UTEP
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 6:04 pmUTEP runs a 3-guard offense, but their real strength is in the frontcourt, where Derrick Caracter and Arnett Moultrie are averaging 26 points and 18 rebounds per game, between them. Moultrie averaged 9 points and 8 rebounds per game as a freshman, good enough to put him on the C-USA All Freshman team, and make him the first freshman in 30 years to lead UTEP in rebounding. The 6’11†sophomore has stepped up to a larger role in the offense this season, scoring in double figures in 9 of UTEPs 11 games, and it should be noted that the 2 games where he scored less than 10 points were both blowout wins where he played limited minutes. Joining Moultrie in the front court is 6’9†275 pound Derrick Caracter, a transfer from Louisville who became eligible in December. Caracter was one of the countries top recruits coming out of high school, drawing comparisons to player like Tyler Hansbrough and Greg Oden, but his career at Louisville was a roller coaster, marked by injuries, issues with his weight, and disciplinary suspensions. His play on the court was just as rocky, sometimes dominating performances were followed by games where he almost disappeared. After taking up almost permanent residence in Rick Pitino’s doghouse, Caracter eventually left UL, a move that most people felt was encouraged by his coaches and teammates. Now he’s averaging a double-double, with 13 points and 10 rebounds per game, for the Miners. If Caracter can keep his head on straight he still has a good shot at making the NBA, his problems were never one of lack of talent, but rather a lack of maturity. If he grows up and shows some discipline, Caracter could become the most dominant player in C-USA.
UTEP also has excellent depth in the front court. Claude Britten, a 6’11†junior started part of last year at center, and was starting this year until Caracter became eligible. Britten is no star, but he’s a solid role player who now gives UTEP a reliable big body they can bring off the bench to rest Moultrie or Caracter. He contributes a solid 6 points and 3 rebounds a game, and can be relied on for steady minutes every game. Wayne Portalin, a 6’10†junior split time with Britten last year, and has started a dozen games over his career, but now he’s losing playing time to Caracter, and forward Jeremy Williams. Williams, a junior college transfer, is averaging 10 points and 5 rebounds per game off the bench, and has established himself as UTEP’s 6th man. Williams went to high school in Memphis, and originally signed with Colorado, where he played well as a freshman. His leaving Colorado may have had something to do with Tony Barbee becoming head coach at UTEP, as Barbee has always had strong connections in Memphis. Another UTEP player, Marvin Strong, was a high school and JC teammate of Williams, and originally signed with San Francisco. Strong started as a freshman at USF, averaging 10 points per game, but he also left to follow Barbee to UTEP. The Miners have 5 players from Memphis, including Williams, Moultrie, and guard Randy Culpepper.
Williams is one of 5 UTEP players averaging double figures in points, along with Caracter, and Moultrie. The other two are guards Randy Culpepper and Christian Polk. Polk is a transfer from Arizona State, and is probably UTEP’s most accurate perimeter shooter, knocking down 46% of his shots from outside the arc. Polk started at ASU as a freshman, and played well, averaging 12 points per game, but he lost the starting job and saw his playing time drop dramatically after ASU signed James Harden. Polk would have probably gotten his job back after Harden left early for the NBA, but he elected to transfer, instead. Randy Culpepper is now UTEPs leading scorer, averaging 18.5 points per game, 3rd overall in C-USA. Culpepper has always been an explosive scorer, but he has had to wait 2 years to get out of the shadow on Stefan Jackson. Now as the heir apparent, Culpepper has become the main man at UTEP. Culpepper is a pure scorer, he doesn’t distribute the ball, and really doesn’t play particularly good defense, but he puts the ball in the hole. He averages 14 shots per game, and half of those will be outside the 3-point line. He likes the perimeter shot, but his real strength is closer in, he does a very good job of getting to the basket, or pulling up for a the short jumper in the lane. He is never hesitant about putting the ball up, when he gets it in his hands he’s immediately looking at the rim.
The only starter for UTEP who doesn’t average double figures in points is guard Julyan Stone. At 6’6â€, Stone is much taller than UTEPs other guards, and it might be easy to mistake him for a small forward, but he’s actually the Miners point guard. Stone averages 9 points per game, and shoots an excellent percentage (52% from the floor and 44% from the arc), but his primary job is to run the offense and set up the shooters, which he does very well, averaging 5.2 assists per game, with only 2 turnovers. As a team, the Miners don’t turn the ball over very frequently, but turnovers have increased since Caracter became a starter, he turns it over almost 5 times per game. Stone does look for his shot a little more frequently this year, and his scoring numbers are up and assists slightly down over last season (6.4 assists per game last year). Stone also does a solid job helping out on the backboards, averaging 5 rebounds per game. This is the advantage of having a tall point guard, he can see the floor well, and help out on the glass.
In all 3 of UTEP’s losses they have had the lead in the 2nd half, but couldn’t hold it. Part of the reason may be their poor free throw shooting, Culpepper is shooting 71% from the line, but everyone else is in the low 60s. This seems like the Miners real weak spot, they're the worst team in C-USA at the free throw line.
