Ping: GE

[JeeberD]

So, uhhh...didn't those guys give you some trouble?

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=260392638



As long as we don't slip up in the next couple of weeks our Feb 22nd match-up could be huge!

[GoldenEagle]

Jeeber,

Everyone is going to be up when they play Memphis. It is the Super Bowl for these wannabe teams, including UTEP. At the end of the game, the UTEP fans were chanting "We want Memphis". Memphis has to take everyone's best shot. Unless UTEP can find a way to beat Memphis down the stretch, then they do not have a shot.

[LoneStarGirl]

Didn't UTEP lose to Texas Tech and Syracuse?

[JeeberD]

Yup, when one of our better players was out with a broken jaw. But we're playing better ball right now than we were earlier on in the season.

I'm really looking forward to the game in two weeks. Should be lots of fun...

[GoldenEagle]

Memphis is no LA-Lafayette.

[JeeberD]

Hey man, we were missing TWO of our best players that game... :o

[JeeberD]

Dammit, we're just not the same team on the road. You're gonna crush us...

[GoldenEagle]

At least you do not get your hopes up. If you can barely beat Southern Miss, how can you even be on the same court with Memphis?

[GoldenEagle]

Jeebs, look what Memphis did to USM tonight. Look at how many points we held them to in the first half.

Good luck.....

[JeeberD]

What worries me is that our best player injured his foot during the USM game, the same foot he broke two years ago which kept him out of shape last year. It's just a "crack" now and hopefully it doesn't become a full on fracture, cause if it does we'll be in BIG trouble as we would be missing two of our top three scorers (we're already missing out third best scorer, Miguel Ayala, who had to get a nut removed after an SMU punk kicked him in the nads a couple of weeks ago).

Still looking forward to this game, it'll really show us where we're at.

[GoldenEagle]

Did you see what Memphis did Tulane yesterday?

I bet Pumpy was torn on that game. I wonder who he rooted for.

Some Miner fans are starting to come over to the Memphis board I visit. They are humble for the most part. I guess it is pretty well known that UTEP will get that ass handed to them on national TV.

[JeeberD]

Whatever. We pretty easily handled a Rice team that gave y'all fits. We got our two injured guys back last night, getting them some PT so they won't be too rusty for Wednesday night.

There's a rumor that we're goig to wear retro 1966 Texas Western jersey's Wednesday night. Sounds like a good idea to me...it's 40 years to the day that we won the championship, it's the same day that the '66 team is going to visit the White House, and it's a nationally televised game. I really hope that the rumor is true, it would be so freakin' awesome...

Wednesday night is gonna be tons of fun. I can't wait!

[GoldenEagle]

You have to keep in mind Jeebs, that everyone is going to play their A-game against Memphis. We could go all day back and forth about that. UTEP is going to need more than just jerseys to beat Memphis.

[JeeberD]

Yeah, because the jerseys have anything to do with how the game is going to be played...

I'll admit, it's gonna be damn tough for us to come out of there with a win, but anything is possible. Not many people were giving us a shot against UAB and we demolished them. Our guys play VERY tough defense (did you see what Jason Williams did to the conference's leading scorere last night?) and they're going to be pumped and ready to go.

It's gonna be a fun game to watch.

[GoldenEagle]

But UTEP has not seen an offensive team like Memphis before. You can not just shut down one guy. If you try to shut down, say Carney, then Williams or Washington will step-up. If you shut down those three, Anderson or Douglas-Roberts will beat you. We will ten guys all capable of having big games.

[DeToxRox]

Memphis should beat UTEP. It'll be in the Sweet Sixteen when Memphis chokes.

[DeToxRox]

Dola too..

Do you really find it nessecary to explain how a top 5 team will beat an unranked C-USA team?

[GoldenEagle]

Jeebs is wanting to talk some smack, so I am jawing back and forth with him.

When Memphis is on, there is not a team in the country that will beat them. The real question is if they will slip up, since they are the youngest team in the country.

[JeeberD]

Originally Posted by GoldenEagle

But UTEP has not seen an offensive team like Memphis before. You can not just shut down one guy. If you try to shut down, say Carney, then Williams or Washington will step-up. If you shut down those three, Anderson or Douglas-Roberts will beat you. We will ten guys all capable of having big games.

