I really like hiring of Tony Barbee as our new BB coach, but here are a few of my thoughts:

1. Want to make an assumption of how long he will stay in El Paso? As a young coach, he most likely proabably does not want to stay at UTEP too long and might have bigger dreams for himself and to provide for his family. If he does provide impressive winning seasons, NCAA birth, NIT birth, he could quickly make the quick move.

2. He is a good recruiter, but how well will be able to convince players to come to El Paso?

3. Assistant coaches who coached with great head coaches don't always make great coaches themselves. After Don Haskins retired, Kentucky assistant Shawn Finney (I believe this was the year Kentucky won the national championship) was a finalist to replace Haskins, but lost out to coach Rab. Finney then later was hired at Tulane where he was fired after five dissapointing seasons. I'm hoping this will not happen with coach Barbee.

Proud El Pasoan Wrote:I really like hiring of Tony Barbee as our new BB coach, but here are a few of my thoughts:

1. Want to make an assumption of how long he will stay in El Paso? As a young coach, he most likely proabably does not want to stay at UTEP too long and might have bigger dreams for himself and to provide for his family. If he does provide impressive winning seasons, NCAA birth, NIT birth, he could quickly make the quick move.

2. He is a good recruiter, but how well will be able to convince players to come to El Paso?

3. Assistant coaches who coached with great head coaches don't always make great coaches themselves. After Don Haskins retired, Kentucky assistant Shawn Finney (I believe this was the year Kentucky won the national championship) was a finalist to replace Haskins, but lost out to coach Rab. Finney then later was hired at Tulane where he was fired after five dissapointing seaons. I'm hoping this will not happen with coach Barbee.

I am excited with the prospect of the Barbee Era. Most fans did not like the Doc Sadler Era.

Quote:Most fans did not like the Doc Sadler Era.

Unfortunately this is true... I was a huge fan...

But Barbee is a good hire and his short tenure will be great

UTEPPacker Wrote:

Quote:Most fans did not like the Doc Sadler Era.

Unfortunately this is true... I was a huge fan...

But Barbee is a good hire and his short tenure will be great

I am still confused as to why Doc couldn't win many fans over. All the guy did was win. Last year he won 21 games with 2/3 of a team. As for Barbee, I think the guy is going to be great. i also predict he will be here 4 years. Once we have that practice facility built, recruiting to UTEP will be a whole different ballgame. There is going to be more money to pay him and Coach Price as well....

The season is still in it's midpoint, but I want to say that I love the way things are going for the Miners under Coach Barbee. He is doing very well coaching the Miners. I've been impressed by the tremedous energy and effort the Miners put on defense as well. He's learned from one of the best coaches in John Calipari. I had my concerns, but he's shown he's fully capable at head coaching. He's having the Miners off to a great start even though we've lost most of our scoring power from last season. He's even doing better than Billy Gillispie did in his first season. Here's to a great future under Coach Barbee, we might eventually reach up to Memphis' level with him eventually.

Proud El Pasoan Wrote:The season is still in it's midpoint, but I want to say that I love the way things are going for the Miners under Coach Barbee. He is doing very well coaching the Miners. I've been impressed by the tremedous energy and effort the Miners put on defense as well. He's learned from one of the best coaches in John Calipari. I had my concerns, but he's shown he's fully capable at head coaching. He's having the Miners off to a great start even though we've lost most of our scoring power from last season. He's even doing better than Billy Gillispie did in his first season. Here's to a great future under Coach Barbee, we might eventually reach up to Memphis' level with him eventually.

+1. I am officially a Homer when it comes to Tony Barbee......

Coach Barbee was a great hire for UTEP and you guys should enjoy him for as long as you have him. Folks in Memphis have a huge amount of respect for him as a recruiter, coach, and gentleman. Because of him, UTEP is the only CUSA team besides the Tigers that I keep an eye on. They are the only other CUSA team that has talent AND class.

(02-21-2009 10:08 AM)bariggins98 Wrote:  Coach Barbee was a great hire for UTEP and you guys should enjoy him for as long as you have him. Folks in Memphis have a huge amount of respect for him as a recruiter, coach, and gentleman. Because of him, UTEP is the only CUSA team besides the Tigers that I keep an eye on. They are the only other CUSA team that has talent AND class.

:iagree:

Well 3 years into his tenure at UTEP I would say that progress is slow, but it's progress. Next year I expect UTEP and Tulsa to be fighting for that NCAA spot, and since we a have a 2 game series with them we'll see how Barbee performs in those matchups

I honestly expect UTEP to be the #1 team in CUSA next year. We have so much talent coming back and with the transfers, maybe it will all click.

I can't wait too see a Derrick Caracter-Jerome Jordan matchup. Since Caracter won't be eligible to play until December, when do conference games start?

January.

Four years later after I originally posted this thread I want to say that my expectations for Coach Barbee have now been done. Coach Barbee has brought us an exciting season for Miner Basketball. The sad thing is that Don Haskins didn't live to see this incredible season since he and Barbee were such close friends. I'm sure somewhere up there Coach Haskins is smiling.

Coach Barbee thanks for everything you have provided for us Miners fans and the city of El Paso!!! We look forward to seeing you and the Miners in the Big Dance this season!!! We love you coach, please stay with us.

(05-07-2009 10:59 PM)DxfanMiner Wrote:  I honestly expect UTEP to be the #1 team in CUSA next year. We have so much talent coming back and with the transfers, maybe it will all click.

I told you so.

Screw Auburn for stealing him.

(04-12-2010 10:05 PM)Homewood_Blazer Wrote:  Screw Auburn for stealing him.

He actually did us a favor, we have Tim Floyd now

He really had y'all rolling though.

Man, Barbee is killing it on recruitment. Too bad he is losing them as fast as he is getting them.

(07-16-2012 12:07 AM)RUNVSFD MINER Wrote:  Man, Barbee is killing it on recruitment. Too bad he is losing them as fast as he is getting them.

He's human, he followed the SEC money. I just don't see him competing well as a "coach" in the SEC.