Georgia Tech on My Mind: Talking Turkey with From the Rumble Seat
by Adrian Mac on Nov 24, 2010 9:47 AM MST
in UTEP Miners Basketball
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We don't expect anyone to really "fill" the void left by Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors this season. We're just hoping to have some semblance of a low post game before the season is over. Otherwise, we'll be incredibly one dimensional and easy to shutdown (ala the Kennesaw State game).
Iman is a decent point-wing hybrid type guard. He's matured for Paul Hewitt unlike a lot of top prospects and definitely has the ability to blow up a game (30 points at Chapel Hill last season). He doesn't have the smoothest stroke and has a tendency to play hero rather than lead the team. And what we need this season is the leader version of Iman not the hero. We're starting 3 sophomores and a freshman opposite of Iman.
In the 2009-2010 season, he averaged 8.2 points and 3.3 assists in wins and 8.5 points and 3.4 assists in losses. The first hand full of games this season has shown that Iman is gonna be the focal point of our offense. Because of this he'll get his looks no matter what and I think most Tech fans are confident in Iman's scoring ability but as I mentioned earlier Tech fans want to see Iman carry the team in not only points but in assists.
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what is a kenneshaw state?
Are they better than Turkey state university? Are they division IV? We should be able to run these guys off the floor…
by MinerManiax on Nov 24, 2010 10:53 AM MST via mobile reply actions
Ha- They were actually really good I think at the D-2 level- maybe even the National Champs there
And they saw the Ga Tech game as a huge opportunity for their program- hopefully UTEP will too. Ga Tech is hurting down low but Shumpert gives them a very capable scorer (he was a very highly regarded recruit). I can’t wait for this one, I think UTEP can surprise these teams with their overall athleticism.
Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans
Ga Tech beat the Miners??
The only way UTEP loses is if they beat themselves with turnovers, lazy d, and poor shooting. Georgia Tech has wins against Charleston Southern by 13, Albany by 27, and Niagara by 26. Those teams are a combined 4-11. UTEP’s oppenents records aren’t much better, but we haven’t dropped a game to a Kennesaw State that’s for sure. Not only did they lose to those Owls, but they lost by 17. Just to point out, Kennesaw beat Geo Southwestern by 20. I’m not even sure what the heck Geo SW is??? Kennesaw also dropped games to Chattanooga, Alabama State by 15, and Northern Arizona by 18.
I honestly don’t see any way that UTEP loses this game. CTF is too good of a coach to let this team come in unprepared. A loss here would be extremely disappointing.
Not to look ahead but the other two teams in the field have shown some weakness also. The Cuse beat William and Mary by 3, and Detroit by 11 before that. Granted those are two decent basketball programs, but nonetheless programs that you would expect Syracuse to put away easily. Especially at home. Michigan hasn’t had a strong basketball program in years. This year they’ve handled business though downing USC upstate, Bowling Green, and Gardner-Webb. Just for comparison, BG lost at Michigan by 19, and lost at home to Duquesne by 36!
UTEP’s gotta chance in this thing. Just have to come disciplined and prepared. Play that suffocating d we’ve been playing and we may be walking out with the trophy.
As cocky as I want to get about this team, the fact remains that Tech has ACC
the fact remains that Tech has ACC level talent (though admittedly bottom of the barrel) and yes, it’s not a quantifiable advantage but it is and intimidating one. The one thing that I was scared about was a GA Tech inside game, but thankfully that’s been assuaged away by this interview; it seems like it’s going to be a battle of small ball and UTEP’s guards are going to be able to wreak havoc. This UTEP team is definitely athletic and would be able to hold its own against any team that doesn’t have a dominant PF or C
i think that it’s far too early in the season to be assessing teams by who they’ve played and how they’ve done because teams need time to find their “chemistry” and coaches need to figure out what combos work best. A perfect example of this is Syracuse losing to Des Moyne or Butler losing to UAB. This UTEP team is definitely athletic and would be able to hold its own against any team that doesn’t have a dominant PF or C
I like our chances against this team than against Mich/SU but it’s not gonna be the cakewalk.
