Some might see it as a problem. Some might see it as a challenge. Some might see it as an opportunity.
Whatever the viewpoint, UTEP will take on No. 25 Memphis tonight in the Don Haskins Center ... a game televised live on the CBS Sports Network ... a game that could put an exclamation point on this portion of the Miner season.
"Anytime you play a ranked team, everybody is energized," UTEP coach Tim Floyd said. "I think our place (the Haskins Center) will be jacked up, but Memphis deals with this every week. I think the country's been sleeping on Memphis. They had a bad outing at Xavier (in a two-point loss). But they are really talented and they are really playing well and I think they are as good as anybody in the country."
Memphis is 25-4 overall, 14-0 in Conference USA play. The Tigers have already clinched the top seed in next week's C-USA Tournament in Tulsa. They have won 21 consecutive Conference USA games -- a streak that dates back to Feb. 18 of last year, when UTEP beat them 60-58 in Memphis.
UTEP is now 16-12 after dusting Houston and Rice last week, and the Miners have improved to 9-5 in conference play. UTEP will clinch the third seed (and a first-round bye) in next week's tournament with a win tonight or a win over SMU on Saturday afternoon in Dallas.
Memphis will run you down if your transition defense is not good. The Tigers average 75.2 points a game and give up just 64.4 points a game. They are deep and talented
and athletic. Seven Memphis players average seven or more points. They are led by lightning quick point guard Joe Jackson, who averages 13.9 points a game. Sophomore guard/forward Adonis Thomas averages 11.7 a game, and junior guard Geron Johnson averages 10.4 points a game. Coach Josh Pastner has this team playing better than it has in many years.
Floyd said, "I told my staff I was going to do something I've never done before. I'm going to vote all five Memphis starters to the first-team all-league."
The one constant for UTEP has been defense. The Miners have had trouble scoring at times, but the defense has been there on most evenings. They lead C-USA in scoring defense, giving up just 60.6 points a game.
The Miners have also played a strong schedule, having faced a trio of teams that have been in the Top 25 at one point -- losing at Arizona, losing at home to UNLV (62-60) and beating Oregon in the Haskins Center.
"Memphis is really a good team," said senior guard Konner Tucker. "Playing at home is a big deal; we're 12-2 here and we seem to play well here. They (the Tigers) are very good, but we've played some good teams this season. This has been great for me. Most fun year I've had in college basketball (he also played seasons at Wake Forest and Sam Houston State). The fans have been great."
Senior guard Jacques Streeter said, "My career has gone by really fast. You first come into college as a freshman and you don't think it will go that fast. Then you look up and here it is ... last game I will play in the Don Haskins Center. It will take a lot of heart to beat Memphis."
The Miners will search for that heart and have that opportunity -- or problem or challenge -- tonight.
Whatever the viewpoint, UTEP will take on No. 25 Memphis tonight in the Don Haskins Center ... a game televised live on the CBS Sports Network ... a game that could put an exclamation point on this portion of the Miner season.
"Anytime you play a ranked team, everybody is energized," UTEP coach Tim Floyd said. "I think our place (the Haskins Center) will be jacked up, but Memphis deals with this every week. I think the country's been sleeping on Memphis. They had a bad outing at Xavier (in a two-point loss). But they are really talented and they are really playing well and I think they are as good as anybody in the country."
Memphis is 25-4 overall, 14-0 in Conference USA play. The Tigers have already clinched the top seed in next week's C-USA Tournament in Tulsa. They have won 21 consecutive Conference USA games -- a streak that dates back to Feb. 18 of last year, when UTEP beat them 60-58 in Memphis.
UTEP is now 16-12 after dusting Houston and Rice last week, and the Miners have improved to 9-5 in conference play. UTEP will clinch the third seed (and a first-round bye) in next week's tournament with a win tonight or a win over SMU on Saturday afternoon in Dallas.
Memphis will run you down if your transition defense is not good. The Tigers average 75.2 points a game and give up just 64.4 points a game. They are deep and talented
and athletic. Seven Memphis players average seven or more points. They are led by lightning quick point guard Joe Jackson, who averages 13.9 points a game. Sophomore guard/forward Adonis Thomas averages 11.7 a game, and junior guard Geron Johnson averages 10.4 points a game. Coach Josh Pastner has this team playing better than it has in many years.
Floyd said, "I told my staff I was going to do something I've never done before. I'm going to vote all five Memphis starters to the first-team all-league."
The one constant for UTEP has been defense. The Miners have had trouble scoring at times, but the defense has been there on most evenings. They lead C-USA in scoring defense, giving up just 60.6 points a game.
The Miners have also played a strong schedule, having faced a trio of teams that have been in the Top 25 at one point -- losing at Arizona, losing at home to UNLV (62-60) and beating Oregon in the Haskins Center.
"Memphis is really a good team," said senior guard Konner Tucker. "Playing at home is a big deal; we're 12-2 here and we seem to play well here. They (the Tigers) are very good, but we've played some good teams this season. This has been great for me. Most fun year I've had in college basketball (he also played seasons at Wake Forest and Sam Houston State). The fans have been great."
Senior guard Jacques Streeter said, "My career has gone by really fast. You first come into college as a freshman and you don't think it will go that fast. Then you look up and here it is ... last game I will play in the Don Haskins Center. It will take a lot of heart to beat Memphis."
The Miners will search for that heart and have that opportunity -- or problem or challenge -- tonight.
