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The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has a long and storied basketball history, with the Miners men's basketball team achieving national prominence and breaking racial barriers. Led by the legendary coach Don Haskins, UTEP (then known as Texas Western College) made history in 1966 by becoming the first team to start five African-American players in an NCAA basketball championship game, defeating the all-white University of Kentucky Wildcats 72-65. This landmark victory, achieved against a backdrop of civil rights struggles, not only brought UTEP its first and only NCAA title but also helped to integrate college athletics, as teams across the South began recruiting black athletes, marking an end to years of segregation in sports. Since that groundbreaking season, UTEP has continued to be a trailblazer in access and diversity, admitting its first African-American students in 1955 and maintaining a diverse student body today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year UTEP basketball came into prominence | 1966 |
| Name of the team | The Miners |
| Name of the coach | Don Haskins |
| Name of the team's home | The Don Haskins Center |
| Year UTEP retired from basketball | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
UTEP basketball history
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has a long and storied basketball history, with the team known as the Miners. The Miners play their home games at the Don Haskins Center, which has a capacity of 11,892. The arena is known as a tough place for opponents to win, with fans seated extremely close to the playing floor and the UTEP student section located near the opponent's bench.
UTEP basketball rose to prominence in the 1965-66 season, led by coach Don Haskins. That season, the Miners had a regular-season record of 23-1 and finished ranked third in the final AP college basketball poll. The team started five African-American players in the championship game, the first time this had happened in an NCAA basketball championship game. They defeated the top-ranked, all-white University of Kentucky Wildcats 72-65 to win the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. This victory is considered one of the most important in the history of college basketball, as it marked the end of years of segregation and changed college athletics forever.
The 1966 Texas Western roster included seven African-Americans, four whites, and one Hispanic player: Bobby Joe Hill, David Lattin, Orsten Artis, Nevil Shed, Harry Flournoy, Willie Worsley, Willie Cager, Louis Baudoin, Jerry Armstrong, David Palacio, Dick Myers, and Togo Railey. Many of these players continued their work in basketball as coaches, camp directors, or educators. The team was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.
Coach Don Haskins went on to produce many more winning teams and NBA stars before retiring from UTEP in 1999. The Miners have since retired six jersey numbers for seven different players, including Randy Culpepper and Kent Lockhart, who played for several years in the Australian professional league.
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The Don Haskins Center
The Don has a capacity of 11,892 and is known for being a tough place for opponents to win. The UTEP student section is located near the opponent's bench, and fans are seated extremely close to the playing floor. The Miners have posted undefeated home records in three seasons: 1983–1984 (21–0), 1985–1986 (19–0), and 1988–1989 (18–0). They also won 25 straight home games from 23 January 1987 to 16 December 1989. The venue has also hosted big-name acts such as Shakira, Britney Spears, George Lopez, and KISS, making it the premier entertainment venue in the city.
The Haskins Center was the site of a milestone win during the 1997–1998 season, as coach Haskins secured his 700th career victory. The arena also hosted the Western Athletic Conference men's basketball tournaments in 1984, 1985, and 1990, as well as the Conference USA tournaments in 2011 and 2014. It has been the site of several notable victories for the UTEP Miners over top-ranked opponents.
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1966 championship game
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has a long and illustrious history when it comes to basketball. The men's basketball team, known as the Miners, has been a fixture of the university's athletic program for decades, with a rich tradition of success, including a national championship win.
One of the most memorable moments in UTEP basketball history occurred in 1966 when the Miners made it to the championship game of the NCAA University Division Basketball Tournament, the predecessor to today's NCAA Division I Tournament. This game remains a landmark moment not just for UTEP, but also for college basketball as a whole, as it marked the first time a team featuring African-American starters won a national title.
The 1966 championship game was played on March 19, with UTEP, then known as Texas Western College, facing off against the University of Kentucky, a powerhouse program led by legendary coach Adolph Rupp. Texas Western, coached by Don Haskins, started five African-American players, a bold move at a time when most college teams rarely featured more than one or two black players. This decision by Haskins not only challenged racial norms of the time but also showcased his belief in assembling the best possible team, regardless of race.
The game itself was a thrilling contest. Texas Western's starting lineup, later known as the "Starting Five," included David Lattin, Willie Worsley, Harry Flournoy, Bobby Joe Hill, and Willie Cager. This quintet of talented players worked seamlessly together, utilizing a fast-paced, aggressive style of play that threw their opponents off-kilter. The Miners' unique playing style, combined with a tenacious defense, helped them build a solid lead by halftime, outscoring Kentucky 36-23 in the first half.