And Memphis hasn't faced a denfense like UTEP's before. Oh, wait, they have. Against Texas. What happened in that game again?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by GoldenEagle

Did you see what Memphis did Tulane yesterday?

I bet Pumpy was torn on that game. I wonder who he rooted for.

Tulane's a hard team to cheer for these days. They have completely ignored their basketball program. I know they're trying to build up football to complement their baseball team, but their basketball team has been neglected for the past few years. Anyway, I like to see Tulane do well against teams like USM and LSU (not bloody likely), but Memphis > Tulane for me.

It looks like it was quite the whoopin' that the Green Wave got, but that's to be expected, I suppose. Now, if you really want me to be torn, let's see Memphis go down to the Chamber of Horrors to play at UNO. UNO > Memphis (in my heart, not on the court)

[JeeberD]

And yeah, I know we're not as good as Texas is (overall)...

[JeeberD]

Here's what the Miners are going to be wearing tomorrow night...

[GoldenEagle]

Is that short white boy going to try to guard Darius Washington?

[JeeberD]

Ha, no. That's a non-schollie reshirt freshman, Riley Lambert...

I'm not sure who's gonna take Washington. It'll be one of Edgar Moreno, Kevin Henderson, or Stefon Jackson. All three are damn fine defenders...

[GoldenEagle]

Are UTEP out of their mind? Look at these predictions:

• UTEP 65 Memphis 60 - Copper_Top2/21 11:58 PM

• Memphis 83 UTEP 62 - hurricane dave2/21 9:52 PM
  • Re: Memphis 83 UTEP 62 - greenminer2/21 9:55 PM
    • Re: Memphis 83 UTEP 62 - hurricane dave2/21 10:20 PM
      • Re: Memphis 83 UTEP 62 - Lucaminer2/21 10:31 PM

• UTEP 68 - Memfis 56 - AZminer2/21 8:51 PM

• Texas Western Miners 72 Kentucky Wildcats 65 - Minern2/21 8:47 PM

• UTEP 66 - University of Overconfident Bastards 62 - Old_Gaffer2/21 8:46 PM

• The spirit of Texas Western UTEP Miners 69 - Memphis Tigers 68 - Texas_UTEP_Western2/21 7:58 PM

• My heart says-TWC 68 - Memphis 66, but - MinerLeague2/21 5:08 PM

• UTEP 66, Memphis 60 - STexMiner2/21 4:52 PM

• Miners 70 Memphis 66 (nm) - MinerInWisconsin2/21 4:25 PM

• UTEP 49 - Memphis 48 nm - LTMiner612/21 2:44 PM

• UTEP 58 MEMPHIS 57 - T_AGUILERA2/21 2:41 PM

• UTEP 71 Pussycats 67 - TrueBlueOrange2/21 2:38 PM

• Miners 65 - Memphis 63 - The Truth172/21 2:29 PM

• Memphis Tigers 88 Desert Diggers 61 - Tiger Edward2/21 2:19 PM

• Miners 68 Memphis 65 - MINER632/21 1:19 PM
  • ALREADY PICKED THAT SCORE!!!!! - pdaddy83832/21 1:30 PM
    • I WILL PICK utep 68 memphis 65 LOL....JK tigers 76 utep 68.nm - East Coast Miner Fan2/21 10:27 PM

• Texas Westen 68- Memphis 65 nm - pdaddy83832/21 12:47 PM

• UTEP 72 - Memphis 69 - oneminerfan2/21 12:11 PM

• TWC 67 - Memphis State 64 - minerballs2/21 11:25 AM
  • UTEP 45 Memphis 44 - ColoSpgs Miner Fan2/21 12:20 PM

• UTEP 74 Memphis 70 - Lucaminer2/21 11:10 AM
  • Re: UTEP 63 Memphis 76 - jolitaly2/21 11:13 AM

• UTEP 68 Memphis 62 - Ronstr3002/21 10:57 AM

• Miners 67, Puddy Tats 66 - jobu2/21 10:40 AM
  • Memp 70 - UTEP 67 - CoogieHowlser2/21 12:31 PM
    • Memphis 145 UTEP 20 - UTEP20052/21 1:45 PM
      • TWC 63 Memphis 61 - HUteP2/21 2:11 PM

[GoldenEagle]

Dola,

Memphis needs to make a statement on national TV tonight. We need to show the voters just how good we are.

