UTEP basketball preview: UTEP vs. Southern Miss

Miners look to rebound against much-improved Golden Eagles

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

January 17, 2007

You very rarely see a team that consistently starts three freshmen win 11 of its first 15 games. However, that is exactly what Larry Eustachy has done in his third season in Hattiesburg, MS. Led by spectacular freshman guard Jeremy Wise, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles appear that they may very well be a formidable team in Conference USA.

The Golden Eagles come into the Don Haskins Center on Wednesday averaging 71 points and 39 rebounds per game. The downfall of this seemingly good team is their turnovers, as it averages 19 per game. The Miners may apply some pressure to this young, talented team in hopes that they can capitalize on a team that becomes somewhat rattled at times.

The Miners' line-up is similar to the Golden Eagles' with regards to the youth present. There are two freshmen—Malik Alvin and Dale Vanwright. There are also two sophomores in Stefon Jackson and Maurice Thomas. Jackson is averaging 19 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists per game. The Miners are averaging an impressive 80 points, 40 rebounds, and 17 assists per game.

The key match-up in this game between two very young, well-coached teams will be the matchup between Stefon Jackson and Jeremy Wise, who are both averaging well into double-digit points. The Miners emphasize defense, which will be key in this squaring off between cross-divisional foes of Conference-USA.

With two very talented and young teams facing one another, the home crowd will have to be the deciding factor for the Miners, who have been very efficient at home lately. The Miners possess the abilities to turn the court in the Don Haskins' Center into a track meet. They will have to use that ability in order to fatigue this slower paced Golden Eagle team.

With freshman at the helm of a team, visitors can get rattled and that will be one of the keys for the Miners to come away with a victory against the Golden Eagles. Coach Tony Barbee says that the Miners are a much better team away from home, but recent performances at home have indicated there plenty comfortable there as well.

FINAL PREDICTION:

The Miners are deadly in El Paso and pull away with a close win at home.

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