Rebuilding year plagued by injuries

As the Miners continue their roller coaster season, injuries have become a consistent problem for head coach Tim Floyd, who has still found ways to adapt to the circumstances and utilize the reinforcements he does have.

"We have been in this situation since December, dating back to (Nov. 31 at) Oregon. It has been a long time so we have learned to play around (injuries)," Floyd said. "Will it come back to bite us in some games? Possibly. But it hasn't so far."

Even prior to the start of the season, UTEP played its first four games –losing three of those– without their lone senior and forward Gabriel McCulley. He injured his left shin in the summer, and later on found out he had a stress fracture in the shin. After surgery and a quicker than expected recovery, McCulley returned for the game against Oregon and currently is leading the team in points per game with 12.3.

"It has affected us a little bit because we have struggled with big men. We are still short a couple of big men and I think it is affecting us down low," freshman guard Julian Washburn said.

One of the two lengthier losses occurred with two post players, affecting the depth on the roster. Junior forward Malcolm Moore injured his right knee Dec. 16 in practice. He has missed the last 12 games and is done for the season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Freshman center Hooper Vint has missed the last 13 games dealing with back problems. He has a bulging disc in his back but his status is still uncertain for the remainder of the season.

"With Hooper Vint, we are still hopeful that maybe he will get from the bulging disc in his back. Malcolm Moore will have to redshirt because of the ACL injury," Floyd said.

Players of the team feel they are lacking depth with their big men due to these two injuries. They are finding ways to work around it, and feel injuries could be a lot worse.

"We aren't a really deep team right now with Hooper Vint being out and Malcolm Moore being out. For the most part, it has affected our depth," McCulley said. "We only have me, (sophomore center) John Bohannon and (freshman forward) Cedrick Lang, for the most part. We have (sophomore forward) Kevin Perry who is trying to come along. Overall we are lucky to not have so many injuries, knock on wood."

Minor injuries also occurred. Michael Perez (sophomore guard) did not play Jan. 7 against Houston after rolling his ankle in practice, and Washburn sat out the game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff Dec. 29, after sustaining an AC sprain in his right shoulder in the first half against Clemson Dec. 22 at the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu.

"I hurt my shoulder in Hawaii and it never fully healed. It kind of affected my performance on the court so I wanted to sit out that one game," Washburn said. "It still hurts a little bit if somebody bumps it or something, but I will be back to 100 percent very soon."

The Miners are looking at this from a positive perspective and feel this is an opportunity for others to step up. There is no question that it has affected the team down low with a negative rebounding margin for the second-straight season. Bohannon is the leading rebounder averaging 6.7 rebounds a game.

"It has just given guys more minutes. Every night, me, Bohannon and Lang are going out there trying to play 30 minutes a game," McCulley said. "I don't think anything is wrong with that. We just have to suck it up and try to fill in where other guys aren't able to give us anything."

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