10 Units UTEP -4 (WON 79-69) +10.00 UNITS
Note: On Friday, Southern Methodist fired coach Mike Dement, a day after the Mustangs continued a late-season slump with a 39-point home loss to Boise Thursday, 89-50. Dement will be replaced on an interim basis by seven-year SMU assistant Robert Lineberg. The search for a new coach is under way. The Mustangs have lost 12 of their last 16 games. UTEP is neck and neck with Rice for first place in the WAC, so they will be focused here. UTEP has been playing very well the last month (and all season, in fact, as they won 20 of their first 25 games). UTEP likes to push the ball up the court led by 6'-5" junior Omar Thomas (15 ppg), 6’-6” senior forward Roy Smallwood and 6’-5” sophomore Jason Williams (12 ppg). UTEP shoots 48% on offense, while SMU allows 44% shooting, so UTEP may score a bunch. SMU is just 5-6 SU at home, and likes to run and gun and have three decent players in 6’-9” junior Patrick Simpson (11 ppg, 6 rpg), 6’-8” junior Eric Castro (10 ppg, 6 rpg), and sophomore guard Bryan Hopkins (16 ppg). They looked bad Thursday on this court, getting whipped by Boise, 89-50. When these teams met January 29, UTEP won 88-62 at home as a 9.5 point favorite. SMU scores 67 ppg and allows 70 ppg at home.
Good luck tonight my friends,
Allstar
[This message was edited by Allstar on February 28, 2004 at 10:00 PM.]
Note: On Friday, Southern Methodist fired coach Mike Dement, a day after the Mustangs continued a late-season slump with a 39-point home loss to Boise Thursday, 89-50. Dement will be replaced on an interim basis by seven-year SMU assistant Robert Lineberg. The search for a new coach is under way. The Mustangs have lost 12 of their last 16 games. UTEP is neck and neck with Rice for first place in the WAC, so they will be focused here. UTEP has been playing very well the last month (and all season, in fact, as they won 20 of their first 25 games). UTEP likes to push the ball up the court led by 6'-5" junior Omar Thomas (15 ppg), 6’-6” senior forward Roy Smallwood and 6’-5” sophomore Jason Williams (12 ppg). UTEP shoots 48% on offense, while SMU allows 44% shooting, so UTEP may score a bunch. SMU is just 5-6 SU at home, and likes to run and gun and have three decent players in 6’-9” junior Patrick Simpson (11 ppg, 6 rpg), 6’-8” junior Eric Castro (10 ppg, 6 rpg), and sophomore guard Bryan Hopkins (16 ppg). They looked bad Thursday on this court, getting whipped by Boise, 89-50. When these teams met January 29, UTEP won 88-62 at home as a 9.5 point favorite. SMU scores 67 ppg and allows 70 ppg at home.
Good luck tonight my friends,
Allstar
[This message was edited by Allstar on February 28, 2004 at 10:00 PM.]