[JeeberD]

Dude, you know we're playing a really tought team if ANYONE picks UTEP to lose. It's our way of whistling past the graveyard. Digs is FILLED with UTEP homers...

That being said, I like the looks of my big brother's 67-66 prediction.

[JeeberD]

Good article from the Memphis paper...

Conference USA title may be on line

By Gary Parrish
Contact
February 22, 2006

Across the nation and in the media, the fate of Conference USA was decided long ago. When Louisville and the likes bolted for the Big East, the perception was that the University of Memphis was left in charge to dominate and run away with the league title, this year, next year and every year going forward.

There was no debate.

Yet here we are, in late February, and everything remains in the balance. Though the fourth-ranked Tigers (24-2, 10-0) have been as good or better than expected, UTEP (17-6, 9-1) has kept pace to set up tonight's 9 p.m. showdown at FedExForum that could -- believe it or not -- drop Memphis to second-place in C-USA and ultimately cost it a league championship.
In other words, this is big.

"Hopefully it's going to be a sellout (because) we need to have the city behind us," UofM coach John Calipari said. "This is for first place. If they beat us, they are (the favorite to be) the No. 1 seed (in the C-USA Tournament)."

To UTEP coach Doc Sadler's credit, he doesn't seem to mind the pre-determined roles, despite his Miners overcoming adversity to win 10 of their past 11 contests. Rather than rant and rave and use his seven minutes on a weekly teleconference to talk about lack of respect and slaps to the face, he has publicly settled into this spot, well aware that the only way to get out of it is to upset the Tigers.

Still, a closer look shows UTEP may be better than its record indicates and that analysts could be missing something. Of the Miners' six losses, four came on the road at places like Houston (11-2 at home), Syracuse (14-4 at home), Texas Tech (12-3 at home) and New Mexico (14-1 at home). A fifth loss was to Louisiana-Lafayette in overtime, though it's worth noting that second-leading scorer Jason Williams and key reserve Stefon Jackson didn't play in that game. And while a sixth loss came to No. 23 Georgetown, there's no shame there because the Hoyas have beaten good opponents like No. 1 Duke and No. 9 Pittsburgh.

So if Sadler wanted to make excuses and justify the early losses, he could, considering four of UTEP's top six scorers have missed at least one game and that the Miners are 8-1 when their top six scorers have played. But apparently, he would rather not complain and simply try to make amends on the court, where a win tonight -- with all six of those top scorers healthy and dressed in retro Texas Western jerseys -- will surely force people to pay attention.

"I think you earn your respect, and obviously John and Memphis have a great team, so I don't think anything should be taken away from them," said Sadler, one of three people voting the Tigers No. 1 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. "I don't know that this basketball team has done anything yet to deserve any more than what we've got. As I said, you earn your respect. John's earned his, and I guess we haven't."

For Memphis, tonight offers a special opportunity, as well. Though the Tigers spent November and December as darlings of many analysts, they have seemingly fallen out of good grace over the past month despite winning 13 consecutive games, including the past two by an average of 39.5 points.

Why?

There are lots of theories. But one solid thought is that Memphis has suffered because it hasn't played a nationally televised game -- CSTV, not included -- in more than seven weeks, meaning the country's last real impression of this team came via a 69-58 loss to Texas when the Tigers missed 26-of-32 3-point attempts and shot 28.6 percent from the field.

That's a bad taste to leave for this long. But ESPN2 is in town for this game, so Memphis has a big stage to make a big impression.

Call it a re-premiere party.

"This is going to be good because a lot of people haven't seen us in a while, and we are a way better team than what we were earlier in the year," Memphis freshman Robert Dozier said. "So hopefully people will get a chance to see it."

[LoneStarGirl]

I cannot wait until this game tonight.

[JeeberD]

You're not the only one!

[GoldenEagle]

There you go jeebs.

[JeeberD]

Yup, saw that last night. You're not the only one who peruses the enemies boards...

[JeeberD]

Well, I'm off to class and then to the sportsbar to watch the game. Hopefully when I get back I won't have to hide in shame...

