EL PASO -- Memories come flashing past, but the mind is almost too busy to process them right now.
Senior night will be emotional for two -- Stefon Jackson and Tavaris Watts, a subplot and a mini-drama to the main attraction. UTEP takes on UAB on Wednesday night in the Don Haskins Center. The Miners (17-11, 18-6 Conference USA) are clinging to hopes of a fourth-place finish, battling for one of those four first-round byes at next week's conference tournament in Memphis.
UAB (20-9, 10-4) is fighting for every win, fighting for the best possible record to impress the NCAA tournament selection committee.
UTEP coach Tony Barbee has been out of town after his father passed away and is hoping to make it back for Wednesday's 7 p.m. tipoff. Miner sophomore Claude Britten has been sick and missed practice Monday and Tuesday.
Tickets have been reduced to $6.50, hoping to lure Miner fans back into the Haskins Center after a sub-par season in the attendance category.
In the middle of all this, the two young men -- Jackson and Watts -- will play for one last time in the Haskins Center. Jackson has four years of memories, Watts three years. Memories are a personal treasure and UTEP seniors Tavares Watts, and Stefon Jackson will play their final home game as Miners on Wednesday.
Jackson came as a freshman from Philadelphia, Pa., and will leave with his name emblazoned on the proud history of this basketball program. He currently has 2,201 points -- the all-time leader at UTEP and the all-time leader in Conference USA history. He has endured and overcome the loss of his brother and a broken jaw as a freshman, the loss of his father as a sophomore, and he has been the target of every opposing defense the past two seasons.
And Jackson has not only endured, he has soared.
The soft-spoken, quick-smiling 6-foot-5 guard has shot more free throws and made more free throws than anyone in the nation this season -- making 245-of-290, 84.5 percent. He is eighth in the nation in scoring, averaging 23.3 points a game. He has scored 20 or more points 60 times in his career. He has scored 30 or more 11 times. On Valentine's Day this year, he made 20-of-20 free throws against Marshall, the fourth-most on a perfect night in NCAA history.
The memories will become more vivid with time, when he has a chance to reflect, when he has the luxury of distance. But Jackson already remembers one special moment as a Miner -- Thanksgiving Day, 2005. He was a skinny freshman, his broken jaw wired shut.
"My greatest memories are just being around the fans at UTEP and just meeting and getting to know a legendary coach like Don Haskins," he said. "I can still see him sitting over there in the tunnel. The man was a legend and yet he took the time to get to know me. He invited me to his home for Thanksgiving Day. That meant so much to me, having Thanksgiving dinner with him and his family."
Jackson was unable to eat turkey and dressing that day, but Mary Haskins hovered over him, preparing a special shake for him and making him feel part of the family.
Jackson paused late Tuesday afternoon, standing in the tunnel near where Haskins used to sit after he retired.
"That was an inspiration to me, a great man like him inviting me into his home like that," Jackson said. "I'll never forget that. And, of course, I'll never forget the fans here. They've been the best."
Watts came here three seasons ago and he will not leave among the school's scoring leaders. He has had his share of frustration and disappointment. He had to sit out his first year after transferring from Hillsborough Community College in Tampa Bay, Fla. He grew up in Greensboro, N.C., grew up in an area where the focus was on three things -- basketball, basketball and basketball.
Watts played well for the Miners last season, fighting off his share of nagging injuries. He looked ready for a special senior season in two-a-day practices. He looked even more ready in the first half of the first game against Texas Southern, blocking a whopping five shots in that one half. But then he tore his MCL and missed the next seven games. He has been fighting his way back since.
But Watts is finishing strongly. He has scored 13, 14 and 13 points in the Miners' past three games, and he has scored in double figures in four of the past six games.
"It's all gone by pretty fast," Watts said. "Fast and quick. I didn't know it would be this quick. The injury this year set me back -- mentally and physically. But that's just life. Just because something bad happens you can't quit. I thought it was going to be a good year, though. Five blocks the first game; leading the nation for just a little (he smiled). At the same time, my daughter was born. Something bad happened and something good happened.