In the second half, Kentucky fought back, narrowing the gap and making it a close contest. Texas Western held on, however, thanks in part to a stellar performance by Lattin, who dominated the paint and pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds. The Miners' resilient defense also played a crucial role, forcing 22 turnovers and limiting Kentucky's scoring opportunities. In the end, Texas Western emerged victorious with a final score of 72-65, claiming the national championship and etching their place in college basketball history.
This landmark victory sent shockwaves through the sports world, challenging racial stereotypes and helping to pave the way for further integration in college basketball and beyond. The 1966 UTEP Miners not only achieved sporting glory but also made a powerful statement about diversity, talent, and the power of sports to transcend racial barriers. Their triumph continues to inspire and stands as a testament to the rich history and impact of UTEP basketball.
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The Miners' legacy
The UTEP Miners men's basketball team has a rich history and a legacy that spans decades. The team first rose to prominence in the 1965-66 season, when they achieved a remarkable 23-1 record during the regular season. Led by the legendary coach Don Haskins, the Miners made history by starting five African-American players in the NCAA basketball championship game, a first for the league. The team, a tight-knit group of blacks, whites, and one Hispanic, defeated the all-white University of Kentucky Wildcats 72-65 to claim the title. This victory, on March 19, 1966, in College Park, Maryland, marked a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement and changed the landscape of college athletics forever.
The Miners' win sent shockwaves throughout the South, and college teams began aggressively recruiting black athletes, signalling an end to years of segregation in sports. The Miners' triumph was not just about basketball; it was a powerful statement about diversity, inclusion, and the breaking down of racial barriers. The team's success inspired future NBA stars and paved the way for greater representation and opportunity for African-American athletes in college basketball.
The University of Texas at El Paso, or UTEP, has always been a trailblazer in promoting access and equality. In 1955, the university became the first state senior college to desegregate, admitting 12 African-American students. This progressive spirit carried over into their basketball programme, with Coach Haskins leading the charge. Haskins went on to produce many more winning teams and NBA stars before retiring from UTEP in 1999.
The Miners' 1966 championship team has been immortalised in various forms of media, including the book "When the Walls Came Tumbling Down" by Frank Fitzpatrick and the 2006 Disney movie "Glory Road". The team was also inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007, solidifying their legacy in the world of basketball. The Don Haskins Center, the Miners' home court, is known for its intimidating atmosphere, with fans seated extremely close to the playing floor, making it a tough place for opponents to win.
UTEP basketball has come a long way since its humble beginnings, and the Miners continue to be a force to be reckoned with on the court. The university and its basketball programme embody a spirit of resilience, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, ensuring that the Miners' legacy will endure for generations to come.
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Notable UTEP players
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has a long history of notable basketball players, with 17 former players having played in the NBA. Here are some of the most notable UTEP basketball players:
Tiny Archibald: A brilliant guard, Archibald's three seasons with UTEP saw him average no less than 16 points per game, with this number rising to over 20 points per game in his last two seasons. His 1,459 career points rank sixth all-time for UTEP, and he was named to the Western Athletic Conference's 20-year All-Star Team in 1991.
Jim Barnes: Despite only spending two years with the Miners, Barnes rewrote the UTEP record books. He is the all-time leader in rebounds with 965, and no player in school history has reached 1,000 points faster than Barnes, who did it in less than 50 games. Barnes led the Miners to a 25-3 record in the 1963-64 season, averaging 29.1 points and 19.2 rebounds per game.
Randy Culpepper: Culpepper currently plays for Scafati Basket in the Italian Serie A2 Basketball League.
Kent Lockhart: Lockhart was a member of the UTEP team in the early 1980s and went on to play in the Australian professional league, where he averaged over 25 points per game.
Other notable UTEP athletes include Tim Hardaway, Nolan Richardson, Jordan Palmer, Lee Mays, Thomas Howard, Brian Young, Fred Carr, Mickaël Hanany, Bob Beamon, and Suleiman Nyambui, whose "dominance can only be measured with the all-time greats in NCAA history".
UTEP's basketball team has been coached by legendary figures such as Don Haskins, who led the team to a landmark victory in 1966, and produced many winning teams and NBA stars during his tenure, which ended in 1999.
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Frequently asked questions
UTEP basketball has been around since at least 1955 when the University became the first state senior college to desegregate by admitting 12 African-American students.
The UTEP basketball team, then called Texas Western College, made history in 1966 by becoming the first team with five African-American starters to win an NCAA championship game. This game is considered one of the most important in the history of college basketball as it marked the end of years of segregation in college athletics.
The 1966 Texas Western roster included Bobby Joe Hill, David Lattin, Orsten Artis, Nevil Shed, Harry Flournoy, Willie Worsley, Willie Cager, Louis Baudoin, Jerry Armstrong, David Palacio, Dick Myers, and Togo Railey.
The Don Haskins Center (capacity 11,892) is the home of the UTEP Miners basketball team.
