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UTEP's Matt Willms, Omega Harris potentially lost for 2015-16 season

Tough to swallow news for the UTEP basketball team today.

By Alex Nicolas
Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports

In some utterly heartbreaking off-season news for UTEP basketball fans, the Miners will be without Matt Willms who is still recovering from a foot injury this coming season, and could also be without Omega Harris for the 2015-16 season due to academic eligibility issues.

Willms had been recovering this summer from the foot injury, and will work to apply for a medical red-shirt in hopes of not losing a year of eligibility.

We also learned that Harris has not yet been "officially" declared academically ineligible by UTEP, but could miss parts of the season and will have to work himself out of the Tim Floyd doghouse in order to see playing time once and if he is cleared to play.

This is potentially crushing news for a promising reloading year once the class of 2015 was finalized, but UTEP does have the depth waiting in the wings to recover.

Willms, and Harris were two starters and high minute getter's pretty much penciled in for 2015-16, and were both on the rise in terms of their potential and production after strong showings towards the latter part of last season.

With the loss of Willms, this weekend's visit by 2015 four-star prospect Brodericks Jones just became more crucial, and guys like Trey Touchet, Lee Moore, and even possibly Victor Mbachu could see their minutes and practice reps increase early on in the season.

Stay tuned for more concrete information as it becomes available.