Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP

The UTEP men's basketball team (19-13) will make its first postseason appearance in seven years when it plays host to Western Illinois (16-15) in the opening round of the 2022 Basketball Classic presented by Eracism at 1 p.m. MT Saturday. The Miners are competing in postseason basketball for the first time since the 2015 NIT. Jon Teicher(41st year) and Steve Yellen (19th year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also be streamed on ESPN+ with Erik Elken (play-by-play) and former Miner Hooper Vint(analyst) describing the action. Fans can visit www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets to purchase tickets. General admission tickets are $10 and courtside are $25 (based on availability). The doors to the Don Haskins Center will open at 11:30 a.m. The Miners are 11-6 at home on the year while the Leathernecks stand 7-8 on the road. The victor will advance to the second round with the opponent to be determined.

 

UTEP IN THE POSTSEASON

UTEP is making its first postseason appearance since 2015 and 32nd all time. The Miners are 24-31 in postseason action, winning the NCAA Championship in 1966. It is the first occasion the that Miners are competing in the Basketball Classic. UTEP has previous postseason appearances in 1963 (NCAA), 1964 (NCAA) 1965 (NIT), 1966 (NCAA), 1967 (NCAA), 1970 (NCAA) 1972 (NIT), 1975 (NCAA), 1980 (NIT), 1981 (NIT), 1983 (NIT), 1984 (NCAA), 1985 (NCAA), 1986 (NCAA), 1987 (NCAA), 1988 (NCAA), 1989 (NCAA), 1990 (NCAA), 1992 (NCAA), 1993 (NIT), 1995 (NIT), 2001 (NIT), 2004 (NCAA), 2005 (NCAA), 2006 (NIT), 2008 (CBI), 2009 CBI), 2010 (NCAA), 2011 (NIT), 2014 (CBI) and 2015 (NIT). The Miners are shooting for their first postseason victory since earning runner-up honors at the 2009 CBI.

 

GOLDING BACK IN POSTSEASON PLAY

First-year head coach Joe Golding is continuing a personal stretch of postseason run with the Miners' appearance in the 2022 Basketball Classic presented by Eracism. He directed Abilene Christian to the 2018 CIT and the NCAA Tournament in 2019 and 2021. There was no postseason basketball in 2020 due to Covid-19. Golding was 1-3 combined in those events, leading the #14 seed Wildcats to an upset of #3 seed Texas, 53-52, in the opening round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

 

SERIES HISTORY: UTEP LEADS, 2-0

UTEP is 2-0 all time against Western Illinois, including a mark off 1-0 in El Paso. The two teams first squared off in a neutral-site matchup in 1984 (UTEP W, 83-49) before not meeting again until the 2013-14 season. That year the Miners won at home, 67-64, in their opening round of the WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational.

 

GET TO KNOW WESTERN ILLINOIS

Western Illinois enters the 2022 Basketball Classic presented by Eracism at 16-15 on the season. They were the sixth seed in the Summit League and were bounced in the quarterfinals, 80-68, by Oral Roberts on March 6. The Leathernecks began the year at 10-2, including winning at Nebraska, 75-74, in front of 15,312 fans in their opener on November 9. WIU won its league opener before struggling the rest of the way to finish at 7-12 within the Summit League. Of its 15 losses on the season, eight were by single digits. WIU was 9-6 at home, 7-8 on the road and 0-1 in its only neutral site contest in the league tournament. It has plenty of continuity on offense with three players starting all 31 games and two others starting 30 of 31. Each of the starters put up least 10.0 points per game, including leading scorer and All-Summit league second-team honoree Trenton Massner at 16.8 ppg (second Summit League). He also paces the team in rebounding (6.3-seventh Summit League), assists (4.0-second Summit League) and steals (1.8-first Summit League). Will Carius (14.3 ppg-12th Summit League), All-Summit league honorable-mention member Luka Barisic (14.2 ppg-13th Summit League), Colton Sandage (13.4 ppg) and Tamell Persaon (10.0 ppg) buoy the efforts of Massner. No other player contributes more than 5.0 ppg. Overall WIU is putting up 78.7 points per game (third Summit League/24th NCAA). It is also in the league leaders and national top-100 for rebounds per game (second/38th), 3-point field-goal attempts (813-second/45th), 3-pointers per game (8.8-fourth/47th), offensive rebounds per game (11.7-first/59th), 3-pointers made (273-fourth/64th), defensive  rebounds per game (26.8-fourth/67th), fewest turnovers per game (11.6-fifth/77th) and rebounding margin (3.4-fifth/79th). It struggled defensively, allowing 77.1 points per game (329th NCAA), which was hurt by foes shooting 37.5 percent (343rd) from 3-point range. Notable university alumni include the late John Mahoney (actor, Frasier) and David Bowens (NFL linebacker 1999-2010, concluding his career with the Cleveland Browns).

