Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (7-3, 1-0 C-USA) will look to stay undefeated at home (7-0) when it takes on NC A&T (5-6) in its opening contest of the 61st-annual WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational at 7 p.m. MT Wednesday. Mattress Firm is the Presenting Sponsor of UTEP Men's Basketball. I-10 rival NM State (6-4) will face perennial Mid-American Conference power Kent State (8-3) in the initial match-up of the tournament at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The third/fourth-place game is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, with the championship contest to follow at 7:30 p.m. The Miners are coming off a 60-55 victory against LA Tech in their Conference USA opener while NC A&T fell last time out, 70-66, against Norfolk State on Dec. 18. UTEP is a perfect 7-0 at home while the Aggies are 0-4 on the road. The contest will air on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso with Jon Teicher (42nd year) and Steve Yellen (20th year) on the call. For more information on the 2021 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational please go to www.sunbowl.org. Tickets are available by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/or by calling (915) 747-UTEP
 
TALKING TOURNAMENT HISTORY
UTEP is 89-29 in the event (47-12 first round). It has won 32 tourney titles (32-14 in title tilt). There was no championship game played or awarded in 2010, as the match-ups were preset. UTEP is 9-3 in the third-place contest. The Miners' most-recent title at the event was in 2019. Prior to that triumph, the Orange and Blue had a three-year stretch (2012-14) as tournament champions. Last year UTEP went 1-1 in the event, besting NC Central, 70-61, in its first-round game on Dec. 21, 2021, before falling in the championship tilt to Bradley, 73-66, on Dec. 22, 2021.
 
SERIES HISTORY: UTEP LEADS, 2-0
UTEP is 2-0 against NC A&T, with both prior meetings occurring in the Don Haskins Center. Most recently the Miners knocked off the Aggies, 72-54, in their first contest of the 2019 Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational. The Orange and Blue were victorious in their initial match-up with NC A&T, posting an 81-66 triumph on Nov. 25, 2009.
 
GET TO KNOW NC A&T
NC A&T (5-6) is in its third conference in as many seasons. It was a longtime member of the MEAC (12 regular-season titles, 15 tournament crowns), spent the 2021-22 campaign in the Big South and beginning this year is now competing as part of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). Last year the Aggies were 12-20  (6-10 Big South). They returned three starters and eight letter winners from that squad. Kim Woods (17.8 ppg), Marcus Watson (14.0 ppg) and Demetric Horton (11.6 ppg) are all in double figures for scoring to pace NC A&T's offense that produces 71.0 ppg (third CAA). Its attack is predicated upon an up-tempo style that results in 14.6 fastbreak points per game (first CAA/44th NCAA). The Aggies love the 3-point shot, making 101-294 for a percentage of 34.4 (third CAA). They hit 9.5 treys per game (second CAA/32nd NCAA) while attempting 26.9 triples per contest (second CAA/29th NCAA). Woods is 32nd nationally for 3-pointers made per game (3.0) and 53rd in the country for total 3-point attempts (94). Defensively the Aggies are yielding 70.1 ppg (eighth CAA), but they do lead the CAA and rate 65th nationally with 8.5 steals per contest. Horton 63-point shot well, topping the CAA and checking in 88th in the country with a 3-point percentage defense of 30.7. The school was founded in 1891. Notable alumni/attendees include the Reverend Jesse Jackson and actress Taraji P. Henson.
 
LAST TIME OUT: AT UTEP 60, LA TECH 55 (12/17/22)
Tae Hardy registered a team-high 15 points and UTEP stifled a potent offensive LA Tech squad in a 60-55 win in the Conference USA opener for both squads at the Don Haskins Center on Dec. 17. It marked UTEP's first victory in a league lid lifter in seven seasons (W, 61-60, vs. Rice, 1-1-16) and kept the Orange and Blue undefeated at home (7-0) on the year. The Miners locked up the high-flying Bulldogs' offense, which had entered the contest producing 76.8 points per game. UTEP held LA Tech to an opponent season-low 29.6 percent from the floor, including 16.0 percent from beyond-the-arc. It also harassed the visitors into committing 20 turnovers that resulted in 16 points. Ten different Miners scored in the contest, paced by Hardy's 15. Carlos Lemus netted eight points (all in the second half) while Mario McKinney Jr. contributed seven points. Keven Kalu (six points, career-high tying nine rebounds), Shamar Givance (six points, six rebounds, six assists, two steals) and Calvin Solomon (six points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals) all stuffed the stat sheet as well. Otis Frazier III scored five points in eight minutes after missing consecutive contests with an injury. Included in his scoring total were two late free throws to help seal the triumph.
 