UTEPs biggest win of the year came against Oklahoma, 89-74, when the Sooners were ranked in the top-20. The Miners got superlative performances from their starters that night, Culpepper led all scorers with 27 points, and Polk had 17. Caracter was the leading rebounder with 10, along with 11 points, and Stone dished out 8 assists and scored 15 points. Their worst loss came at home against New Mexico State, a team that they had beaten by 20 points on the road, earlier in the year. UTEP blew a 14 point lead, and went cold for a 5 minute stretch that allowed NMSU to get back into the game.
UTEP is currently ranked 72nd in the Sagarin rankings, which would put them 5th in C-USA, behind UAB, Memphis, Marshall and Tulsa, but ahead of Houston. The Miners average 81 points per game, and allow 68 ppg, making them 3rd in C-USA in scoring margin. As a team, the Miner shoot 48% from the floor, while holding their opponents to 38%, on average. Their average attendance of 6,368 per game is second in the conference, behind only Memphis.
UTEP also has excellent depth in the front court. Claude Britten, a 6’11†junior started part of last year at center, and was starting this year until Caracter became eligible. Britten is no star, but he’s a solid role player who now gives UTEP a reliable big body they can bring off the bench to rest Moultrie or Caracter. He contributes a solid 6 points and 3 rebounds a game, and can be relied on for steady minutes every game. Wayne Portalin, a 6’10†junior split time with Britten last year, and has started a dozen games over his career, but now he’s losing playing time to Caracter, and forward Jeremy Williams. Williams, a junior college transfer, is averaging 10 points and 5 rebounds per game off the bench, and has established himself as UTEP’s 6th man. Williams went to high school in Memphis, and originally signed with Colorado, where he played well as a freshman. His leaving Colorado may have had something to do with Tony Barbee becoming head coach at UTEP, as Barbee has always had strong connections in Memphis. Another UTEP player, Marvin Strong, was a high school and JC teammate of Williams, and originally signed with San Francisco. Strong started as a freshman at USF, averaging 10 points per game, but he also left to follow Barbee to UTEP. The Miners have 5 players from Memphis, including Williams, Moultrie, and guard Randy Culpepper.
Williams is one of 5 UTEP players averaging double figures in points, along with Caracter, and Moultrie. The other two are guards Randy Culpepper and Christian Polk. Polk is a transfer from Arizona State, and is probably UTEP’s most accurate perimeter shooter, knocking down 46% of his shots from outside the arc. Polk started at ASU as a freshman, and played well, averaging 12 points per game, but he lost the starting job and saw his playing time drop dramatically after ASU signed James Harden. Polk would have probably gotten his job back after Harden left early for the NBA, but he elected to transfer, instead. Randy Culpepper is now UTEPs leading scorer, averaging 18.5 points per game, 3rd overall in C-USA. Culpepper has always been an explosive scorer, but he has had to wait 2 years to get out of the shadow on Stefan Jackson. Now as the heir apparent, Culpepper has become the main man at UTEP. Culpepper is a pure scorer, he doesn’t distribute the ball, and really doesn’t play particularly good defense, but he puts the ball in the hole. He averages 14 shots per game, and half of those will be outside the 3-point line. He likes the perimeter shot, but his real strength is closer in, he does a very good job of getting to the basket, or pulling up for a the short jumper in the lane. He is never hesitant about putting the ball up, when he gets it in his hands he’s immediately looking at the rim.
The only starter for UTEP who doesn’t average double figures in points is guard Julyan Stone. At 6’6â€, Stone is much taller than UTEPs other guards, and it might be easy to mistake him for a small forward, but he’s actually the Miners point guard. Stone averages 9 points per game, and shoots an excellent percentage (52% from the floor and 44% from the arc), but his primary job is to run the offense and set up the shooters, which he does very well, averaging 5.2 assists per game, with only 2 turnovers. As a team, the Miners don’t turn the ball over very frequently, but turnovers have increased since Caracter became a starter, he turns it over almost 5 times per game. Stone does look for his shot a little more frequently this year, and his scoring numbers are up and assists slightly down over last season (6.4 assists per game last year). Stone also does a solid job helping out on the backboards, averaging 5 rebounds per game. This is the advantage of having a tall point guard, he can see the floor well, and help out on the glass.
In all 3 of UTEP’s losses they have had the lead in the 2nd half, but couldn’t hold it. Part of the reason may be their poor free throw shooting, Culpepper is shooting 71% from the line, but everyone else is in the low 60s. This seems like the Miners real weak spot, they're the worst team in C-USA at the free throw line.
UTEPs biggest win of the year came against Oklahoma, 89-74, when the Sooners were ranked in the top-20. The Miners got superlative performances from their starters that night, Culpepper led all scorers with 27 points, and Polk had 17. Caracter was the leading rebounder with 10, along with 11 points, and Stone dished out 8 assists and scored 15 points. Their worst loss came at home against New Mexico State, a team that they had beaten by 20 points on the road, earlier in the year. UTEP blew a 14 point lead, and went cold for a 5 minute stretch that allowed NMSU to get back into the game.
UTEP is currently ranked 72nd in the Sagarin rankings, which would put them 5th in C-USA, behind UAB, Memphis, Marshall and Tulsa, but ahead of Houston. The Miners average 81 points per game, and allow 68 ppg, making them 3rd in C-USA in scoring margin. As a team, the Miner shoot 48% from the floor, while holding their opponents to 38%, on average. Their average attendance of 6,368 per game is second in the conference, behind only Memphis.