TRENDING WITH THE TEAM

-   The Miners are 15-2 on the season when drilling at least eight 3-point shots. That record includes a school-recording tying 15 makes from distance against Southern Miss in the 87-54 win on Jan. 8. UTEP nearly matched that with 14 at USM on Feb. 19.

-   The Miners stand at 15-2 when scoring 70+ points (5-0 getting into the 80's).

-   UTEP sports a mark of 18-5 on the campaign when limiting foes to 72 points or less, including 5-1 when keeping them in the 50's.

-   The Miners are 7-2 in games decided by five points or less.

-   UTEP is 18-5 when making at least 40 percent of its shots and 7-1 when the opponent falls shy of that figure. It is also 12-2 when shooting better than foes. 

-   The Miners are 15-2 when leading with five minutes to play.

-   Fifteen of UTEP's 19 wins of the year have been the come-from-behind variety, including the season-best 13 points overcome against UTSA on Jan. 11. There have been rallies of at least seven points seven times total this season.

 

HOME COOKING

UTEP has a record of 11-6 at home in 2021-22, aided by ranking second in Conference USA in attendance with an average of 4,771 fans per game. It marks the third straight year that the Miners have won at least 10 home contests.

 

PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME

UTEP heads into the 2022 Basketball Classic at 3-1 in the month of March and having won 11 of the past 16 contests overall. The Miners had victories over back-to-back C-USA West Division champion North Texas and C-USA Tournament runner-up LA Tech during that stretch run.

 

SUCCESS IN YEAR ONE OF GOLDING ERA

-   UTEP has compiled its most wins (19) since finishing 19-14 in 2015-16. It will now have a shot at surpassing that figure and notching its first 20+ win season since going 22-11 in 2014-15. It would be the 27th 20+win campaign in program history.

-   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 their first victory at the C-USA Championships in five years.

-   UTEP's seven road wins are 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.

-    The Miners secured their first road win at LA Tech since 2004, at New Mexico since 2009, at ODU since 2015 and at UTSA since 2015. They also secured the first road sweep of the LA Tech and Southern Miss trip in six tries.

-    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.

 

ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS

Souley Boum (second team) and Jamal Bieniemy (third team) both picked up All-Conference USA accolades as announced by the league office on March 7. Boum led the league in scoring during the regular season while Bieniemy placed ninth. It was Boum's second straight distinction and the first overall for Bieniemy.

 

GOING BACK IN TIME (MT 66, UTEP 59 , OT,  MARCH  10, 2022)       

The (4W) UTEP men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker in overtime to (1E) Middle Tennessee, 66-59, In the quarterfinals of the 2022 Heritage Landscape Supply Group Conference USA Men's Basketball Championships at the Star on March 10. It marked the first OT game at the C-USA tournament for UTEP since the 2012 league championships. The Miners  trailed by 12 (34-22) with 15:53 to play in the contest before uncorking a 22-7 run on the way to leading by three (44-41) with 6:28 remaining in regulation. It was back-and-forth the rest of the way. The contest eventually went to overtime where the Blue Raiders outlasted UTEP during the extra session. Jamal Bieniemy (13 points, three assists), Souley Boum (12 points, nine rebounds, UTEP C-USA tournament record seven steals) and Keonte Kennedy (11 points, 10 rebounds) led the way for UTEP. Tydus Verhoeven pitched in five points and eight rebounds before fouling out while Jamari Sibley notched five points to go along with three blocked shots. Alfred Hollins (seven points) and Christian Agnew (six points) both made contributions off the bench.

