With only five upperclassmen currently on the men’s basketball roster, veteran players like junior center John Bohannon are expected to provide leadership for the young team during the 2012-13 campaign.

Last season, the 6-foot-10 center averaged 11.5 points and 7.3 rebounds, all while leading the Miners in scoring, rebounding and blocks. He averaged 58.5 percent shooting from the floor and 73.1 from the free-throw line improving on his 49.3 from the previous year.

Q: What have you been working on during the summer?
A: On everything, the offseason gives you time to try to improve the most, get in the gym and work on your strength, conditioning and of course skills, shooting the ball outside the perimeter.

Q: How does it feel having someone taller on the team?
A: It’s different. Most of the teams I’ve been on I was the tallest guy, so it’s kind of funny looking up, and feel like most people feel when they look at me. (Head) coach (Tim) Floyd wants to bring that length and height to the squad, it’s good having a big front line, so it’s going to help us out tremendously.

Q: How does it feel to be one of the most experienced players on the team?
A: I think I’m ready, I’ve been here before. I’ve been here for a couple of years now, and I can let the guys know what I’ve been through and just go ahead and lead by example.

Q: What is the team goal for the upcoming season?
A: NCAA Tournament. Win the conference, that’s what I think about every year. It escaped me my freshman year just barely, and I know we might not get that opportunity ever again, so every time we go out we have to give it all in the floor and hopefully we can get to the NCAA Tournament.

Q: What part of your game have you tried to improve on the most during the offseason?
A: Basically all around, I always work on my post work, and shooting outside on the perimeter, and everything, becoming a more proficient player is really my goal for the season.

Q: What does the team need to improve on?
A: We should win more games, that’s what we should do, win more games.

Q: What are your thoughts on the schedule?
A: I love it, coach Floyd is not afraid to play anybody, anywhere, anytime and I feel I’m that way too. If the whole team has that mentality we’ll be fine because coach Floyd is going to schedule anybody and anywhere, when he told me he said he wanted the team to be at the same level with Kansas and Duke, and our schedule is really pushing the program towards that.

Q: What kind of advice have you given the incoming freshmen?
A: You have to slow the game, you need to be passive, basketball at the college level is faster than high school obviously. It might take a couple of games to adapt, but just be patient and learn as much as you can from the coaches and the older players.

Q: What’s the highlight so far in your two years at UTEP?
A: Every time we come out the tunnel, we always have the fans asking for autographs and showing appreciation. That would be my highlight.

Edwin Delgado may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.