RENO, Nev. -- The Miners know. Each game they play from today through Saturday could determine their NCAA tournament fate.
Some people believe the Miners must win one game in the Western Athletic Conference tournament. Others believe the Miners must win two and get into the finals. The only sure way is to win Thursday afternoon, Friday night and again in Saturday's finals. The tournament winner gets the automatic NCAA bid.
UTEP begins its final WAC tourney journey this afternoon, matching up with a tough, talented Hawaii team in the quarterfinals at the Lawlor Events Center. The Rainbow Warriors, now 16-12 after destroying San Jose State 72-48 in Tuesday night's play-in game, are a very good seventh-seeded team.
"Hawaii is so talented," UTEP coach Doc Sadler said. "They are one of those teams in this tournament capable of putting three games together and winning it."
The Miners know that. And they know how important this game today is.
"I think everybody knows how important it is for us to win this game," junior center John Tofi said.
"Our key is to never give up, to keep playing hard whether we are up or down," junior forward Jason Williams said. "That's the way they (the Rainbow Warriors) play. We've got to come out and play as hard as we have in our last four games -- start to finish."
Hawaii and UTEP have taken two games all the way down to the final buzzer this season -- 80 minutes of college basketball intensity. UTEP defeated Hawaii 71-70 in El Paso, 71-67 in Honolulu.
"They beat us on a last-second shot and they beat us by four," Hawaii coach Riley Wallace said. "So we have some confidence against them, but at the same time, we know it will be tough. UTEP is a very good basketball team. Their point guard (Filiberto Rivera) makes them go, and he's one of the best in the country."
Hawaii's 7-foot center Chris Botez said, "UTEP has a great team, and we've had a lot of good matchups. The last two games we fought and fought ... a lot of good intensity."
UTEP (24-7) is looking for its 25th win and a ticket to Friday night's game against the winner between Rice and SMU.
Sadler said, "I think getting off to a good start will be our biggest key. It's something we need to do. In the two games we've played them, their size has been their stength -- on offense and in offensive rebounding. By the same token, they have a hard time matching up with our quickness and with OT (Omar Thomas). But certainly, because of their size, defensive rebounding will be important for us ... just as it always is."
Hawaii does indeed have some size. The Rainbow Warriors have the long-armed Botez, 6-9 Julian Sensley, 6-8 Jeff Blackett and 6-8 Matthew Gipson in their large arsenal.
Hawaii's guards can score, too. Matt Gibson (6-5) leads the team in scoring, averaging 13.5 points a game. Long-distance specialist Jake Sottos (6-4) averages 11.2 a game.
"Our key is to play good defense and limit them to as many one-shot possessions as we can," Tofi said. "They are so big, I think we can run our transition game. We need to get the ball out to Fili, get the ball up the court."
And Williams said, "We have beaten them in transition ,and that's something we want to do. But they will be trying to get back and not let us get any easy baskets. So we also have to execute our half-court offense if they don't let us get those transition baskets."
The Miners, of course, have plenty of weapons. They have all-WAC players Thomas and Rivera. Williams was a member of the league's all-defensive team and Miguel Ayala was on the all-newcomer team. Tofi and junior guard Giovanni St. Amant also are key figures on the team. So is 6-10 Will Kimble -- who will be important against the big Rainbow Warriors.
UTEP went through a crisp hour-and-a-half practice at a local high school Wednesday afternoon, preparing as this team always prepares.
The Miners are ready to play. They know they had better be ready.
After all, they know how important each game is from this point on.
Some people believe the Miners must win one game in the Western Athletic Conference tournament. Others believe the Miners must win two and get into the finals. The only sure way is to win Thursday afternoon, Friday night and again in Saturday's finals. The tournament winner gets the automatic NCAA bid.
UTEP begins its final WAC tourney journey this afternoon, matching up with a tough, talented Hawaii team in the quarterfinals at the Lawlor Events Center. The Rainbow Warriors, now 16-12 after destroying San Jose State 72-48 in Tuesday night's play-in game, are a very good seventh-seeded team.
"Hawaii is so talented," UTEP coach Doc Sadler said. "They are one of those teams in this tournament capable of putting three games together and winning it."
The Miners know that. And they know how important this game today is.
"I think everybody knows how important it is for us to win this game," junior center John Tofi said.
"Our key is to never give up, to keep playing hard whether we are up or down," junior forward Jason Williams said. "That's the way they (the Rainbow Warriors) play. We've got to come out and play as hard as we have in our last four games -- start to finish."
Hawaii and UTEP have taken two games all the way down to the final buzzer this season -- 80 minutes of college basketball intensity. UTEP defeated Hawaii 71-70 in El Paso, 71-67 in Honolulu.
"They beat us on a last-second shot and they beat us by four," Hawaii coach Riley Wallace said. "So we have some confidence against them, but at the same time, we know it will be tough. UTEP is a very good basketball team. Their point guard (Filiberto Rivera) makes them go, and he's one of the best in the country."
Hawaii's 7-foot center Chris Botez said, "UTEP has a great team, and we've had a lot of good matchups. The last two games we fought and fought ... a lot of good intensity."
UTEP (24-7) is looking for its 25th win and a ticket to Friday night's game against the winner between Rice and SMU.
Sadler said, "I think getting off to a good start will be our biggest key. It's something we need to do. In the two games we've played them, their size has been their stength -- on offense and in offensive rebounding. By the same token, they have a hard time matching up with our quickness and with OT (Omar Thomas). But certainly, because of their size, defensive rebounding will be important for us ... just as it always is."
Hawaii does indeed have some size. The Rainbow Warriors have the long-armed Botez, 6-9 Julian Sensley, 6-8 Jeff Blackett and 6-8 Matthew Gipson in their large arsenal.
Hawaii's guards can score, too. Matt Gibson (6-5) leads the team in scoring, averaging 13.5 points a game. Long-distance specialist Jake Sottos (6-4) averages 11.2 a game.
"Our key is to play good defense and limit them to as many one-shot possessions as we can," Tofi said. "They are so big, I think we can run our transition game. We need to get the ball out to Fili, get the ball up the court."
And Williams said, "We have beaten them in transition ,and that's something we want to do. But they will be trying to get back and not let us get any easy baskets. So we also have to execute our half-court offense if they don't let us get those transition baskets."
The Miners, of course, have plenty of weapons. They have all-WAC players Thomas and Rivera. Williams was a member of the league's all-defensive team and Miguel Ayala was on the all-newcomer team. Tofi and junior guard Giovanni St. Amant also are key figures on the team. So is 6-10 Will Kimble -- who will be important against the big Rainbow Warriors.
UTEP went through a crisp hour-and-a-half practice at a local high school Wednesday afternoon, preparing as this team always prepares.
The Miners are ready to play. They know they had better be ready.
After all, they know how important each game is from this point on.
