by Ray Sanchez 04.20.14
Are you still aglow over the 2013-2014 UTEP basketball seasons? I am. I mean, these guys and gals were just plain fun to watch. They scrapped, they fought, they far exceeded expectations, they drove El Pasoans into a frenzy.
Okay, so the UTEP men’s basketball team didn’t go so far as the women. But hey, they sure were exciting, too. When the men were on top of their game they made pin-point passes, broke away for layups, made flying dunks that left spectators gasping. They even beat Tennessee, a team that made it to the NCAA Sweet 16.
Small wonder they drew more than 11,000 spectators to some of their home games.
AS FOR THE women, my goodness. They were simply out of this world.
I grew up in an era when women were expected to be “dainty.” These 2013-2014 female Miners ran and rebounded like a bunch of pretty wildcats, giving as much as taking with bumps and pushes and elbows just like the men.
Oh, yes, and making layups, fancy passes and sinking three pointers just like the men.
In fact, I would dare say the Miner women were just as good shooters as the UTEP men, if not better.
THE WOMEN were so good, in fact, they reached the finals of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament and although out-matched in size and quickness they made the greatest second half comeback in the history of the program and lost to Rutgers by a mere two points, 56-54.
In the process, they set attendance records, selling out the 12,000 seat Don Haskins Center not once, but twice.
Many of us never thought we’d see the day that would happen.
BUT HOW about next season? Well, who better to ask than my crystal ball? I know, I know. My crystal ball is obnoxious but it correctly predicted last December that UTEP would have a winning season and has been right much more often than not.
I was surprised when I took it out of its drawer. “That was some kind of basketball season, wasn’t it?” it beamed.
I was so shocked by its positive attitude I couldn’t speak so it went on, “Now you want to know about next season, right?”
I was still agape and all I could do was nod.
WITH A SHRUG it continued, “I don’t see why next season can’t be as good or better for both UTEP teams. Let’s take the men first.
“Their tall men this season couldn’t jump more than an inch off the ground and too often got out-rebounded by smaller players. The team also gave up too many layups, made too many bad passes and toward the end of the season they showed their lack of depth and pooped out.
“But their two top players, Julian Washburn and incredibly talented freshman Vince Hunter, will be back and they’re absolutely
topnotch. Coach Tim Floyd will have to come up with more depth and a better point guard but he’s a great recruiter and I bet he will.”
THE CRYSTAL Ball took a breath and went on. “As for the women, they lose two of their top big players, Kayla Thornton and Kristine Vitola. They were 6 feet 1 and 6 feet 4 respectively and they’ll be missed. But the team will have at least five players six feet or over returning, including 6 feet 6 Marta Oledzka, and we know that coach Keitha Adams is a magician when it comes to developing players.
“On top of that, they’ll have their top rebounder, 5’10” Chrishuana Parker, back as well as some super guards, including Jenzel Nash, a human dynamo.
“Heck, I’m so excited about next year’s prospects I can hardly wait for the 2014-2015 season to begin.”
I WAS SO astonished by the crystal ball’s upbeat tone I hated for it to stop talking. Still, I feared that positive attitude wouldn’t last so I quickly thanked it, picked it up and put it back in its drawer.