Agreed on two things
Definitely still have ACC talent (for whatever thats worth), and definitely won’t be a cakewalk. But I also disagree on one major point. You can always assess a team’s strength by who they’ve played. No matter how early in the season. That’s not to say that they won’t get any better, but it is to say that at this point they are playing like crap. They havn’t found that chemistry or those combos that work. And while UTEP doesn’t necessarily have it chemistry down pat either, the core of this team won 26 games last year and played in the NCAA tourney. They have experience. Not to mention the reigning C-USA poy, a PG that if finding his offensive rhythm, and another guard in Polk who is playing confident right now. UTEP will win this game if they stick to the disciplined defense they’ve been playing. The Miners are giving up 65 ppg, and GT is averaging about 67.5 ppg. Look for them to be held to less than both avgs. I’m gonna say something like a 73-61 final.
Just an update...
The Kennesaw State Owls who beat this GT team by 17 nine days ago lost to Iowa State by 40 tonight. Granted Iowa St is 5-0 but they havn’t really played anyone other than Creighton.
I was talking about basketball as a whole, not just UTEP or Ga Tech
You said it yourself, UTEP doesn’t have the chemistry down pat. True the core is there, and there’s no denying that there’s some definite talent on this team but they did lose Caracter and Moultrie. Allowing for the difference between them and their replacements, the other sevenish(?) guys need to learn how to work together without two players. They need to learn what the new players can do and how to use them to complement what they can do.
To use a better example, take the Miami Heat. We all know that Wade, Bosh,and LeBron all had talent, but they’re sitting at 8-6 because they have yet to learn how to learn to play with each other. Based on talent alone, is that team 8-6? No. In April will they be playing like a team that’s 8-6? No. They’ll be better (or worse depending on trades, injuries etc.)
I think that it is far too early to be judging teams right now. They haven’t had the time and in game experience needed to gel together. Like you said, this team has a crazy amount of athleticism, talent, and aggressiveness, but they are missing two team members from last year and they’ll need a few games before we can see what this team can actually do. Experience will definitely help them (and did help them with NMSU – they didn’t panic when the Aggies started closing the gap) but I think that teams need a few games before we can see what theirtrue ability as a team is
I am agreeing with you
But you’re saying it yourself. The Heat are 8-7 now and are playing like an 8-7 team. That’s not to say anything about the future but right now that’s the kind of team they are. Same with GT. Maybe they’ll pull it together and finish well in the ACC, but right now they dont have a chance. I’m not judging this team for the whole season, I’m judging this team for tomorrow’s game against UTEP.
Fair enough
I think my baseball fanhood is getting the best of me. I’m used to assessing team sby true talent ability rather than current ability
Tournament chances
UTEP is in a prime position to take this tourney. GT should be a win without question. They are rebuilding and it sounds like they have a Barbee style coach that our disciplined defense should be able to shut down. I don’t think Coach TF will allow another poor rebounding game where we have to rely on the 3.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Michigan upset overrated Syracuse. The Orange are not what they were last year and they are weak in the post.
Like many Big 10 teams, Michigan will probably play methodical & physical ball. Hopefully our Miners are in top physical condition and can simply out hustle their way to a early season trophy. It would be a major confidence booster to this squad.
For UTEP's sake
We need to first beat GT, and then hope Syracuse wins. Syracuse would help our SOS more than Michigan, unless of course Michigan somehow surprises everyone and does well in the toughest conference in the nation.
Kinda related but not really
Let’s say that Syracuse beats UTEP by single digits but UTEP beats Mich by double digits. At what point does a good loss=a mediocre win?
And yea, I’d rather play Syracuse, too
SOS game
I would never call a loss “good”, regardless of the SOS implications. I get what you’re saying, but I think it’s easy to get caught up in the BCS style craziness and lose sight of just getting wins.
Having said that, I agree that UTEP should be aiming/planning to play the most talented teams out there, which is probably Syracuse this weekend. Either way, I believe the Miners have an excellent opportunity to get 2 quality wins. Go Miners!
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