BACK TO OUR IDENTITY
After yielding 90+ points in back-to-back games against Division I opposition (L, 95-70, at NM State- Nov. 30; L, 91-70, at DePaul- Dec. 10), the Miners returned to their roots by shutting down LA Tech in the 60-55 win on Dec. 17. They held the Bulldogs to a UTEP opponent-season low 29.4 shooting percent. LA Tech made only 4-25 (16.0 percent) from 3-point range. The Aggies (12-24) and Blue Demons (14-27) had combined to go 26-51 from distance. UTEP also forced 20 turnovers, the fourth game this year by the opposition with 20+ giveaways.
 
PROGRESS IN THE SECOND HALF
UTEP had a +2 scoring differential (34-32) in the win against LA Tech on Dec. 17 marking the first time this season that the Miners outscored a Division I opponent over the final 20 minutes of the contest. UTEP had entered the game having been outpaced 281-220 in the second half in the seven contests against DI foes for an average second-half score of 40.1-31.4 in favor of the opposition in those games.
 
KALU CRASHING THE GLASS
Kevin Kalu has been all over the boards the past two contests. He set a career high with nine rebounds at DePaul on Dec. 10 before matching that in the win against LA Tech on Dec. 17. Overall, he is now accounting for 3.2 rebounds per game, aided by tying for second on the squad with 12 offensive rebounds.
 
FREE THROWS WIN BALL GAMES?
The old saying goes that free throws win ball games, but UTEP is 7-3 despite struggling at the charity stripe. It is 5-1 on the season when shooting 60 percent or less in a contest and 2-2 when eclipsing that figure. Most recently UTEP toppled LA Tech, 60-55, on Dec. 17 despite going 15-37 for a readout of 40.5 percent. Ironically, it was the lowest FT% in a contest for the Orange and Blue since making 14.3 percent (1-7) in a 58-45 setback to LA Tech on Jan. 18, 2015. It marked the first victory for the Miners when shooting less than 41 percent at the charity stripe since going 2-5 (40 percent) in a 58-47 win at East Carolina on Feb. 6, 2014. UTEP has now claimed its past two games when missing at least 20 free throws, with the victory against LA Tech (15-37) and an 81-74 triumph against UTSA (20-40, March 5, 2016. Overall, the Miners are at 60.0 percent (171-285) at the line on the season.
 
KNOCKING DOWN SHOTS
UTEP has nailed at least 40.0 percent of its shots in all 10 games, the longest such stretch to begin a season since the 2010-11 team eclipsed 40 percent over the first 15 contests. It's the longest stretch at any point in a campaign since UTEP did so 17 straight times in 2016-17. Overall, the Miners are connecting on 46.8 percent of their shots (seventh C-USA/91st NCAA). UTEP has been particularly accurate with 2-point attempts, making 54.9 percent inside the arc.
 
STARTING TO CONNECT ON 3-POINTERS
UTEP has begun to find some accuracy from 3-point range the past three games. The Miners are 21-53 (39.6 percent) from beyond-the-arc in that span (2-1 record). Over the first seven contests, UTEP was 25-117 (21.3 percent) from distance.
 
A TALE OF TWO HALVES
UTEP has a +5.5 scoring margin (34.3-28.8) in the first half of contests this year, but in the second half that figure swings the other way to -2.6 (34.7-37.3). The Miners' offensive output has been pretty similar, but they have not been able to carry over the defense from the opening stanza. Foes are shooting 47.6 in the second half (36.8 in the first half), including 36.5 percent (26.0 in the first half) from 3-point range. That has resulted in opponents averaging 8.5 more ppg (37.3-28.8) in the second half compared to the first half. In spite of those numbers, the Miners still enter Wednesday's game at 7-3.
 
PACK THE DON
UTEP is leading Conference USA in both overall attendance (35,411) and average attendance (5,059) in 2022-23. UAB (26,570) is the closest team for total attendance while Middle Tennessee (4,455) is the nearest for average attendance. Last year the Miners led in overall attendance and were second in the league in average attendance.
 
WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE
UTEP has shot out to 7-0 at home, equaling the best start inside the Don Haskins Center in three years. The 2019-20 edition opened up at 9-0 in El Paso before finishing with a home mark of 13-4. The Miners haven't trailed by more than five points in any of those seven home contests and they have a +14.7 (75.1-60.5 ppg) in the Sun City this season.
 
TAKING DOWN 2022 POSTSEASON TEAMS
Three of the Miners' seven wins this year have come against teams that played postseason basketball a year ago, including two that went to the NCAA tournament. UTEP knocked off NM State (2022 NCAA second round) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2022 NCAA first four), in addition to Alcorn State (2022 NIT). All three of those teams won their conference. UTEP also has a victory against LA Tech, which was a stellar 24-10 last season.
 
WIN CLOSE
More than half (four of seven) of the Miners' victories this year have been by five points or less, demonstrating their toughness and grit. UTEP toppled NM State by three (67-64, Nov. 12), CSU Bakersfield by one (68-67, OT, Nov. 23), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi by five (72-67, Nov. 25) and LA Tech by five (60-55, Dec. 17). UTEP is 4-0 in such contests this season.
 
D-UP
UTEP has held five of its past seven opponents to below 40 percent from the floor, including forcing LA Tech into an UTEP opponent-season low 29.6 percent (16-54) shooting last time out on Dec. 17. NM State (57.7 percent, Nov. 30) and then No. 12 Texas (54.8 percent, Nov. 7) are the only Miner opponents this year to hit at least 50 percent from the floor. Overall, foes have limited to 41.9 percent compared to UTEP's readout of 46.8 percent (seventh C-USA/91st NCAA).
 
LOCK THEM DOWN AT THE DON
UTEP has a scoring defense of 60.4 ppg at the Don Haskins Center this season, with opponents shooting 37.5 overall and just 23.4 percent from 3-point range. None of the seven opponents have tallied more than 67 points in El Paso, with three held in the 50's.
 
TIME TO DO THAT ON THE ROAD
The Miners are allowing 86.0 points per game on the road, with the opposition making 53.5 percent overall and 46.2 percent from beyond-the-arc. All three foes have topped 70 points, including a pair above 90.
 
CLOSING OUT GAMES
Even though the Miners have had some close calls this year, they are 7-0 on the season when they have a lead with 5:00 to play in the contest. UTEP is also perfect on the season (7-0) when up at the half.
 
C-USA GETTING IT DONE OUT OF CONFERENCE
Conference USA's 11 squads have been thriving out of conference, with a combined mark of 81-32 between the 11 programs (through Dec. 19). Florida Atlantic (10-1) has one loss while Charlotte, North Texas, UAB and WKU all have just two setbacks.
 
GETTING TO THE LINE
UTEP has been aggressive offensively, which has resulted in it going to the line early and often. The Miners are first in C-USA and second nationally with 28.5 free throw tosses per game, aiding by piling up 43 attempts against Alcorn State on Nov. 22. It marked the most free throw attempts by UTEP since taking 47 in a season-opening victory against Loyola on Nov. 14, 2016. UTEP's 17.1 free throws made per contest is second in the conference and 22nd in the nation. Overall, UTEP has attempted 285 free throws compared to 198 by the opposition. Tae Hardy (33-51), Calvin Solomon (21-41), Shamar Givance (28-37) and Ze'Rik Onyema (15-33) all have 30+ attempts.
 
HARDY DOING IT ALL
Southern Miss transfer Tae Hardy is doing a little bit of everything this year, pacing the Miners in scoring (13.4 ppg) while rating second in blocks per game (0.6 bpg) and assists per game (2.2). He's also shown endurance, leading the squad at 32.2 minutes per game. Hardy has been a consistent scorer, tallying at least eight points in all 10 contests of the season, including a pair of 20+ point efforts. He has led or shared the top spot on the team in scoring in six tilts (no one else on the team with more than one) while recording a team-high six double-digit scoring efforts.
 
GIVANCE THE LEADER
Evansville transfer Shamar Givance, the only senior on the roster, has contributed in multiple ways this season while running the point for the Orange and Blue. He tops the team in assists per game (4.2-fifth C-USA) and free-throw percentage (min. 10 FTA, 75.7 percent) while rating second in playing time (29.4) and tying for third in scoring (8.0 ppg). He has dished out at least five assists in five consecutive contests and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of +1.8 (seventh C-USA). Givance has shown the ability for clutch play, making two free throws with 3.0 seconds left to help lift UTEP to a 68-67 OT win against CSUB on Nov. 23.
 
SUPER MARIO
NM State transfer Mario McKinney Jr. has been a big key to UTEP's early success. After reaching double digits in scoring in five of his first seven appearances (all off the bench), he earned his initial start of the year against LA Tech on Dec. 17. Overall, McKinney Jr. is second on the team in scoring (11.3 ppg), aided by a career-high 24 points on the road against his former squad on Nov. 30. He is also second on the team in offensive rebounds (12) while placing third in rebounding (4.4 rpg).
 
ONYEMA STEPPING UP
After failing to reach double figures in scoring over his first two seasons with the Orange and Blue, forward Ze'Rik Onyema has done so in five contests this year (five straight to being season). He has also recorded his first career double-double (10 points, career-high 10 rebounds) in the win vs. Alcorn State on Nov. 22. He shares the team lead in rebounding (5.2 rpg), is third in field-goal percentage (64.4) and fifth for scoring (7.4 ppg). He put up 2.0 ppg and 1.6 rpg in 2021-22.
 
CALVIN'S CORNER
Stephen F. Austin transfer Calvin Solomon has been an impact player for UTEP in his first year with the Miners. He is one of three players (Shamar Givance and Tae Hardy are the others) to have started all 10 contests on the season. Solomon paces the squad in offensive boards (14), shares the team lead in rebounding (5.2 rpg), is second in steals per game (1.6) and rates sixth in scoring (7.1 ppg). Solomon has been assertive at attacking the defense with his 41 free-throw attempts placing second on the unit.
 
KALU FINISHING AT THE RIM
Kevin Kalu has done good work inside, making 22-of-29 for a team-leading 75.9 field-goal percentage on the season. Overall, he is putting up 5.5 ppg (1.5 ppg as a freshman last year). He's also gotten after it on the glass recently, with consecutive games of nine boards to set and then equal his career high for caroms.
 
POINTS ACROSS THE BOARD
Six different players are scoring between 7.0 and 14.0 points per game. Tae Hardy (13.4 ppg) and Mario McKinney Jr. (11.4 ppg) are in double figures to lead the way while Otis Frazier III (8.0 ppg), Shamar Givance (8.0 ppg), Ze'Rik Onyema (7.4 ppg) and Calvin Solomon (7.1 ppg) round out the group. If UTEP can find another player to surpass 7.0 ppg (Jamari Sibley is the closest at 6.1 ppg), it would give the Miners seven players with at least 7.0 ppg. The last time the Orange and Blue had at least seven players contribute 7.0 or more ppg in a season was in 2017-18. Furthermore, there have already been 11 players (out of 13) to register at least one double-digit scoring contests.
 
TURNOVER MACHINES
UTEP is forcing the opposition into 19.4 turnovers per game to lead Conference USA and rank 10th nationally. The Miners harassed the first eight foes to commit at least turnovers, the longest stretch to begin a season since the initial 12 opponents did so in 1974-75. That streak ended at DePaul (12/10/22), with the Blue Demons falling just shy at 14 giveaways, but UTEP dialed up the heat in making LA Tech commit 20 giveaways last time out on Dec. 17. The Miners also forced the most turnovers (32) by a Miner opponent in nine years in the win against Sul Ross State on Nov. 15.
 
GIVE ME THAT BALL
UTEP's pressure defense has resulted in 9.6 steals per game to place second in Conference USA and rank 27th in the country. Aiding that figure was a school-record 24 steals in the victory against Sul Ross State on Nov. 15. Six different Miners had at least three steals in the contest to help them surge past the prior school standard of 21 which had stood since 1994 (against Cardinal Stich on Dec. 20, 1994). Several of those thefts were the result of UTEP players hitting the deck in pursuit of loose balls, even with the game well in hand. The Orange and Blue are currently on pace for 307 steals this season, which would break the school record (288, 2009-10).
 
THE BENCH BUNCH
The Miners' bench has provided at least 15 points in all 10 games this year (eight with 24+ points), including going off for a season-high 51 against Sul Ross State on Nov. 15. Overall, UTEP reserves are contributing 28.9 points per game to rank third in Conference USA and 45th nationally. Super sub Mario McKinney Jr. has been vital in this category, tallying 11.9 ppg while coming off the pine in seven of his eight total appearances.
 
GET OUT AND RUN
The Miners have used the opponent's 19.4 turnovers per game to help them get out into transition for easy baskets. The Orange and Blue are accounting for 11.6 fastbreak points per game, which is fourth in Conference USA and 100th in the country.
 
TALKING OVERTIME
UTEP went to overtime in back-to-back contests at the Jim Forbes Classic presented by Speaking Rock, defeating Alcorn State, 73-61, in double OT on Nov. 22 before besting CSUB, 68-67, in OT on Nov. 23. It marked the first time since the 2016-17 season that the Miners posted consecutive wins in OT. That year UTEP knocked off FIU (88-87, 2OT, 1/14/17) and Florida Atlantic (66-65, OT, 1/16/17) in back-to-back contests during the 2016-17 season. Overall, UTEP is now 69-46 all time in overtime contests, including 3-1 under head coach Joe Golding.
 
WHAT A CROWD
UTEP played in front of an almost capacity crowd of 11,315 fans in the win against NM State on Nov. 12. It marked the largest home attendance for the Miners since an actual sellout (12,000) of the Don Haskins Center when they beat WKU, 93-89, in a game commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1966 Texas Western NCAA Champions.
 
THERE WAS PLENTY OF PRODUCTION TO REPLACE
Between Jamari Sibley, Kevin Kalu and Ze'Rik Onyema, the Miners returned just 20.8 percent of their rebounding, 11.1 percent of their scoring and 9.0 percent of their assists from the 2021-22 squad. In total, the Miners lost four starters and 12 letter winners from last year's squad, including a pair of All-Conference USA performers in Souley Boum (second team) and Jamal Bieniemy (third team).
 
NEW-LOOK TEAM
UTEP lost four starters and 12 letter winners from last year's team, giving the Miners a new look in year two under head coach Joe Golding. UTEP brought in six Division I transfers (Otis Frazier III, George Mason, Shamar Givance, Evansville, Tae Hardy, Southern Miss, Garrett Levesque, Tarleton State, Mario McKinney Jr., NM State and Calvin Solomon, Stephen F. Austin) while adding four junior-college transfers (Jon Dos Anjos, Florida SouthWestern College), Derick Hamilton, Bossier Parish CC, Carlos Lemus, Chipola College and Malik Zachery, South Plains) and two true freshmen (Antwonne Holmes, Chapin HS, El Paso, Texas, and Jamal Sumlin, Rhodes HS, Cleveland, Ohio). It should be noted that Dos Anjos spent his freshman campaign at Loyola Marymount (Calif.) before going the junior-college route.
 
EXPERIENCED D1 TRANSFERS
The Miners' six DI transfers combined to play in 379 contests, including making 165 starts, prior to their arrival in the Sun City. Shamar Givance (Evansville, 118 GP, 63 GS) and Calvin Solomon (Stephen F. Austin, 82 GP, 56 GS) are the most experienced of the bunch, but Otis Frazier III, George Mason, 35 GP), Mario McKinney Jr. (NM State, 38 GP, 5 GS) and Tae Hardy (Southern Miss, 30 GP, 26 GS) also have 30+ appearances.
 
HOME COOKING
UTEP is 7-0 at home thus far, matching the best start in three years. The 2019-20 edition shot out to a 9-0 start in El Paso before ultimately concluding the season with a mark of 13-4 at the Don Haskins Center. The Miners are scheduled ot play 18 total times in the Don Haskins Center, with eight nonconference (6-0 thus far) and 10 Conference USA tilts (1-0 thus far). UTEP wraps up the nonconference portion of its home slate with the 61st-annual WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational this week. The Miners are well on their way to a fourth straight season with 10+ wins. 
 
LIFE ON THE ROAD
UTEP is 0-3 on the road, including falling at No. 12 Texas, 72-57, in its season opener on Nov. 7. It marked the first time to begin the season with a true road game since a 73-61 victory at Pac-12 foe Washington on Nov. 21, 2000. Overall, the Miners will have 13 road games (0-3 thus far) on the year, with three nonconference (0-3) and 10 in C-USA (0-0 thus far). UTEP went 7-6 in 2021-22 on the road, its first winning road record since forging a mark of 8-2 in 2013-14. The Miners' next road game will come at UAB on Dec. 29.
 
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
The Miners will have 17 contests (0-3 thus far in situation) to be broadcast/streamed on nationwide platforms, with 13 on ESPN+ (0-1), and one each on ESPNU, FS1 (0-1), the Longhorn Network (0-1) and Stadium.
 
A YEAR IN REVIEW
-    UTEP (20-14) posted its first 20+ win season since going 22-11 in 2014-15. It marked the 27th 20+ win campaign in program history.
-    The Miners notched their first postseason appearance since 2015 and first postseason win since 2009.
-    The Miners finished 11-7 in league play to secure their first winning conference record since forging a mark of 12-6 in 2016-17. That was aided by winning 10 of 14 down the stretch, including halting back-to-back C-USA West Division Champion North Texas' 15-game winning streak, 70-68, on "Senior Day" on March 5.
-    UTEP downed Old Dominion, 74-64, on March 9 for its first victory at the C-USA Championships in five years.
-    UTEP's seven road wins were the most since going 8-2 in 2013-14.
-    The Miners had their first winning road record (5-4) in league play since 2016-17.
-    UTEP's five league road wins surpassed its total (four) of such games from the prior three seasons combined.
-    UTEP had a six-game conference USA winning streak (Jan. 15 to Feb. 5), which was its longest since also posting six straight wins  in 2016 (2/4-20/16). It marked the fifth winning streak of at least six C-USA games since the Miners joined the league in 2005-06.
 
THE BASIC FACTS ON UTEP
-    This is the 102nd season of UTEP men's basketball. The Miners made history by starting five African-Americans to defeat Kentucky, 72-65, and win the 1966 NCAA Championship on the way to inspiring the Disney hit movie Glory Road. Overall, UTEP has 17 NCAA Tournament appearances (last in 2010), 11 NIT bids (last in 2015), 12 conference championships (last in 2010) and 27 seasons with at least 20+ victories (last in 2022). The Miners have won five league tournaments (last in 2005).
-    The Miners have a strong presence in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with Don Haskins, Nate Archibald, Nolan Richardson, the 1966 team and Tim Hardaway all representing UTEP.
-    UTEP finished 20-14 in 2021-22, which was its most wins since going 22-11 in 2014-15.
-    The Miners returned one starter (Jamari Sibley), and eight letter winners overall. The two other returning letter winners are Kevin Kalu and Ze'Rik Onyema.
-    UTEP has 12 newcomers: Jon Dos Anjos, Otis Frazier III, Shamar Givance, Derick Hamilton, Tae Hardy, Antwonne Holmes, Carlos Lemus, Garrett Levesque, Mario McKinney Jr., Calvin Solomon, Jamal Sumlin and Malik Zachery.
 
GET TO KNOW COACH GOLDING
Joe Golding is in his second year at UTEP and is the 20th head coach in program history. He is the eighth head coach for the Miners since legendary Hall of Fame Coach Don Haskins retired following the 1998-99 season. Golding is 185-161 in his 12th season as a collegiate head coach, including 27-17 at UTEP. Last year he became the fourth head coach (20 total) in program history to have a winning season in their first year on the sideline. Don Haskins was the first when he directed the Miners to a mark of 18-6 in 1961-62. Doc Sadler (27-8, 2004-05) and Tim Floyd (25-10, 2010-11) also achieved the feat. Overall, the prior 19 head coaches combined to forge an average record of 9-13 in their first year with UTEP. Previously Golding spent 10 years at Abilene Christian (158-144), helping it transition from a Division II to a Division I program. Golding led the Wildcats to the 2019 and 2021 NCAA Tournaments, including a stunning upset as a 14-seed of third-seeded Texas in the first round of the 2021 Big Dance.
 
PRESEASON PREMONITIONS
UTEP was predicted to finish eighth out of 11 teams in Conference USA for the 2022-23 season, but keep in mind that last year's edition of the Miners was underestimated. The Orange and Blue were tabbed to finish in 10th place a year ago before tying for the fifth-most wins in league play by forging a mark of 11-7 in 18 C-USA tilts. Overall UAB was predicted to finish first, followed by WKU and North Texas at second and third, respectively.
 
UP NEXT
UTEP will wrap up nonconference play by facing either I-10 rival NM State or MAC power Kent State at 5:30 or 7:30 p.m. MT Thursday to conclude its participation in the 61st-annual WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational.
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