UTEP basketball preview: UTEP vs. Tulsa

CUSA Fans UTEP Correspondent Robert Robles brings you a preview of the upcoming basketball game between UTEP and Tulsa.

Rematches are always interesting, especially when the match-up features two teams with very different types of styles of play.

So is the case with UTEP and Tulsa, as the Miners’ philosophy is to turn the game into a track meet while testing their opponents’ conditioning level and depth. They combine these fast break points with some perimeter shooting and stifling defense.

Tulsa’s mentality, which has served it well this season, is to pound it inside with hopes of opening up opportunities on the perimeter. The Golden Hurricane also looks to crash the boards and has done so effectively.

The Miners were second place in Conference USA, but have since lost 5 out of their last 6 games and currently sit at 13-12 overall and 5-6 in the league. Tony Barbee’s club seems slow, tired, and less focused than they were at the beginning of the season. Sensing the fatigue issue, Coach Barbee gave his team a couple days off, which should help rectify that situation.

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane haven’t played that bad lately other than getting taken behind the woodshed by Memphis, but seriously, who have the Tigers not ravaged yet? Tulsa is currently tied with the Miners and several others at sixth place in conference with a 5-6 record. At 14-9, Tulsa is hoping to make a late drive in conference play to gain a respectable seed in the tournament while also attempting to position itself to receive a NIT bid.

Both teams are outstanding rebounding teams, as the Miners rank 18 th nationally with 42.5 per game while Tulsa ranks tenth by averaging 43.1 per game.

Stefon Jackson will need to have a superb performance as the Miners can ill afford another loss. He is averaging 18.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. When “DJ” gets his game going there aren’t many people who can stop him.

Defending the post has been a problem for the Miners lately, as they gave up 50 points in the paint against the Green Wave.

The Miners, who are 1-7 on the road this season, are glad to be back in the friendly confines of the Don Haskins Center. If the Miners can dictate the pace, which they have proven they are fully capable of doing this season, they should have a good chance to collect a much-needed win.

The Miners do an excellent job of forcing their opponents to commit turnovers, ranking 11 th in the nation by causing 19.1 per contest. If the Miners can cause turnovers early and put Tulsa in a hole, it will very likely be a long trip to the Sun City and an even longer trip back home to Oklahoma.

Tulsa’s primary areas of focus will be controlling the pace and collecting points in the paint. If they perform well in these areas, they will be in good shape; however, they will also likely have to handle the Miners’ crowd.

Final Prediction: UTEP 77 -Tulsa 72