 

QUICK HITTERS FROM THE MT GAME

-    The Miners held Middle Tennessee to 39.0 percent (23-59) from the floor and forced 13 turnovers that were converted into 12 points. 

-    UTEP also had a slight edge in fastbreak points (13-12).

-    Keonte Kennedy posted his first double-double of the season.

 

THIS AND THAT

-    Souley Boum (19.7 ppg) is on track to become the first Miner since Randy Culpepper (19.3) in 2010-11 to average at least 19 points per game.

-    Souley Boum has 11 20+ point outputs the past 16 games and 16 total on the year.

-    Keonte Kennedy has reached double figures in scoring in all five games (10/16/16/17/11) since his return from an injury that forced him to miss 15 consecutive contests.

-   UTEP has had its top three scorers (Souley Boum, Jamal Bieniemyand Keonte Kennedy) on the court in the same game for five straight games, but just 10 times total out of 32 total contests on the season.

 

ON THIS DATE IN UTEP HISTORY

UTEP defeated Tulsa, 79-75, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 15, 1985.

 

LOCK DOWN ON DEFENSE

UTEP has kept 17 of its past 29 opponents to at least five points below their scoring average entering the contest, including most recently against Middle Tennessee on March 10. Those 17 foes have been held to a total of 180 points combined under the expected output, which works out to 10.6 fewer points per game by the opposition across the board. Furthermore, UTEP has only allowed 11 teams to reach the 70's and just one into the 80's. The overall affect has been a scoring defense of 66.3 to rank third in C-USA and 99th in the nation.

 

GETTING OFFENSIVE

Guards Souley Boum (19.7 ppg), Jamal Bieniemy (14.7 ppg) andKeonte Kennedy (13.5 ppg) are all putting up at least 13.0 points per game, something that hasn't happened at UTEP since the 1999-2000 campaign. Boum is currently second in C-USA for scoring while Bieniemy is 11th. Kennedy does not qualify due to only appearing in 17 contests on the season. Tydus Verhoeven (6.6 ppg) Jorell Saterfield (6.1 ppg), and Jamari Sibley (5.2 ppg) have all contributed at least 5.0 ppg. As a squad the Miners are accounting for 69.0 ppg.

 

TALKING STARTING LINE-UP COMBINATIONS

UTEP has used 14 starting line-up combinations in 32 games, including three different lineups the past three contests, Overall, 11 different Miners (out of 15 on the roster) have started. Injuries, illnesses and Covid-19 protocols have played a big factor in the mix and match this season. Last year the Miners utilized two starting line-ups with a total of six different players starting on the season. In 2019-20 there were eight, seven in 2018-19, 17 in 2017-18, eight in 2016-17 and 14 in 2015-16.

 

THAT'S A GOOD MARGIN

UTEP has caused 17+ turnovers 12 times on the year while committing 14 or less on 24 occasions (14 games with 10 or less). Furthermore, the Miners have made the same or fewer amount of turnovers compared to the opposition in 24 of the 32 games this year. The result is a +3.1 turnover margin (second C-USA/27th NCAA). UTEP is making 11.8 turnovers per game (fifth C-USA/97th NCAA) while forcing 14.9 (third C-USA/46th NCAA). 

 

TURN IT OVER

UTEP is third in Conference USA and 46th in the country by forcing 14.9 turnovers per game, which is aided by coming up with 7.5 steals per game (fourth C-USA/76th NCAA). Keonte Kennedy (1.9 spg-DNQ in rankings due to not enough games played), Souley Boum (1.8-fourth C-USA/70th NCAA) and Jamal Bieniemy (1.6 spg-ninth C-USA) have all been key to leading the charge.

 

SCORING STREAK

Souley Boum (84), Keonte Kennedy (41) and Jamal Bieniemy (32) and Tydus Verhoeven (25) all have scoring streaks of at least 20 games. 

