What if Texas Western didn't win the 1966 national championship?
What would be the best team in UTEP basketball history?
Assuming you took the remaining UTEP NCAA Tournament teams, and pitted them against one another in a 16-team bracket, who would come out on top?
Would All-American Jim Barnes lead the 1964 Miners to the title? Would the upset-minded 1992 Sweet 16 squad reign apparent? Would one of the great UTEP teams from the 1980's capture the crown?
Imagine if Nate Archibald, Tim Hardaway, Eddie Rivera, Filiberto Rivera and Randy Culpepper all had something to say about it, along with the 1967 defending champions.
There's no March Madness this year. But there is Miner Madness.
We've seeded the teams. We've set the bracket. Starting on Thursday (March 26), we're letting you – the fans – determine the winner. Study the matchups on www.utepminers.com. Then cast your votes on the UTEP men's basketball Twitter.
And just to make this as realistic as possible, we're factoring in injured and ineligible players in our analysis below ... so if they didn't play in the NCAA Tournament that year, they're not available for Miner Madness!
Opening Round Matchups
Thursday, March 26
[1] 1963-64 Miners (25-3) vs. [16] 1987-88 Miners (23-10)
| 1963-64 Miners (25-3) |
Starting Lineups |
1987-88 Miners (23-10) |
| Andy Stoglin (6-4, Jr., 8.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg) |
F |
Chris Sandle (6-6, Sr., 17.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg) |
| Harry Flournoy (6-5, So., 5.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg) |
F |
Terry Stallworth (6-4, Jr., 6.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg) |
| Jim Barnes (6-7, Sr., 29.2 ppg, 19.2 rpg) |
C |
Wayne Campbell (6-7, Sr., 10.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg) |
| Orsten Artis (6-0, So., 10.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg) |
G |
Prince Stewart (5-11, Fr., 2.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg) |
| Steve Tredennick (6-0, Jr., 3.7 ppg, 0.7 rpg) |
G |
Tim Hardaway (5-11, Jr., 13.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg) |
Analysis: A 1987-88 Miner team that was down to eight players at the end of the season runs up against one of the best defensive squads in school history. The 1963-64 Miners held opponents to a .360 field goal percentage and 55.3 points per game. All-American Jim Barnes averaged 29.2 points and 19.2 rebounds for the 1963-64 Miners en route to being selected with the number one pick in the NBA Draft. The '88 Miners' lack of depth wouldn't be a huge factor in this game, since the '64 team only went seven or eight deep as well. But the '88 Miners are still missing future pro Antonio Davis (9.3 ppg/6.5 rpg), who broke his ankle in the first round of the WAC Tournament against New Mexico and is unavailable for postseason play, as well as Chris Blocker (15.0 ppg), who is sidelined due to academic reasons. Can the '88 team get Barnes in foul trouble? He fouled out of every game the '64 team lost that year.
UTEPMiners.com Pick: 1963-64 Miners
[3] 1983-84 Miners (27-4) vs. [14] 1974-75 Miners (20-6)
| 1983-84 Miners (27-4) |
Starting Lineups |
1974-75 Miners (20-6) |
| Fred Reynolds (6-6, Sr., 13.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg) |
F |
Ed Lynum (6-8, Sr., 7.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg) |
| Paul Cunningham (6-7, Sr., 3.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg) |
F |
John Saffle (6-8, Jr., 6.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg) |
| Juden Smith (6-6, So., 7.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg) |
C |
Gary Brewster (6-8, Jr., 15.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg) |
| Luster Goodwin (6-0, Jr., 10.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg) |
G |
Rod Jones (6-1, So., 5.9 ppg, 1.0 rpg) |
| Kent Lockhart (6-4, Jr., 9.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg) |
G |
Rudy Alvarez (6-3, Sr., 5.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg) |
Analysis: The 1983-84 Miners started the season 15-0 and soared to a no. 5 national ranking. They ended the season 27-4 and no. 9 in the Associated Press poll. The Miners had a savvy backcourt with Luster Goodwin and Kent Lockhart and tremendous leadership from senior Fred Reynolds up front. They also had a talented sophomore trio of Dave Feitl, Kevin Hamilton and Juden Smith lending support. The 1974-75 Miners counter with Gary Brewster, who took a huge bite out of the team's production with 15.4 ppg and 8.3 rpg. The '75 Miners were a physical bunch, committing 614 fouls, a school-record at the time. No one personified the toughness better than Brewster, who played through a nagging back injury that ultimately required surgery. This would be a low-scoring matchup; the '84 Miners allowed just 59.9 points per game, and the '75 Miners were even better defensively, giving up 57.3 ppg.
