners made eight three-pointers, including six by Miguel Ayala in a reserve role. Ayala was 6-8 from beyond the arc, netting 20 points in 23 minutes. The six three-pointers tied for the second-best game total in school history.
UTEP's 26 assists tied for the third-top game figure in school annals. The Miners had less than 10 turnovers for the third straight game, finishing with seven. Rivera once again had an error-free game, compiling eight assists and no turnovers in 30 minutes.
Thomas led UTEP with 26 points. Ayala had 20, Jason Williams and Will Kimble 14 and Rivera 11.
Kimble, returning from a foot injury to play 15 minutes, had his top scoring game as a Miner, as did Ayala.
Lorenzo Williams led Rice with 13 points, including eight in the first half.
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.
Through Thursday, Sadler was tied for the most wins (12) and had the second-best winning percentage (.857) among new head coaches.
Sadler's 12-2 start marks the best 14-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).
Miners are 2-0
UTEP is off to a 2-0 start in WAC play for the first time since 2000-01, when the Miners won their first three league games.
UTEP has opened the WAC slate 3-0 in eight seasons -- 1969-70 (4-0), 1982-83 (5-0), 1983-84 (3-0), 1985-86 (3-0), 1987-88 (4-0), 1991-92 (6-0), 1994-95 (6-0) and 2000-01 (3-0).
Raining Threes
UTEP has made 21 three-pointers over the last two games, the most for the Miners in back-to-back contests since Jan. 26-28, 1995 (14 at BYU, 11 at Utah, total of 25). Over the last two games, UTEP has shot 52.5 percent (21-40) from beyond the arc.
Junior guard Miguel Ayala drained six triples versus Rice on Thursday, tying the second-best game total in school history. Ayala became the second Miner to hit six or more three-pointers in a reserve role. Henry Hall buried six three-pointers in 28 minutes off the bench at BYU on Jan. 11, 1990.
UTEP is second in the WAC in three point field goal percentage (.357), and first for conference games only (.525). Ayala leads the league in three-point percentage for conference games (10-13, 76.9 percent). Senior guard Filiberto Rivera is shooting 55.6 percent (5-9) from long range in WAC action.
"O.T." Back on Top in Scoring Chase
Senior forward Omar Thomas poured in 26 points on Thursday against Rice to supplant the Owls' Michael Harris as the league's leading scorer. "O.T." is now averaging 20.2 points per game, putting him ahead of San Jose State's Marquin Chandler (20.0 ppg) and Nevada's Nick Fazekas(19.9 ppg) in the scoring race. Thomas is averaging 22.5 points in conference games, second to SMU's Bryan Hopkins (22.7 ppg).
The last UTEP player to lead the WAC in scoring was Brandon Wolfram in 2000-01 (22.3 ppg). The only other Miner to pace the circuit in scoring was NBA Hall of Famer Nate Archibald during the 1968-69 campaign (22.4 ppg).
No Turnovers Here
UTEP has committed just 21 turnovers over the last three games, the fewest in a three-game stretch for the Miners since Feb. 24-March 3, 1994 (nine versus Fresno State, nine versus Air Force, three at Utah, total of 21). UTEP has never gone four straight games with fewer than 10 turnovers.
UTEP had a 26-7 assist/turnover ratio against Rice on Thursday. Over the last three games, UTEP's assist/turnover ratio is 56-21. The Miners have had more assists than turnovers in each of the last five games, and nine times in 14 contests this season. UTEP had a seven-game streak with more assists than turnovers during the 2003-04 campaign.
Senior guard Filiberto Rivera has totaled 41 assists and three turnovers over the last five games. He has had three error-free performances during that stretch (versus Occidental College, Alabama State and Rice).
Winning Streak Now at Eight
UTEP's current eight-game winning streak is its longest since December 2000 to January 2001, when the Miners also reeled off eight victories in a row. As mentioned, UTEP hasn't posted nine successive wins since 1991-92 (12 straight).
UTEP has been dominant during the winning streak, averaging 79.9 points to opponents' 57.2 (+22.7 scoring margin). The Miners' field goal percentage has been .485 during the streak, compared to .393 for foes. UTEP has also shot 193 free throws during this stretch (24.1 avg.), while opponents have attempted 118 (14.8 avg.). Foes have committed 133 turnovers (16.6 avg.) to only 87 for the Miners (10.9 avg.). UTEP has averaged 18.3 assists and 10.9 turnovers per game during the victory streak. The Miners are shooting 78.2 percent (151-193) from the foul line during this span.
The Miners have led by an average of 12.8 points at halftime in the eight victories.
Junior forward Jason Williams is averaging 14.5 points during the streak while shooting 53.1 percent from the field. Senior forward Omar Thomas is averaging 20.5 points on 56.3 percent shooting, and senior guard Filiberto Rivera has a 57-9 assist/turnover ratio.
Speaking of Streaks ...
The Miners have won their last six home games by an average of 26 points. UTEP has forced an average of 17.8 turnovers during the streak, while limiting opponents to 52.8 points per game on 36.7 percent shooting (24.6 percent from three-point land).
UTEP has won nine straight WAC home games. The last time the Miners had a similar skein was during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons. UTEP won all nine WAC home contests during the 1994-95 campaign, and extended the streak to 10 victories by topping Hawaii in the 1996 home league opener.
UTEP in the WAC Stats
UTEP leads the WAC in scoring offense (75.5 ppg), scoring defense (59.1 ppg), scoring margin (+16.4 ppg), free throw percentage (.763), assists (16.6 apg), turnover margin (+3.50) and assist/turnover ratio (1.23). The Miners are second in field goal percentage (.470) and three-point field goal percentage (.357), and third in field goal percentage defense (.396), three-point field goal percentage defense (.314), rebound margin (+5.1 rpg) and steals (7.4 spg).