"I'll remember so much," Watts said. "Just being in every day life in El Paso. It taught me a lot about growing up, about how to put business before pleasure, about putting school before my social life, about putting family before everything."
Watts, who will graduate in May, stood outside his familiar locker room in the Haskins Center Tuesday, in a place that has almost become home.
"I will always remember El Paso," he said.
The challenge Wednesday night is great for Jackson and Watts and the Miners. UAB is talented and on a roll. The Blazers have won seven of their last eight, 10 of their last 12. They are 4-3 on the road this season but have won their last four road games. They have plenty of seniors -- Robert Vaden, who averages 17.7 points a game, Paul Delaney III, who averages 16.3, Lawrence Kinnard, 15.2 and Channing Toney, 9.1. UAB edged UTEP 78-73 back on Jan. 21 in Birmingham.
And now, at this point when a season begins to teeter on each and every game, they meet again.
Both Jackson and Watts will have family and friends present for their last dance in the Don.
"My mom, my grandma, cousins, aunts, uncles and friend are coming," Jackson said. "I'm very excited. Some of them haven't been here before and I can't wait for them to see our basketball program and what I've been able to do here."
Watts said, "My mom and dad and my girl friend and my little girl are here. I know it will be an emotional night."
So many practices, so many games, so much sweat and even some blood have marked the trail of two careers. Good times and bad, happy and sad ... they have all been part of a journey.
Wednesday night a part of that journey will come to an end.
"My grandma always told me all good things must come to an end," Jackson said late Tuesday afternoon. "Tomorrow night will be an end here."
These two young men came to El Paso years ago. They knew this night would come one day. But when you are a freshman or a sophomore, you don't think about endings. You think you have forever to play college basketball. Wednesday night forever ends.
But Jackson and Watts are hoping to extend their college careers as long as possible. They still believe in this team, believe in more wins and a first round bye in the Conference USATournament and they believe in post-season play.
Looks like a good spot for the Miners. Blazers played a tough game with Memphis, now 2nd road game in a row. I like the Miners rebounding and like I have won more on this team this year than any. Miners need a first round bye next week with this win and SMISS.
UTEP -1 x3
Senior night will be emotional for two -- Stefon Jackson and Tavaris Watts, a subplot and a mini-drama to the main attraction. UTEP takes on UAB on Wednesday night in the Don Haskins Center. The Miners (17-11, 18-6 Conference USA) are clinging to hopes of a fourth-place finish, battling for one of those four first-round byes at next week's conference tournament in Memphis.
UAB (20-9, 10-4) is fighting for every win, fighting for the best possible record to impress the NCAA tournament selection committee.
UTEP coach Tony Barbee has been out of town after his father passed away and is hoping to make it back for Wednesday's 7 p.m. tipoff. Miner sophomore Claude Britten has been sick and missed practice Monday and Tuesday.
Tickets have been reduced to $6.50, hoping to lure Miner fans back into the Haskins Center after a sub-par season in the attendance category.
In the middle of all this, the two young men -- Jackson and Watts -- will play for one last time in the Haskins Center. Jackson has four years of memories, Watts three years. Memories are a personal treasure and UTEP seniors Tavares Watts, and Stefon Jackson will play their final home game as Miners on Wednesday.
Jackson came as a freshman from Philadelphia, Pa., and will leave with his name emblazoned on the proud history of this basketball program. He currently has 2,201 points -- the all-time leader at UTEP and the all-time leader in Conference USA history. He has endured and overcome the loss of his brother and a broken jaw as a freshman, the loss of his father as a sophomore, and he has been the target of every opposing defense the past two seasons.
And Jackson has not only endured, he has soared.
The soft-spoken, quick-smiling 6-foot-5 guard has shot more free throws and made more free throws than anyone in the nation this season -- making 245-of-290, 84.5 percent. He is eighth in the nation in scoring, averaging 23.3 points a game. He has scored 20 or more points 60 times in his career. He has scored 30 or more 11 times. On Valentine's Day this year, he made 20-of-20 free throws against Marshall, the fourth-most on a perfect night in NCAA history.