UTEPMiners.com Pick: 1983-84 Miners
[5] 1986-87 Miners (25-7) vs. [12] 1962-63 Miners (19-7)
| 1986-87 Miners (25-7) |
Starting Lineups |
1962-63 Miners (19-7) |
| Chris Sandle (6-6, Jr., 12.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg) |
F |
Tony Toren (6-0, So., 3.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg) |
| Quintan Gates (6-7, Sr., 10.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg) |
F |
Nolan Richardson (6-2, Sr., 10.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg) |
| Mike Richmond (6-9, Sr., 12.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg) |
C |
Jim Barnes (6-7, Jr., 18.9 ppg, 16.5 rpg) |
| Tim Hardaway (5-11, So., 10.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) |
G |
Bobby Lesley (6-0, Sr., 12.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg) |
| Jeep Jackson (6-1, Sr., 12.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg) |
G |
Willie Brown (6-0, Sr., 11.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg) |
Analysis: The 1986-87 Miners showed their mettle by winning at Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, before all games were hosted at a neutral site. The Miners took 30-game winner Iowa down to the wire in the second round before bowing out of the tourney, 84-82. The '86-87 Miners were Don Haskins' only team with six players averaging double figures in scoring -- Jeep Jackson (12.9 ppg), Chris Sandle (12.9 ppg), Mike Richmond (12.7 ppg), Quintan Gates (10.9 ppg), Chris Blocker (10.6 ppg) and Tim Hardaway (10.0 ppg). This was also a great shooting team (school-record 40.9 percent from three-point range). The 1962-63 Miners counter with dynamite defense, surrendering 54.6 ppg and a .393 defensive field goal percentage. Jim Barnes was a living breathing double-double, and future Hall of Famer Nolan Richardson was in his senior year. This was a very good Miner team, but greatness would await in 1963-64.
UTEPMiners.com Pick: 1986-87 Miners
[7] 1985-86 Miners (27-6) vs. [10] 2003-04 Miners (24-8)
| 1985-86 Miners (27-6) |
Starting Lineups |
2003-04 Miners (24-8) |
| Quintan Gates (6-7, Jr., 9.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg) |
F |
Jason Williams (6-6, So., 11.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg) |
| Wayne Campbell (6-7, Jr., 4.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg) |
F |
Roy Smallwood (6-6, Sr., 8.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg) |
| Dave Feitl (6-11, Sr., 16.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg) |
C |
John Tofi (6-8, So., 10.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg) |
| Jeep Jackson (6-1, Jr., 7.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg) |
G |
Chris Craig (6-1, Sr., 9.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg) |
| Juden Smith (6-6, Sr., 13.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg) |
G |
Filiberto Rivera (6-2, Jr., 11.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg) |
Analysis: The Miners were in the midst of seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances in 1986 (this was the third of the seven). This was the senior year for two stalwarts, Feitl and Smith. Over their last three years together in the Orange and Blue, they averaged 25.3 victories. Together, Feitl and Smith accounted for over 30 of the team's 67.8 points per game. The '85-86 team was a veteran group with two seniors and three juniors in the starting lineup. The 2003-04 squad, which set an NCAA record for turnaround after going 6-24 the year before, was equally stout defensively and had more weapons offensively. Flashy Filiberto Rivera (4.8 assists per game) made it all go. The Miners also had a secret weapon off the bench in Omar Thomas, who led the team with 15.5 ppg despite only starting eight contests. The key to the '03-04 team scoring the upset would ride on the work of John Tofi inside trying to neutralize Feitl. The Miners also had versatile Jason Williams, who could guard four positions on the floor.
