UTEP coach Doc Sadler has preached the importance of winning at home during Western Athletic Conference play ... "protecting your home court."
Tonight, with talented Hawaii stepping onto the Don Haskins Center court, Sadler said the stakes are elevated just a bit.
"It's even more so tonight because Hawaii is a team capable of winning a championship," Sadler said. "We will get their best game. They understand a win here is really, really a bonus."
UTEP lost only once in the Haskins Center last year, dropping a conference-opening decision to Boise State. However, Hawaii came in and challenged the Miners before falling 71-62.
The Rainbow Warriors are 0-2 on the road, but easily could be 2-0. Hawaii lost 79-78 at Fresno State and 58-55 at Nevada. The Rainbow Warriors are 10-3 overall, 2-3 in the WAC after losing at home to Louisiana Tech last Saturday. In short, Hawaii needs to make up a little ground on the league and a win in El Paso would be a start.
"They've got good talent," Sadler said. "Plus, they are used to winning."
In the way of comparisons, UTEP continues to lead the WAC in scoring, averaging 76.9 points a game. Hawaii is ninth, averaging 66.2 points a game.
However, the Rainbow Warriors lead the WAC in scoring defense, giving up just 60.4 points a game. UTEP is just behind Hawaii in second place, giving up 61.4 points a game. In short, fans tonight can expect to see a pair of basketball teams that will guard each other.
Individually, UTEP has WAC leading scorer Omar Thomas (20.8) and Jason Williams, who is 13th in the league with 13.0 points a game. Hawaii has a balanced attack, with Julian Sensley and Matt Gibson averaging 12.8 points a game each. Sensley is ninth in the WAC in rebounding, averaging 7.0 a game.
UTEP's John Tofi is 12th, averaging 6.2 a game, and Thomas is 14th, averaging 6.1 a game. The top three free-throw shooters in the WAC will be on the floor tonight. Hawaii's Gibson leads the WAC, shooting 87.8 percent. UTEP's Filiberto Rivera is second at .846 and Thomas is third at 82.5 percent.
The Miners know they have an edge, playing in the Haskins Center. But they also know nothing is a given.
"Any team in college basketball has an advantage when they play at home," UTEP's Williams said. "You have an edge because of the crowd and your familiarity with the baskets. But our goal is to play hard and have fun. Hawaii is really talented. Their strength is that they run their offense so well, the flex cut. They are all great shooters. They have great players, any one of them who can come out and get 30 on a given night. We want to come out and contain those players."
Williams is one of UTEP's top defenders. Miguel Ayala is as good a 3 point shooter as there is in the WAC. He has made 16 of 28 tries in WAC play and 32 of 75 for the season. But Ayala, like the rest of the Miners, knows this game will be won or lost on the defensive end.
"They have so many talented players," Ayala said. "They have a good offense and we really need to keep them out of the paint. We know they have lost three close games already, so they will certainly play hard. And we can't afford another loss."
Tonight, with talented Hawaii stepping onto the Don Haskins Center court, Sadler said the stakes are elevated just a bit.
"It's even more so tonight because Hawaii is a team capable of winning a championship," Sadler said. "We will get their best game. They understand a win here is really, really a bonus."
UTEP lost only once in the Haskins Center last year, dropping a conference-opening decision to Boise State. However, Hawaii came in and challenged the Miners before falling 71-62.
The Rainbow Warriors are 0-2 on the road, but easily could be 2-0. Hawaii lost 79-78 at Fresno State and 58-55 at Nevada. The Rainbow Warriors are 10-3 overall, 2-3 in the WAC after losing at home to Louisiana Tech last Saturday. In short, Hawaii needs to make up a little ground on the league and a win in El Paso would be a start.
"They've got good talent," Sadler said. "Plus, they are used to winning."
In the way of comparisons, UTEP continues to lead the WAC in scoring, averaging 76.9 points a game. Hawaii is ninth, averaging 66.2 points a game.
However, the Rainbow Warriors lead the WAC in scoring defense, giving up just 60.4 points a game. UTEP is just behind Hawaii in second place, giving up 61.4 points a game. In short, fans tonight can expect to see a pair of basketball teams that will guard each other.
Individually, UTEP has WAC leading scorer Omar Thomas (20.8) and Jason Williams, who is 13th in the league with 13.0 points a game. Hawaii has a balanced attack, with Julian Sensley and Matt Gibson averaging 12.8 points a game each. Sensley is ninth in the WAC in rebounding, averaging 7.0 a game.
UTEP's John Tofi is 12th, averaging 6.2 a game, and Thomas is 14th, averaging 6.1 a game. The top three free-throw shooters in the WAC will be on the floor tonight. Hawaii's Gibson leads the WAC, shooting 87.8 percent. UTEP's Filiberto Rivera is second at .846 and Thomas is third at 82.5 percent.
The Miners know they have an edge, playing in the Haskins Center. But they also know nothing is a given.
"Any team in college basketball has an advantage when they play at home," UTEP's Williams said. "You have an edge because of the crowd and your familiarity with the baskets. But our goal is to play hard and have fun. Hawaii is really talented. Their strength is that they run their offense so well, the flex cut. They are all great shooters. They have great players, any one of them who can come out and get 30 on a given night. We want to come out and contain those players."
Williams is one of UTEP's top defenders. Miguel Ayala is as good a 3 point shooter as there is in the WAC. He has made 16 of 28 tries in WAC play and 32 of 75 for the season. But Ayala, like the rest of the Miners, knows this game will be won or lost on the defensive end.
"They have so many talented players," Ayala said. "They have a good offense and we really need to keep them out of the paint. We know they have lost three close games already, so they will certainly play hard. And we can't afford another loss."
