Lack of Marquee Homes Games Overshadow UTEP 2015-16 Men's Basketball Schedule

The 2015-16 UTEP men's basketball schedule was released this morning, and Miner fans, take a deep breath. The highlight of the home schedule is a three game stretch in mid December that includes the annual I-10 rivalry with New Mexico State and the WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational. Other than that, expect plenty of nights with the arena half full until the start of conference play on New Year's Day.

If fans want to see UTEP's best strength of schedule games during the non-conference season, they will need to spend Thanksgiving weekend in Corpus Christi. Although the games have not been finalized, UTEP could be matched up against Southern Illinois, Colorado State, or Portland.

Like usual, if the Miners win enough games in their non-conference schedule, including their tougher games against NMSU and in Corpus Christi, attendance will grow by the new year. However, this schedule does not have many NCAA Tournament "resume" games, and C-USA is usually one of the weaker mid-majors in terms of RPI. The Miners may once again be in a situation where they need to win the C-USA Tournament to punch their ticket to the Big Dance next March.

2015-16 UTEP Men’s Basketball Schedule

Oct. 31 Cameron (EXB)
Nov. 7 East Central Oklahoma (EXB)
Nov. 14 Loyola (New Orleans)
Nov. 21 Texas State
Nov. 22 Alcorn State+
Nov. 24 Florida A&M+
Nov. 27-28 at Corpus Christi Coastal Classic
Dec. 2 at NM State
Dec. 5 UT Arlington
Dec. 13 at Washington State
Dec. 19 NM State
Dec. 21 Norfolk State#
Dec. 22 Sam Houston State/UC Irvine#
Dec. 29 UT Rio Grande Valley
Jan. 1 Rice*
Jan. 3 North Texas*
Jan. 7 at Middle Tennessee*
Jan. 9 at UAB*
Jan. 16 at UTSA*
Jan. 21 Florida Atlantic*
Jan. 23 FIU*
Jan. 28 at Southern Miss*
Jan. 30 at LA Tech*
Feb. 4 Marshall*
Feb. 6 Western Kentucky*
Feb. 11 at FIU*
Feb. 13 at Florida Atlantic*
Feb. 18 Southern Miss*
Feb. 20 LA Tech*
Feb. 25 at Old Dominion*
Feb. 27 at Charlotte*
March 5 UTSA*
March 8-12 at C-USA Championships^