 

CALLED FREE THROWS FOR A REASON

UTEP is taking care of business at the charity stripe, connecting on 76.0 percentage at the line (third C-USA/32nd NCAA). Three different Miners have hit at least 80 percent from the charity stripe this year (min. 20 attempts). They are Jamal Bieniemy (85.5 percent), Souley Boum(84.5) and Christian Agnew (81.1 percent).

 

WIN BIG

The Miners have 11 wins by at least eight points, including six double-digit efforts. UTEP even managed that feat at Old Dominion despite having only having five minutes of action in overtime (W, 78-70 on Jan. 15).

 

WIN SMALL

UTEP is 7-2 on the year in games decided by five points or less.

 

NOTHING STOPS SOULEY

2022 All-Conference USA second-team honoree Souley Boum has dealt with both a broken finger on his non-shooting hand (missed one game), Covid-19 protocols (missed two contest) and illness (missed one game) but he has produced all year long. He is pouring in 19.7 ppg (second C-USA/26th NCAA), aided by 20+ point-outings in 11 of the last 16 contests and 16 times total on the season. He has 26 double-digit scoring efforts (in 28 appearances). Boum has done plenty of damage at the free-throw line, making 164 (first C-USA/eighth NCAA) of 194 (first C-USA/24th NCAA). He has made at least five free throws in 18 different games while attempting 10+ in eight contests. Boum also has come up with 1.8 steals per game (fourth C-USA/70th NCAA) and dishes out 2.6 assists per game (second on team). He adds 4.4 rebounds per game (fourth on squad).

 

JB'S WORLD

2022 All-Conference USA third-team member Jamal Bieniemy has played big across the board this season. He leads the team in assists per game (4.0-seventh C-USA) and 3-pointers made (68-ninth C-USA) while rating second in points per game (14.7-11th C-USA) and  third in steals per contest (1.6-ninth C-USA). He has 22 double-digit scoring games (in 30 appearances), including a career-high 36-point effort at Rice (Feb. 5) that was the most points by a Miner in 12 years. He has had double-digit scoring streaks of seven (out of the gates) and 11 games, both of which eclipsed his prior best of five. Bieniemy suffered an injury at No. 8 Kansas that caused him to miss the ensuing two tilts, but he has been in the starting lineup every contest since.

 

KEONTE DOES IT ALL

Keonte Kennedy was having a career year before sustaining an injury against Bradley on Dec. 22 that forced him to miss the first 15 league games. Kennedy returned to action against UAB on Feb. 26 and has put up double figures in all five games since returning to action. He now has a career-long 10-game streak with 10+ points. On the year he leads the team in rebounding (5.5 rebounds per game) and steals (1.9 steals per game- while rating third on the squad in scoring (13.5 points per game) and minutes per game (33.9 mpg).

 

SATERFIELD FROM DOWNTOWN

Jorell Saterfield has proved to be a threat in his first year as a transfer from Ranger College. That is especially true from 3-point range. He is leading the team in 3-point percentage (min. 30 3FGA), nailing 45.0 percent (49-107). He has a chance to break UTEP's single-season record for 3-point percentage (min. 1.0 3/game) that is held by Roy Smallwood (1999-00, 28-61, 45.9 percent, in 28 GP). Overall, he is putting up 6.1 points per game (tied fourth on team) in 21.4 minutes per game. 

 

TYDUS DOING THE DIRTY WORK

Post Tydus Verhoeven is doing a little bit of everything down low for the Miners. He leads the team in offensive rebounds (46) and is second on the squad in blocked shots per game (1.03-12th NCAA) and rebounds per game (4.8 rpg). His scoring output has also gone up lately with at least eight points in nine of the past 13 contests, putting him at 6.6 ppg (fourth on team).

 

TALKING 30+ POINT GAMES

Souley Boum (32-Marshall, Feb. 13, 32-FIU, Jan. 23) has a pair of 30+ scoring efforts this year. He now has three such scoring bursts in his career, making him one of 11 Miners all time with at least that many. Jamal Bieniemy (36- at Rice, Feb. 2) also has a 30+ point game to his credit, the first of his career.