[Karlifornia]

Mark me down for rooting for UTEP.

[sterlingice]

This'll be a fun thread either way

SI

[SackAttack]

Go Memphis!

(Sorry, Jeebs, but after the way you rooted against me in the playoffs...witness the power of my fully operational sports curse.)

[JeeberD]

Bah, screw you Josh!

At least RFUS is in my corner, and I know Detox will be as well.

Class was cancelled tonight, so I have a little free time before the game. Gonna be heading down to the bar in an hour or so to eat before the game and then get a head start on my Shiner drinkin'...

GOOOOO MINERS!!!

[Karlifornia]

Memphis up 8 at the half UTEP lost one of their main weapons to injury.

Memphis committed an idiotic foul at the end of the half, but the ref didn't give the guy free throws. Come on, UTEP!

[GoldenEagle]

I hope all the voters went to bed before this game. We looked awful.

[JeeberD]

As did we, GE. But that's what UTEP's defense tends to do to teams...

I can see why Memphis is ranked #3 overall, though. They beat us on the boards, a place where the Miners pride themselves. In the second half it seemed like they couldn't miss shots. And most impressive (IMO) was the way that the Tigers moved the ball around. It seemed like no one held the ball for more the three seconds at a time. Catche the ball, pass it to the open man. No shot? Pass it to the next man...passing like that is the mark of a damn good team.

Congrats on the win. I only wish that Tofi had been able to play the whole game. Our entire offense is based on him...I don't know if the results would have been any different but at least the teams would have been at full strength.

Congrats, GE! I'm hoping we meet again in the CUSA tournament!

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by RadioFriendlyUnitShifter

Memphis up 8 at the half UTEP lost one of their main weapons to injury.

See, Jeebs? Mess with the curse at your peril.

[JeeberD]

I will come out to Cali and hunt you down if Big Tofe is out for the season...

PS: Seems like you could have found a better target for your curse than the Cali boy on the squad...

[JeeberD]

I see you lurking in this thread, GE. Hurry up and post so I can get my ass to bed...

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

I will come out to Cali and hunt you down if Big Tofe is out for the season...

PS: Seems like you could have found a better target for your curse than the Cali boy on the squad...

You would think so, but that just proves how little you understand the curse.

The curse can't be bargained with, it can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, remorse or fear.

It may have chosen to prove that point precisely by going after the Calfornia kid.

[GoldenEagle]

I thought UTEP did ok. We slept walk through the game and still managed to win. We have some work to do. Shawne Williams need to back to his pre-season form. I think UTEP will do well in the NIT but the chances of making the tourney are limited.

Hasn't Doc Sadler been mentioned in some jobs elsewhere?

[JeeberD]

Doc's been mentioned at Mizzou, and at Arizona State and Arkansas if they fire their coaches. I don't know how solid those rumors are, though...

Jason did a good job defensively on Carney last night...I saw a stat somewhere before the game that only two or three teams have had their leading scorer reach their average against us this year. If only he was a little bit more under control when he had the ball, then he could possibly be considered a complete player.

The NCAA is surely going to be a longshot...to have a shot of getting there we have to win the rest of our regular season games and then get to the CUSA championship. Saturday's game against Houston is going to be big. I wouldn't have been worried about it at all if Tofi was healthy, but without him playing it could get scary. Will Kimble is no John Tofi...

Sounds like Tofi *might* just have a strained MCL. If so, we might get him back before the season is over. I would hate it if him laying on the floor in pain was the last time I saw him in a Miners uniform. He's been a realy trooper over the past five years and has given his all to the school. I really think he's going to go down as one of the UTEP greats.

I'll be rooting for y'all the rest of the way (unless we meet in the CUSA tournament), GE. Make the conference proud!

[JeeberD]

It's his ACL and he's done for his UTEP career...

https://www.nmnathletics.com/ViewArt...&ATCLID=243044

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

It's his ACL and he's done for his UTEP career...

https://www.nmnathletics.com/ViewArt...&ATCLID=243044

Oof.

No chance of the NCAA granting him an extra year?

[JeeberD]

Most likely not considering he played the vast majority of this season...

[SackAttack]

The curse is a powerful thing.

Did he have NBA prospects?