No WAC team has ever ended a season as the league leader in scoring offense and scoring defense.
Individually, senior forward Omar Thomas is first in scoring (20.2 ppg), third in field goal percentage (.551), fourth in free throw percentage (.802) and sixth in steals (1.5 spg). Junior forward Jason Williams is 13th in scoring (13.8 ppg), 15th in rebounding (6.4 rpg), ninth in steals (1.4 spg) and 10th in field goal percentage (.490). Senior guard Filiberto Rivera is first in assists (6.6 apg), free throw percentage (.864) and assist/turnover ratio (4.29). Junior guard Miguel Ayala is sixth in three-point field goals made per game (1.9).
Rivera is trying to become only the second Miner to lead the WAC in assists (Tim Hardaway, 5.7 avg., 1987-88 season).
Hot Shooting All Around
UTEP has shot over 50 percent in back-to-back games for the first time this season (.531 at Boise State, .507 versus Rice). UTEP has now shot over 50 percent in four games this season, including three of the last four. Over the last four contests, the Miners' field goal percentage is .533 (122-229).
UTEP collected 13 three-point field goals against Boise State, 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).
Seventy = Success
The Miners have scored 70 points in six of the last seven 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 34-4 when scoring 70 points (8-0 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, the most for the Miners in a period this season. UTEP is averaging 93.5 points in WAC games. The Miners have topped 90 points in consecutive conference games for the first time since February, 2000 (92 versus Fresno State, 96 against TCU in the Don Haskins Center).
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 9-1 at home this season, with an average margin of victory of 24.8 points. UTEP is shooting 47.2 percent from the field in the Haskins Center (opponents are shooting 37.5 percent), and 35.6 percent from three-point range (opponents are shooting 28 percent). The Miners' free throw percentage in home games is 77.0.
UTEP has averaged 14.4 turnovers in home games, and 13.0 in home victories. The Miners have forced an average of 18.7 turnovers in their 10 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 26.1 charity shots at home, compared to 15.3 for the opposition. The Miners have shot more free throws than their opponent in nine of 10 home games (the only exception being the Texas Tech contest), including each of the last six.
Junior guard Giovanni St. Amant is shooting 48 percent (12-25) from three-point territory at home this season. Junior guard Miguel Ayala is shooting 43.5 percent (20-46) from beyond the arc. Senior forward Omar Thomas is shooting 56.6 percent at home. Freshman guard Kelvin Davisand 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 (.763) for the second straight season. The current Miner record for seasonal field goal percentage is .766, established during the 1968-69 campaign.
Junior guard Giovanni St. Amant leads UTEP with a .900 free throw percentage in 2004-05. UTEP's regular rotation of guards -- St. Amant, Filiberto Rivera and Miguel Ayala -- have combined to shoot 87.4 percent (76-87) from the foul line.
The Miners have made more free throws (251) than their opponents have attempted (224) for the second year in a row. Overall UTEP is 21-1 in its last 22 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 11 of 14 games this season, including five of the last six. UTEP is 8-0 in 2004-05 when shooting a better free throw percentage than foes.
Thomas 15-Point Streak Now at 15 Games
Senior forward Omar Thomas has scored 15 points or more in 15 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 31 times in 46 games as a Miner. He has scored in double figures 41 times in the 46 games, and produced 20 points or more on 13 occasions (most recently on Thursday against Rice).
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 14-8 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 Jan. 1 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 26-5 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 (6.4 rpg), and second in scoring (13.8 ppg), assists (3.1 apg) and steals (1.4 spg). He has scored in double figures in 11 games this season, second only to Omar Thomas who has recorded 10+ points in all 14 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 seven games -- with Rivera back at the controls -- the Miners have averaged 81.4 points and 10 turnovers. UTEP has had 15 turnovers or more just three times in Rivera's 11 games this season. The Miners have had single-digit turnovers in five games this season, including four of the last five overall.
40-40 Club
UTEP is 10-1 this season when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, and 7-0 when holding opponents to less than 40 percent accuracy.
Teams are shooting 39.6 percent from the field against the Miners (best since 1973-74) and 31.4 percent from three-point distance (best since 1992-93). UTEP has forced 238 turnovers in 14 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 61 games, and none in 2004-05. UTEP's current streak stands at 19 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 23 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 9,308.
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 four of the last six games. The Miner reserves were outscored in each of the previous seven contests.
The subs produced 39 points on Thursday against Rice, a season-high and the most for the Miner reserves since collecting 39 versus Boise State on Jan. 3, 2004.
UTEP's bench is averaging 18.6 points in 2004-05. Over the last eight games UTEP has averaged 22.0 bench points.
Junior guard Miguel Ayala is the Miners' top scorer off the bench this season (78 points in 11 games, 7.1 avg.). Ayala netted 20 points off the pine on Thursday versus Rice, the best scoring game by a UTEP reserve in 2004-05. Ayala has scored in double figures off the bench three times this season, while junior guard Giovanni St. Amant has accomplished this feat twice and junior forward John Tofi 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 +5.2 rebound margin through 14 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 14 games this season -- including six of the last eight. The Miners have outboarded their last six foes by a combined tally of 223-181 (+7.0 margin).
Junior forward Jason Williams (6.4 rpg) and senior forward Omar Thomas (6.0 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 three times this season, and eight times in 43 career games. He has had more turnovers than assists just three times in his career.
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 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).
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 796 of UTEP's 1,057 points in 2004-05 (75 percent)...junior forward Jason Williams is shooting 53.5 percent (46-86) in the first half and 42.4 percent (25-59) 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 57.1 percent in UTEP victories, and Williams is shooting 52.8 percent (42.3 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 778 career points...Thomas has shot a free throw in 44 of 46 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 119 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.
|
|
