EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — After a slow start to the season, the UTEP Miners find themselves at 6–12 overall and 2–5 in Conference USA play. Despite the record, the Miners have recently shown signs of progress, putting together stronger and more complete performances as conference play continues.
With a four-game homestand ahead, the urgency is ramping up for UTEP as it looks to begin stacking wins and climb the conference standings.
“We are starting to learn and trust each other more,” UTEP forward Kaseem Watson said. “We are also starting to realize that we have to win, we are desperate.”
UTEP will open the homestand Thursday night against FIU, a Panthers squad that pulled away from the Miners 76-64 in their first meeting a couple of weeks ago. Head coach Joe Golding emphasized the need for improvement on the defensive end as the team prepares for the rematch.
“The game will come down to transition defense and rebounding,” Golding said. “[Last time] they scored 48 points in the paint, so we have to get back in transition and rebound the basketball. To get back in transition, you have to take good shots and value the basketball.”
Golding also announced earlier this week that senior guard Tyreese Watson will sit out the remainder of the season and pursue a medical redshirt. Watson appeared in seven games for the Miners this year, averaging eight points per game before suffering a knee injury.
Prior to joining UTEP, Watson spent two seasons at Cochise Community College and two seasons at Louisiana-Monroe.
With Watson sidelined for the rest of the season, even more responsibility now falls on the shoulders of starting point guard Caleb Blackwell, who has served as a spark plug for the Miners’ offense this year. Since returning from a concussion, the junior has posted back-to-back games scoring in double figures.
“I think when my offensive game is working well, I am able to get others involved,” Blackwell said. “I think others respond well.”
Blackwell missed the first meeting against FIU, a game in which the Panthers pulled away late in the second half. Golding is hopeful that having a healthy Blackwell on the floor can help turn the tide this time around.
“We need him to play that way,” Golding said. “It is what we recruited him to be. This week, he played well on the road, and hopefully that gave him some confidence.”
The Miners tip off their four-game homestand Thursday night at 7 p.m. against FIU.
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