 

TALKING 20+ POINT GAMES

Souley Boum has posted 16 games with at least 20+ points this season and 42 in his career between San Francisco (seven-2017-18) and UTEP (35). Jamal Bieniemy has surpassed 20 points six times in 2021-22, tripling his total (two) from last year.

 

MILESTONE TRACKER

Souley Boum (started at San Francisco) joined the 1,000 point club at UTEP, the first member in five years and 35th overall. He is now up to 1,413 points (ninth all time at UTEP). For his career he boasts a total of 1,807 points while appearing in 120 games (84 at UTEP). He has also made 214 3-pointers, with 167 at UTEP (fourth all time at school). Christian Agnew (started at North Alabama) has gone past 900 points for his collegiate career (941) while playing more than 100 games (105), with 46 at UTEP. Jamal Bieniemy (started at Oklahoma) has moved past 900 career points (968) for his college career, including 639 at UTEP. He's also eclipsed 400 assists (418) for his college career, including 212 helpers at UTEP. He has appeared in more than 100 collegiate games (118), including 53 (all starts) at UTEP. Alfred Hollins(started at Oregon State) has moved beyond 600 career points (648) and surpassed 100 career games played (127). Tydus Verhoeven(started at Duquesne) has more than 400 rebounds (418) for his collegiate career, with the majority at UTEP (312). He has also topped 100 career blocks (137), with 66 at UTEP. Verhoeven is past 100 games played (115), with 89 at UTEP.

 

CAN'T CATCH A BREAK

Due to injury or illness, the Miners have lost 36 man games this year (Keonte Kennedy-15, Christian Agnew-six, Souley Boum-four, Cam Clardy-three, Tydus Verhoeven-three, Jamal Bieniemy-two, Alfred Hollins-one, Bonke Maring-one and Ze'Rik Onyema-one). No individual has started in every single contest, and UTEP has used 12 different line-up combinations. At least one starter missed a game 20 times total on the year. Additionally, no one on the roster has appeared in every contest. 

 

THE BASIC FACTS ON UTEP

-   This is the 101st 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 26 seasons with at least 20+ victories (last in 2015). The Miners have won five league tournaments (last in 2005).

-   UTEP is 19-13 in 2021-22, which is the most wins since also tallying 19 in 2015-16.

-   The Miners returned four starters (Jamal Bieniemy, Souley Boum, Keonte Kennedy and Tydus Verhoeven) and eight lettermen overall. Other returning lettermen are Christian Agnew, Cam Clardy, Gilles Dekoninck and Ze'Rik Onyema. Emmanuel White, who redshirted, also came back.

-   UTEP has six newcomers: Kezza Giffa, Alfred Hollins, Kevin Kalu, Bonke Maring, Jorell Saterfield and Jamari Sibley.

-  The Miners brought back four of their five leading scorers from 2020-21 in the form of Souley Boum (18.8 ppg), Keonte Kennedy (8.6 ppg),Jamal Bieniemy (8.6 ppg) and Christian Agnew (6.1 ppg).

 

COMING SOON TO EL PASO

JUCO standout Jon Dos Anjos (nationally-ranked Florida SouthWestern State) has signed a national letter of intent to enroll at UTEP and play for the men's basketball team beginning in 2022-23. Dos Anjos will have two years of eligibility for the Miners. He was a first-team all-league performer for the Bucs in 2020-21, helping them go 18-5 and advance to the semifinals of the FCSAA State Tournament. He averaged 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds while playing in all 23 games, including 20 starts.

 

SPORTSCENTER TOP-10 PLAY

Senior Alfred Hollins tipped in a shot at the buzzer to lift  UTEP to an exhilarating 70-68 win over then Conference USA East Division leader Florida Atlantic at home on Jan. 27. The play went on to gain national notoriety, earning the number three spot for the daily Sportscenter top-10 plays list on ESPN's signature program. 

