BracketBusters takes center stage once again

Every year, there is a lot of talk about how to make BracketBusters better, or if it should just go away entirely. While teams have undoubtedly benefited from it over the years of its existence, the feelings on it seem a bit mixed, and it’s debatable whether or not it has been good as a whole. Right now, it’s what we have, and on Saturday it was center stage.

Proponents have talked about teams getting an extra national television appearance for people to see them. They have also cited the chance to get an RPI boost. Certainly, some of the teams that have benefited can look back and argue that they would not have made the NCAA Tournament if not for a win in the BracketBusters, including Final Four teams from George Mason and VCU. … Continue Reading

UTEP Miners 2011-12 Preview

UTEP Miners (25-9, 11-5)

Projected starting five:

Gabriel McCulley
Michael Perez
Darius Nelson
Jacquis Streeter
John Bohannon

Important departures:

Randy Culpepper: 19.3 ppg, 3.1 apg, 2 steals per game
Julyan Stone: 8.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 5.3 apg
Christian Polk: 11.7 ppg, 3 apg, 44.9 percent from 3-point range

Additions:

Two-star SF Darius Nelson
Two-star SF Jalen Ragland

% returning scoring and rebounding:

Scoring: 17.7 percent
Rebounding: 35.3 percent

Schedule highlights

Key nonconference game: vs. Clemson Dec. 19
Key conference stretch: vs. UAB Feb. 4, vs. Tulsa Feb. 8

Outlook:

UTEP had a great season in C-USA last year. The Miners tied for second in the regular season and made it to the C-USA championship game before falling to Memphis in the final seconds. They relied heavily on senior leadership for success. As Randy Culpepper Julyan Stone and Christian Polk move on, UTEP is going to find it a lot harder to win.

Prediction: Sixth

Back to Conference USA preview

UTEP Takes Steps Forward in Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – The way the game started, plenty of people wondered what was going on. By the end of the game, it was clear that UTEP had taken steps forward in their 65-56 win over Michigan in the consolation game of the Legends Classic.

Reigning Conference USA Player of the Year Randy Culpepper started the game on the bench for UTEP. He entered the game just over six minutes in and didn’t sit much the rest of the way, and looked like himself for much of it by scoring a game-high 24 points on 10-16 shooting in 30 minutes. He helped the Miners shoot 61.5 percent from the field in the second half while holding Michigan to 25 percent. … Continue Reading