College basketball lines show that UTEP finished 14-17 overall and 6-10 in C-USA last season. Experts that look at basketball lines don’t necessarily share head coach Tony Barbee’s optimism for this year’s Miners. “My philosophy has always been sell low and deliver high,” said Barbee, “Expectations outside of El Paso are not that high, which is fine by me. I’d rather be picked eighth and finish second than be picked fourth and finish ninth, like we did last year. Ultimately we have to do it on the court. I think that ranking will motivate our players and drive them to have a very successful year.”
NCAA basketball lines experts see that guard Kevin Henderson is gone and the team lost four other players including three part-time starters in point guard Malik Alvin, power forward Maurice Thomas and small forward Dale Vanwright. The good news according to those that bet basketball lines is that junior Stefon Jackson is one of the best overall players in C-USA, and four seniors, guards Marvin Kilgore and Pearson Smith and centers Victor Ramalho and Jeremy Sampson also return. NCAA basketball lines experts believe that the frontcourt will need help from highly regarded 6-7, 215-pound Manuel Cass, 6-11, 285-pound Claude Britten and 6-10, 240-pound Wayne Portalatin. Basketball lines experts know that Stefon Jackson and Marvin Kilgore form a great backcourt. Jackson averaged a team high 18.6 points and 6.4 rebounds as college basketball lines experts remember. Kilgore is not as explosive of a scorer according to basketball lines experts and needs to cut back on turnovers. The team ranked ninth in the conference in turnovers according to NCAA basketball lines experts.
The backcourt has talent but the frontcourt is weak according to college basketball lines experts. Jeremy Sampson and Victor Ramalho are not great scorers and need help according to those that bet college basketball lines. Many college basketball lines experts believe that UTEP is a couple of seasons away from having a great year. If everything goes great then college basketball lines experts think the NIT is possible, but that is all.
College basketball lines experts see a starting lineup of Marvin Kilgore and Stefon Jackson at the guards. College basketball lines expert see Tavaris Watts and Manuel Cass at the forwards. Experts that look at college basketball lines see Victor Ramalho in the middle.