Rebuilding campaign

When head coach Tim Floyd held a free scrimmage to UTEP fans at the Don Haskins Center prior to the season, he used the opportunity not only to introduce the team, but send one message: be patient, this is a rebuilding year.

But while Floyd let his fans in on his plan, he said he never really told his players the same idea.

"We didn't want to sell them short in terms of giving them the best opportunity to win but certainly they have a rebuilding year," Floyd said. "They have surprised me with their improvement and you hope for that making it the primary objective. The resiliency has probably been the biggest surprise; their ability to bounce back from close loses, compete and not ride off this year as an improvement year."

Even after many were ready to write UTEP off following a 1-4 start, the Miners have bounced back to sit at .500, with a record of 13-13 and 6-6 in Conference USA.

"That is what everyone in El Paso was talking about. I saw a guy at the grocery store and he said, ‘I thought y'all weren't going to win a game this season,'" freshman forward Cedrick Lang said. "I think we surprised a lot of people this year. Coach Floyd told us from the beginning of the year that it was going to be about whoever steps up."

The Miners are on a three-game winning streak, coming off wins against Tulsa, Tulane and Memphis. UTEP is three games behind first-place Memphis and their next opponent, Southern Miss.

"I think we finally understand that we can play with anybody. It doesn't have to be a rebuilding year because we are trying to make the NCAA Tournament and see what we can do from there," freshman guard Julian Washburn said. "I don't think it is a rebuilding year."

This was one of the youngest teams in school history. They began the season with eight freshmen and their lone senior, forward Gabriel McCulley, missed the beginning of the season. UTEP's starting lineup consisted of two freshmen, two sophomores and one junior in their first game against UTSA.

"Earlier this season, I heard that a lot and a lot of people started buying into it. We started beating a lot of really good teams and people realized that we can play with anybody," Washburn said. "It doesn't have to be a rebuilding year, we can compete with anyone we play with."

UTEP will host Southern Miss, with a top-15 RPI, Feb. 22 at the Don Haskins Center.

"We are really on a roll right now. That win in Memphis kept us going and this win against Southern Miss would be huge," Lang said. "That is what you want to do: get on a role at the end, win the tournament and then see what you can do from there."

Washburn has established himself as a shutdown defender for the Miners this season. In the last two games, he has contained two of the top C-USA scorers in Memphis' sophomore guard Will Barton to nine points. He is averaging 17.9 this season. The other was against Tulane's freshman guard Ricky Tarrant, who was held scoreless for the first half until Washburn fouled out the game at the beginning of the second half.

"It has been one of my roles growing up since middle school, high school but I love going out there every game guarding the best player," Washburn said. "I just love the competition."

This year's team is allowing 62.9 points per game and is allowing 43 percent from the field. UTEP is ranked 11th in C-USA in rebounds, 11th in blocks and 10th in steals per game. Floyd still has high expectations as a defensive-oriented coach.

"This has been the worst defensive team I have ever coached. That area has to improve, it has to get better for it to happen," Floyd said. "We have shown that we can compete. We are in a competing year, and next year we will enter trying to contend. Anything is a possibility."

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