Center of attention

After losing four starters from last season, head coach Tim Floyd was uncertain as to who would be in his starting lineup at the beginning of the season.

Returning one center and one forward, Floyd brought in three new post players for an inexperienced post presence. One position that especially seemed to be up for grabs was the center position with three players at 6-foot 9-inch or taller.

At the start of the season, freshman forward Cedrick Lang and sophomore center John Bohannon were both in the starting lineup when the lone returning starter, senior forward Gabriel McCulley, missed the first four games.

Floyd numerously said that he'd challenge each player to get the starting position, which he would determine based on Lang or Bohannon's performance in his previous game or practice.

Lang started in the first four games, Bohannon in three of those and both started together in three of those contests. Over the next eight games after McCulley returned, Lang and Bohannon split the starting role, with both getting the nod four times each. Since then, Lang has started just once, Jan. 14 at home against SMU.

Bohannon and Lang's relationship was strengthened by the competition, according to both players. Bohannon said he was happy to see the younger Lang take the starting position every now and then as it showed he was making quick strides with the team.

"That is my young blood. I tried to take him under my wing to show him things that I learned my freshman year," Bohannon said. "It is all about the team here. If we are winning and he is in there that is fine with me as long as we are winning. I have nothing but love for all my teammates so if someone is doing better than me or just doing well, I am going to support them."

The two drive one another to heightened level of play through support and encouragement.

"(Lang) tells me before every game, halftime and time out, ‘come on Bo, let's go, we have to get this,'" Bohannon said. "He has been there for me and I have been there for him through his injuries and what not. He tells me we got to get this one. The next play I might mess up or the next play, if I am doing good he will tell me good job and stuff like that."

The main reason for Lang not starting recently has been an injury he sustained. On Jan. 25, he complained about a pain in his foot, and from there, he visited a doctor who diagnosed him with a stress fracture in his right foot. Since then, Lang has not practiced to continue aggravating his injury, but has still played in every game, including the Miners' most recent one Feb. 4 against UAB.

Regardless of the injury, Lang is one of two players to play in every game so far this season along with junior guard Jacques Streeter. Lang was averaging 7.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and was shooting a team-best 65.5 percent from the field. Since the injury, however, his numbers have decreased to 6.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and a 61.6 field goal percentage.

Bohannon has since secured the starting position and has become one of UTEP's most dominant players this season. He ranks third on the team in scoring and first in rebounding, averaging 10.8 points, 7.3 rebounds per game and is currently third in Conference-USA with a 60.4 field goal percentage.

Bohannon has stepped in the interior as two of his teammates, junior forward Malcolm Moore and freshman center Hooper Vint, were injured. Moore suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and Vint missed more than half the games so far with back problems. Both were season-ending injuries. Bohannon is on a hot streak as he has posted five double-doubles in the last 10 games.

A little competition for the starting position often results in close bonding as these two have displayed.

"We try to push each other every day, but right now I am not practicing. That is what you want to do as a teammate is push each other to be better," Lang said. "I just try to encourage him through the sidelines. We are close as it is, we are all pretty close as teammates."

Frankie Rodriguez may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.