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The last leg of the road to Frisco, Texas for the UTEP Miners starts Thursday in the Don. UTEP is currently looking at a rough weekend up ahead to open a three game home stand that starts tomorrow.
UTEP will host Western Kentucky on Thursday to kick off the next three home games. WKU is currently second in the Conference USA standings, and have been playing some their best basketball of the season as of late. UTEP is currently riding a three game losing streak without a legitimate big man rotation, and no identity.
Current leading scorers Omega Harris and Keith Frazier are averaging 11 points per game. These two dynamic guards are the only Miners that average double digit points per game and Frazier’s playing time has seen a major dip and has been a major topic of conversation for UTEP folks.
With this being said, Western Kentucky currently has four players on their roster that are averaging well above 11 points per game. The Hilltoppers hold a very strong 7-1 conference record and could be in the conversation of an NCAA Tournament at-large bid if they don’t slip up between now and the C-USA championship game.
It doesn’t get any easier on Saturday as the Miners host Marshall. Marshall is sporting a 14-7 overall record and is currently 5-3 in conference play, and of course bring in a pace and space offense that fires from 3-point land at will.
It’s going to be a tough weekend at the Don Haskins. With the UTSA rematch coming up next week to end the three game home stand, UTEP is in a must-win situation this weekend to remain in the race to simply clinch a spot in the C-USA Tournament.
Big picture, the Miners desperately have to start winning some games in a row if this squad wants to play in the conference tournament in Frisco, Texas. Only the top 12 teams get in and UTEP is sitting at number 12 right now with the second half of conference play set to commence over the next month.
The past three game stretch has been difficult to watch and stomach, but the next month will be interesting to see if this UTEP team has anything left in the tank down the stretch of the season.