 

THE COMEBACK AT CHARTWAY

UTEP trailed Old Dominion (Jan. 15) by seven points (63-56), with 77 seconds remaining before tallying the final seven points in regulation to force OT. The Miners went on to claim the 78-70 triumph for one of their most memorable comebacks. The game was also the first of a six-contest winning streak. Here's the breakdown to force OT beforeSouley Boum tallied 13 of UTEP's 15 points in the extra session for the notable win.

Team Play                                                                                        Time       UTEP       ODU

UTEP Tydus Verhoeven free throw made                            1:08         57                 63

ODU   C. Smith missed 3-pointer                                                 00:57      57                 63

UTEP Tydus Verhoeven defensive rebound                        00:57      57                 63

UTEP Jamari Sibley 3-pointer (Souley Boum assist)         00:39      60                 63

ODU   A.J. Oliver two missed free throws                                  00:32      60                 63

UTEP Tydus Verhoeven defensive rebound                        00:32      60                 63

UTEP J. Bieniemy 3-pointer made (Souley Boum assist) 00:13      63                 63

 

GOING BACK IN THE ARCHIVES

After research from local media, members of the athletic department and even the Miners' passionate fan base (via Twitter), the closest comeback that can be found similar to that was in the 1987 NCAA Tournament at Arizona on March 13, 1987. In that tilt, UTEP trailed by five with 50 seconds left (78-53) before forcing OT on the way to the 98-91 OT win.

 

MEMORABLE WIN VS SOUTHERN MISS

UTEP blasted Southern Miss, 87-54, on Jan. 8. The 33-point victory was UTEP's biggest in league play in seven years when it waxed USM by 34 (74-40) on Jan. 10, 2015. The Miners nailed a school-record tying 15 triples, the most by the Miners at home 12 years when they also had 15 against East Carolina on Feb. 13, 2012. 

 

BOUM NAMED C-USA PLAYER OF THE WEEK     

Souley Boum was named the Conference USA Men's Basketball Player of the Week, as announced by the league office on Jan. 31. He became the first Miner to be so recognized since Daryl Edwards on Feb. 24, 2020. Boum had the best two-game scoring stretch of his career in helping lead the Miners to a perfect 2-0 record with wins over Florida Atlantic and FIU. He put up 60 points on the weekend (28 vs. FAU) and a season-high 32 points against FIU on 21-of-34 shooting, including 9-18 on 3-point shots. 

 

KALU NETS FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK

UTEP forward Kevin Kalu was named the Conference USA Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Dec. 20. He became the first Miner to claim the honor since Jordan Lathon did during the 2018-19 season (Feb. 25, 2019). The Baltimore, Md., product came alive with career highs in points (eight) and assists (two) while adding four rebounds to help hold off upset-minded McNeese, 82-72, on Dec. 16. Kalu played 25 minutes and didn't miss a shot from the field (2-2) or at the charity stripe (4-4).

 

GOLDING ERA UNDERWAY

Joe Golding is in his first year at UTEP, and as 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 177-157 in his 11th season as a collegiate head coach, including 19-13 at UTEP. He spent 10 years at ACU (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.

 

GOLDING JOINING AN EXCLUSIVE GROUP

First-year head coach Joe Golding (19-13) is the fourth coach (20 total head coaches) in program history to have a winning season in their first year on the sidelines. Don Haskins became 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.

 

EXPERIENCED STAFF

The Miners have an experienced staff on the sidelines for the 2021-22 season, each of whom are in their first year in the Sun City. Between head coach Joe Golding (22 years), associate head coach Jeremy Cox(30 years) and assistant coaches Butch Pierre (37 years) and Earl Boykins (eight years), the Miner coaching staff has a combined 97 years of coaching experience  at 26 different stops along the way at varying levels of competition. Boykins is the least experienced in terms of coaching, but he's the most accomplished on the court after playing 12 seasons in the NBA.

 

EXCEEDED PRESEASON PREMONITIONS

UTEP was predicted to finish 10th overall in Conference USA, but the Miners finished tied for the fifth most wins in league play by forging a mark of 11-7 in its 18 C-USA tilts.