UTEPMiners.com Pick: 2003-04 Miners
Friday, March 27
[2] 1991-92 Miners (27-7) vs. [15] 1989-90 Miners (21-11)
| 1991-92 Miners (27-7) |
Starting Lineups |
1989-90 Miners (21-11) |
| Marlon Maxey (6-8, Sr., 15.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg) |
F |
Marlon Maxey (6-8, So., 12.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg) |
| Johnny Melvin (6-5, Jr., (8.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg) |
F |
Antonio Davis (6-10, Sr., 10.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg) |
| David Van Dyke (6-9, Sr., 13.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg) |
C |
Greg Foster (6-11, Sr., 10.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg) |
| Eddie Rivera (5-8, Jr., 11.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg) |
G |
Prince Stewart (5-10, Jr., 8.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg) |
| Prince Stewart (5-11, Sr., (11.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg) |
G |
Henry Hall (6-1, Fr., 11.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg) |
Analysis: The 1991-92 Miners would be the top seed in many brackets. UTEP started the season 16-1 and would've won the WAC Tournament had BYU's Kevin Nixon not hit a ridiculous game-winning, 54-foot shot in the title game. The Miners regrouped and, as a nine seed, stunned top-seeded Kansas, 66-60, in the second round of the Big Dance. UTEP fell to Cincinnati in the regional semifinals, 69-67, and were oh-so-close to putting "The Bear" in the Final Four for a second time. The '91-92 squad was powerful inside with Marlon Maxey (15.2 ppg) and all-time leading shot blocker David Van Dyke (13.9 ppg). UTEP set a school record with 217 blocks that year. The 1989-90 Miners fared well without Tim Hardaway and had a couple of future pros in Antonio Davis (10.8 ppg) and Greg Foster (10.6 ppg). The Miners showed good balance with seven players averaging at least five points per game, and Maxey, then a sophomore, leading the way with just 12.4 ppg. Don Haskins missed the NCAA Tournament with laryngitis but still delivered the game plans to assistant Norm Ellenberger.
UTEPMiners.com Pick: 1991-92 Miners
[4] 2009-10 Miners (26-7) vs. [13] 1984-85 Miners (22-10)
| 2009-10 Miners (26-7) |
Starting Lineups |
1984-85 Miners (22-10) |
| Arnett Moultrie (6-11, So., 9.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg) |
F |
Juden Smith (6-6, Jr., 12.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg) |
| Jeremy Williams (6-7, Jr., 10.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg) |
F |
Kevin Hamilton (6-6, Jr., 5.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg) |
| Derrick Caracter (6-9, Jr., 14.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg) |
C |
Dave Feitl (6-11, Jr., 13.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg) |
| Randy Culpepper (6-0, Jr., 17.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg) |
G |
Luster Goodwin (6-1, Sr., 16.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg) |
| Julyan Stone (6-6, Jr., 6.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg) |
G |
Kent Lockhart (6-5, Sr., 6.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg) |
Analysis: The 2009-10 Miners were long, deep and athletic. They had dominant Derrick Caracter in the middle, rising sophomore Arnett Moultrie at power forward, jack-of-all-trades Jeremy Williams at small forward, electric 2-guard Randy Culpepper and 6-6 Julyan Stone, who later played in the NBA, at the point. UTEP breezed through Conference USA with a 15-1 mark and won 16 straight from mid-January to mid-March. Included in the run was a 72-67 triumph at Memphis, ending the Tigers' NCAA record-tying 64-game conference win streak. This team was built for a long tournament run but ran up against Butler, which reached the title game a year later, in round one. The 1984-85 Miners had an all-senior backcourt of Luster Goodwin (16.9 ppg) and Kent Lockhart (6.3 ppg), and a dominant inside player in Dave Feitl, who nearly had a triple double (27 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists) in the WAC Tournament against Utah.
