What to know: UTEP Miners men at Western Kentucky

The UTEP men finish a long road trip with a game at Western Kentucky on Saturday in a battle for eighth place in Conference USA.

The 2 p.m. Mountain time tip will be streamed on Stadium and broadcast on 600 ESPN El Paso.

More:C-USA men's basketball standings

UTEP's Tae Hardy (2) and FAU's Nick Boyd (2) reach for the ball at a game on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.
UTEP's Tae Hardy (2) and FAU's Nick Boyd (2) reach for the ball at a game on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.

Who is Western Kentucky?

With a 12-11 overall record and 4-8 mark in C-USA the Hilltoppers record is similar to UTEP's (11-11, 4-7) and like the Miners many of their league losses have been competitive. Before beating UTSA 81-74 Thursday they had lost five consecutive games.

WKU leads C-USA in 3-point percentage (UTEP is a distant last), but the Miners are second in defending 3s.

Guard Dayvion McKnight leads the team at 16.6 points a game, and 7-foot-5 center Jamarion Sharp, while not much of an offensive presence, leads C-USA with 4.1 blocks a game.

What is the challenge?

UTEP reversed its norm in the loss against Middle Tennessee when it was adequate on offense but poor on defense. The challenge, as always, is to find consistency on both ends, which in this case means building on some offensive success while getting back to being itself on defense.

Offensively the key is always turnovers for the team that leads the league in them but is also good at forcing them. Finding a way past Sharp to get points in the paint is key given how poorly UTEP shoots 3-pointers.

The Miners have generally played close games on the road this year but has only gotten over the top once, so traveling strong is important.

Quoting the coach

"They'll probably sit (Sharp) right in front of the rim and not let us get in the paint," coach Joe Golding said. "They are one of the most historic programs in the country, right there with UTEP among mid-majors. They have a ton of history, a ton of tradition, they are fighting and clawing, too, trying to get back in it.

"We have to come out with a sense of urgency as well. That's this time of year: Who wants to continue to fight, not close their eyes, not blink, get in the arena and fight and compete."

Bret Bloomquist can be reached at 915-546-6359; bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: What to know: UTEP Miners men at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers