UTEP tabbed #4 in Conference USA Preseason Rankings

CUSA-fans.com has a new staff of team correspondents this fall to help bring you, the fan, more detailed Conference USA football coverage. Today, our UTEP Correspondent Carlos Silva Jr. gives you the breakdown of the C-USA Preason Rankings.

EL PASO, TX - The UTEP men's basketball team has gone through many changes that included a new coaching staff and player personnel, but one thing that has stayed constant is being ranked 4th in Conference C-USA’s preseason standings.

Memphis was a no-brainer as the favorite because of their fantastic run in the NCAA Tournament as the #1 seed. Memphis has been to six straight post-seasons under Head Coach Calipari and with two returning stars in sophomore Chris Douglas-Roberts and junior Joey Dorsey, the Tigers are looking to repeat last year's Elite Eight run.

Memphis will serve host to the 2007 Conference USA Championship, which is presented by Aeropostale, March 7-10 at the FedExForum in Memphis, TN. CSTV will be airing the quarterfinal and semifinal games. The Conference Championship game will be played on Saturday, March 10 at 11:35 a.m. EST/10:35 a.m. CST on CBS.

The Miners will have their hands full with a very tough schedule, and 10 new players joining the team. The only returning starters from last season are senior guard Kevin Henderson, along with sophomores (Guard) Stephon Jackson and (Forward) Maurice Thomas.

Here are the rankings according to the C-USA Coaches Poll:
1. Memphis
2. Houston
3. UAB
T4. UTEP
T4. Rice
6. Tulsa
7. UCF
8. SMU
9. Tulane
10. Marshall
11. Southern Miss.
12. East Carolina

Here is the breakdown for the Conference USA Preseason Player of The Year, and Preseason All Conference Team.

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Morris Almond, Rice, G, 6-6, Sr., Powder Springs, Ga.

2006 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Oliver Lafayette, Houston, G, 6-3, Sr., Baton Rouge, La.
Lanny Smith, Houston, G, 6-2, Sr., Missouri City, Texas
Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis, G, 6-5, So. Detroit, Mich.
Joey Dorsey, Memphis, F, 6-9, Jr., Baltimore, Md.
Morris Almond, Rice, G, 6-6, Sr., Powder Springs, Ga.

The Miners first exhibition game for the 2006-07 season, against Western New Mexico, will be on Tuesday, Oct. 31 @ 7:05 pm (MST) at the Don Haskin Center.