UTEP and C-USA Basketball-How Does It Stand Up

[kyyote]

I made a comment that I think we are about as good as our record would indicate, 7-5.  I decided to look to see where we rank.  Using this;

College Basketball Power Index
Last Updated: December 24, 2021 at 1:45 AM MT
The College Basketball Power Index (BPI) is a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of performance going forward. BPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Strength of Record (SOR) is a measure of team accomplishment based on how difficult a team's W-L record is to achieve. Game predictions account for opponent strength, pace of play, site, travel distance, day's rest and altitude, and are used to simulate the season 10,000 times to produce season projections. Numbers update daily.

I found a few things that kind of hit hard.  Searching for UTEP and going lower and lower in the rankings I found Tarleton State and Abilene Christian before I found UTEP listed.  I don't know that you let a gut punch sink in.

As I searched, I seemed to not be finding a lot of C-USA schools.  So, I figured I would look to see how the conference stands up to some others.

I don't doubt that I may have made mistakes but here is what I found;

Rank  MWC                 Rnk  MAC                  Rnk   Sun Belt               Rnk  C-USA               Rnk   AAC 45     SDST                 74  Buf                     126    GA St                  42   UAB w                1       Houston 60    CO St                 111  Ohio                  130    Coast Car             96   NT  w                33      Memp 61    Boise                  113   Kent                 131   TX St                   108  WKU e               51     UCF 66    UT St                 114 Toledo                 132    S Ala                   122  LA Tech w          54     SMU 88    Fresno                133  BG                     169 GA S                     134  MTU e                84     W St 120  Wy                     150   Mia Oh              196    App St                 156  Rice w              101 Cincy 123  NV                     236   E. Mich              211    Lou                     163   FIU e                124   Tul 137  UNLV                  293   Ball                   233   UL Mon                170   Marsh e            152   ECU 299   SJSt                  316   N Ill                   237 UT Arl                    181   ODU e              180   Temp 311   UNM                  323   CMich               240   Ark St                   205   UTEP w            185   Tula 332   AF                     349   W Mich              261   Troy                     242   Char e              216  S FL                                                                  335    LR                       244   FAU e                                                                                                      312   SMiss w                                                                                                       318   UTSA Avg  119                    201                           200                              178                           107

   

By the way, Abilene Christian is ranked 103 and Tarlton is ranked 201.  I think there is a lot in the chart presented as it is.             
                                                                                           

[Chanson]

I think our team is a bit better than our record. Here is why.
1) Flu, Covid, back soreness, food poisoning, concussions, & a broken finger has not allowed this team to be at 100%.
2) When returning from these ailments, the kids are still trying to work through rust & cob webs to get close to 100%.
3) New coach with a completely new program to learn. Remember, we only lost 1 starter from last year & a Golding program is night & day compared to a Terry program.
4) Even with all these crazy road blocks, the Miners could have won every single game except for Kansas. That is saying a lot.

Let's break each issue down to the player.
- Concussion: Bieniemy & Verho
- Broken finger: Boum
- Flu: Sibley & (I forget other kid)
- Sore Back: Verho
- Covid: Boum & Agnew
- Food Poisoning: Boum & Onyema

That's 7 kids. Among Verho, Sibley, Kennedy, Boum, & Bieniemy (starting 5 IMO), only Kennedy has not been effected. So far.

That is a tall order for any team. I just hope it all comes together by late February. Based on what we have seen, we are not a post conference playing team. Based on the talent & defense, I would not be surprised if we see NIT or some other lower post tournament. What would surprise me is getting to the Conference Championship &, of coarse, the NCAA Tournament.
On top of all this, we have a 4☆ 6'6" lock down shooter that should be available by the 3rd conference game in Che Evans. He should help make up for the offensive shortcomings of our big men.

Anyone think I'm off the mark? I'd love to hear why.

[kyyote]

If the team is better for the reasons you gave then I would expect an improved record in conference or not?  We have 18 games in conference.  I think we will probably win about half of them.  If we end up with 16 or 17 wins and 14 or 15 losses I think we get ready for next year.  I think the conference schedule will be tougher than the schedule we have faced so far, overall.  I don't really see the team getting a great deal better.  They are already playing their hearts out defensively.  I know the back door cuts are killing us but some of that is the all out effort they rely on.  Offensively, I do see an adjustment to get to the basket perhaps but I don't expect the shooting to get markedly better.  I am always up for pleasant surprises, though.