The memories will become more vivid with time, when he has a chance to reflect, when he has the luxury of distance. But Jackson already remembers one special moment as a Miner -- Thanksgiving Day, 2005. He was a skinny freshman, his broken jaw wired shut.
"My greatest memories are just being around the fans at UTEP and just meeting and getting to know a legendary coach like Don Haskins," he said. "I can still see him sitting over there in the tunnel. The man was a legend and yet he took the time to get to know me. He invited me to his home for Thanksgiving Day. That meant so much to me, having Thanksgiving dinner with him and his family."
Jackson was unable to eat turkey and dressing that day, but Mary Haskins hovered over him, preparing a special shake for him and making him feel part of the family.
Jackson paused late Tuesday afternoon, standing in the tunnel near where Haskins used to sit after he retired.
"That was an inspiration to me, a great man like him inviting me into his home like that," Jackson said. "I'll never forget that. And, of course, I'll never forget the fans here. They've been the best."
Watts came here three seasons ago and he will not leave among the school's scoring leaders. He has had his share of frustration and disappointment. He had to sit out his first year after transferring from Hillsborough Community College in Tampa Bay, Fla. He grew up in Greensboro, N.C., grew up in an area where the focus was on three things -- basketball, basketball and basketball.
Watts played well for the Miners last season, fighting off his share of nagging injuries. He looked ready for a special senior season in two-a-day practices. He looked even more ready in the first half of the first game against Texas Southern, blocking a whopping five shots in that one half. But then he tore his MCL and missed the next seven games. He has been fighting his way back since.
But Watts is finishing strongly. He has scored 13, 14 and 13 points in the Miners' past three games, and he has scored in double figures in four of the past six games.
"It's all gone by pretty fast," Watts said. "Fast and quick. I didn't know it would be this quick. The injury this year set me back -- mentally and physically. But that's just life. Just because something bad happens you can't quit. I thought it was going to be a good year, though. Five blocks the first game; leading the nation for just a little (he smiled). At the same time, my daughter was born. Something bad happened and something good happened.
"I'll remember so much," Watts said. "Just being in every day life in El Paso. It taught me a lot about growing up, about how to put business before pleasure, about putting school before my social life, about putting family before everything."
Watts, who will graduate in May, stood outside his familiar locker room in the Haskins Center Tuesday, in a place that has almost become home.
"I will always remember El Paso," he said.
The challenge Wednesday night is great for Jackson and Watts and the Miners. UAB is talented and on a roll. The Blazers have won seven of their last eight, 10 of their last 12. They are 4-3 on the road this season but have won their last four road games. They have plenty of seniors -- Robert Vaden, who averages 17.7 points a game, Paul Delaney III, who averages 16.3, Lawrence Kinnard, 15.2 and Channing Toney, 9.1. UAB edged UTEP 78-73 back on Jan. 21 in Birmingham.
And now, at this point when a season begins to teeter on each and every game, they meet again.
Both Jackson and Watts will have family and friends present for their last dance in the Don.
"My mom, my grandma, cousins, aunts, uncles and friend are coming," Jackson said. "I'm very excited. Some of them haven't been here before and I can't wait for them to see our basketball program and what I've been able to do here."
Watts said, "My mom and dad and my girl friend and my little girl are here. I know it will be an emotional night."
So many practices, so many games, so much sweat and even some blood have marked the trail of two careers. Good times and bad, happy and sad ... they have all been part of a journey.
Wednesday night a part of that journey will come to an end.
"My grandma always told me all good things must come to an end," Jackson said late Tuesday afternoon. "Tomorrow night will be an end here."
These two young men came to El Paso years ago. They knew this night would come one day. But when you are a freshman or a sophomore, you don't think about endings. You think you have forever to play college basketball. Wednesday night forever ends.
But Jackson and Watts are hoping to extend their college careers as long as possible. They still believe in this team, believe in more wins and a first round bye in the Conference USATournament and they believe in post-season play.
Looks like a good spot for the Miners. Blazers played a tough game with Memphis, now 2nd road game in a row. I like the Miners rebounding and like I have won more on this team this year than any. Miners need a first round bye next week with this win and SMISS.
UTEP -1 x3