UTEPMiners.com Pick: 2009-10 Miners
[6] 1988-89 Miners (26-7) vs. [11] 1969-70 Miners (17-8)
| 1988-89 Miners (26-7) |
Starting Lineups |
1969-70 Miners (17-8) |
| David Van Dyke (6-8, Fr., 5.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg) |
F |
Bob Doyle (6-5, Jr., 13.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg) |
| Johnny Melvin (6-4, Fr., 5.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg) |
F |
Dick Gibbs (6-7, Jr., 10.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg) |
| Greg Foster (6-11, Jr., 11.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg) |
C |
Mike Switzer (6-5, Sr., 13.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg) |
| Prince Stewart (5-11, So., 10.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg) |
G |
Ples Vann (6-4, Sr., 8.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg) |
| Tim Hardaway (6-0, Sr., 22.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg) |
G |
Nate Archibald (6-0, Sr., 21.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg) |
Analysis: What a matchup between senior point guards! Tim Hardaway averaged 22 points per game and Nate Archibald collected 21.4 ppg. The 1988-89 Miners set a school record, shooting 51.5 percent from the field. The UTEP roster featured three long-time NBA players in Hardaway, Greg Foster and Antonio Davis. The latter came off the bench for two NCAA Tournament games in 1989. The '88-89 Miners would have a decided height advantage as the '69-70 squad featured 6-5 Bob Doyle, 6-7 Dick Gibbs and 6-5 Mike Switzer in the frontcourt. Archibald was as good as it gets. He scored 36 points in the Miners' NCAA Tournament loss to Utah State, and shot 53 percent from the field and 83 percent from the charity stripe on the year. He led UTEP to its first Western Athletic Conference title in its first year in the league. The '69-70 team was no slouch, averaging 79.1 points per game.
UTEPMiners.com Pick: 1988-89 Miners
[8] 2004-05 Miners (27-8) vs. [9] 1966-67 Miners (22-6)
| 2004-05 Miners (27-8) |
Starting Lineups |
1966-67 Miners (22-6) |
| Jason Williams (6-6, Jr., 11.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg) |
F |
David Lattin (6-6, Jr., 15.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg) |
| Omar Thomas (6-5, Sr., 20.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg) |
F |
Willie Worsley (5-7, Jr., 12.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg)* |
| John Tofi (6-8, Jr., 6.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg) |
C |
Willie Cager (6-5, Jr., 9.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg) |
| Giovanni St. Amant (6-3, Jr., 7.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg) |
G |
David Palacio (6-2, Jr., 7.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg) |
| Filiberto Rivera (6-2, Sr., 13.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg) |
G |
Kenny John (5-10, So., 5.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg) |
* Started as a third guard
Analysis: The 2004-05 Miners were led by the spectacular senior duo of Filiberto Rivera (13.5 ppg) and Omar Thomas (20.5 ppg). Rivera set a school record with 18 assists versus LA Tech. Thomas was efficient as ever, shooting 51.2 percent from the field and 84.5 percent from the line. The Miners still had John Tofi and Jason Williams in the frontcourt, while Miguel Ayala (.382 three-point field goal percentage) was a capable replacement for Chris Craig. The Miners' school-record .792 free throw percentage would come in handy in tournament time. The 1966-67 Miners had a rocky road following up their championship season. They played the second half of the season without injured floor general Bobby Joe Hill, who was injured. Texas Western was still lethal up front with David Lattin (15.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg) and Willie Cager (9.4 ppg), although Nevil Shed (10.3 ppg/7.5 rpg) was ruled ineligible for the NCAA Tournament.
UTEPMiners.com Pick: 2004-05 Miners
Quarterfinals -- Coming Saturday, March 28 & Sunday, March 29
Final Four -- Coming Saturday, April 4
Championship -- Coming Monday, April 6
