Kristian Ferrell
The UTEP Miners men's basketball team has a rich history that dates back to the 1965-66 season when they were known as the Texas Western Miners. On March 19, 1966, the team made history by becoming the first team with an all-black starting lineup to win the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. This victory, against the University of Kentucky, is considered a pivotal moment in the desegregation of college athletics and accelerated the advancement of black athletes in the South. The Miners have since appeared in 17 NCAA Tournaments and were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year UTEP started having a basketball team | 1966 |
| Former name | Texas Western College |
| Current name | The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) |
| Team name | The Miners |
| Team coach | Don Haskins |
| Championship game score | 72-65 |
| Opponent | Kentucky Wildcats |
| Location | Cole Field House, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland |
| Significance | First team with an all-black starting lineup to win a national championship |
| Team achievements | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007; appeared in 17 NCAA tournaments; received a first-round bye in 1984; appeared in ten National Invitation Tournaments; appeared in three College Basketball Invitationals; appeared in The Basketball Classic once |
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What You'll Learn
- The UTEP Miners men's basketball team is based at the University of Texas, El Paso
- The team's home games are played at the Don Haskins Center
- The Miners won the 1966 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
- The team was the first with an all-black starting lineup to win a national championship
- The Miners have appeared in 17 NCAA tournaments and have a combined record of 14-16
The UTEP Miners men's basketball team is based at the University of Texas, El Paso
The UTEP Miners have a rich history, most notably becoming the 1966 National Champions. This victory is considered one of the most important in the history of college basketball. Led by Hall of Fame coach Don Haskins, the Miners beat the University of Kentucky Wildcats 72-65. This game was historic as it was the first time that a team with five African-American starters won a title game. This victory, during the Civil Rights Movement, accelerated the advancement of black athletes in the South and is seen as a symbol of the breakthrough of black athletes into college sports. The 1965-66 Miners team was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007 to commemorate this achievement.
The Miners have appeared in 17 NCAA Tournaments and ten National Invitation Tournaments. They have also played in three College Basketball Invitationals and The Basketball Classic once. In total, 17 former UTEP players have played in the NBA. The team's success has been chronicled in various media, including the 2006 Disney movie Glory Road.
The Don Haskins Center, nicknamed "The Don", is notorious for being a tough venue for opponents. The seating arrangement, with fans extremely close to the playing floor, creates a challenging environment for visiting teams. UTEP has historically struggled to attract top-rated teams to play at "The Don" due to its reputation.
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The team's home games are played at the Don Haskins Center
The UTEP Miners men's basketball team plays for the University of Texas at El Paso in El Paso, Texas. The team's home games are played at the Don Haskins Center, formerly known as the Special Events Center. The Don Haskins Center is located in the heart of El Paso and is named after the legendary UTEP basketball coach Don Haskins. The centre was built in 1977 and has a seating capacity of 11,892, with 11,659 permanent seats and 40 wheelchair spaces. The U-shaped structure is configured as a 127' x 84' octagon, with fans seated extremely close to the playing floor. The UTEP student section is located near the opponent's bench, making it a tough place for opponents to win.
The Don Haskins Center is also used by many area schools, such as El Paso Community College, for graduation and commencement ceremonies. Due to its large seating capacity, it is also the city's premier entertainment venue and has hosted big-name acts such as Shakira, Britney Spears, George Lopez, and KISS. The centre features excellent facilities, including a Robbins Bio-Channel Star maple floor, modern locker rooms, training facilities, and basketball coaches' offices. The game-day environment has been enhanced with the addition of four new scoreboards and two video replay boards, bringing the total number of electronic scoreboards in the arena to seven.
The Don Haskins Center has been the site of many milestone wins for the UTEP Miners. During the 1997-1998 season, coach Haskins achieved his 700th career victory against SMU. The centre has also hosted several Western Athletic Conference and Conference USA men's basketball tournaments, as well as NCAA Men's Basketball tournament games. The UTEP Miners have posted a 476-140 record in 34 years at the arena, including 25 straight home game wins from 1987 to 1989. They have also posted undefeated home records in three seasons: 1983-1984 (21-0), 1985-1986 (19-0), and 1988-1989 (18-0).
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The Miners won the 1966 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
The UTEP Miners men's basketball team, then known as the Texas Western College Miners, won the 1966 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The championship game was played on March 19, 1966, at the University of Maryland's Cole Field House in College Park, Maryland. The Miners faced the top-ranked, all-white University of Kentucky Wildcats, led by legendary coach Adolph Rupp.
The Miners made history by starting five African-American players: David "Daddy D" Lattin, Bobby Joe Hill, Orsten Artis, Nevil Shed, and Harry Flournoy. This was the first time an all-black lineup had been fielded in an NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament final. The game is considered one of the most important in the history of college basketball, as it marked a breakthrough for black athletes in the South and accelerated the advancement of black athletes in college sports.
The Miners won the game 72-65, capturing the NCAA crown and finishing the year with an impressive 28-1 record. This victory is immortalised in the 2006 Disney movie Glory Road, based on the story of the 1966 Texas Western team. The Miners have since appeared in 17 NCAA Tournaments and were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.
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The team was the first with an all-black starting lineup to win a national championship
The UTEP Miners men's basketball team, previously known as the Texas Western College basketball team, made history in 1966 when they became the first team with an all-black starting lineup to win a national championship. On March 19, 1966, the Texas Western Miners, led by coach Don Haskins, defeated the University of Kentucky Wildcats 72-65 at the University of Maryland's Cole Field House. This game, played during the Civil Rights Movement, is considered one of the most important in the history of college basketball.
The Miners' starting lineup of five African-American players was a groundbreaking move by Coach Haskins, who insisted that he "really didn't think about starting five black guys" and just wanted to put his best players on the court. The Miners' victory over an all-white Kentucky team sent shockwaves throughout the country, particularly in the South, where racial segregation in college sports was still prevalent despite being outlawed by the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The impact of the Miners' championship win was far-reaching and accelerated the advancement of black athletes in the South. All-white leagues, such as the Atlantic Coast Conference, Southwestern Conference, and Southeastern Conference, became integrated within the next two years. The Miners' success also inspired the recruitment of black athletes by college teams across the region, challenging the segregation that had previously existed in college sports.
The 1965-66 Texas Western Miners team faced challenges due to racism, both during their historic season and after their championship victory. Despite these obstacles, they achieved remarkable success on the court, losing only one game during the regular season and finishing the year with a 28-1 record. The team was later inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007, honouring their groundbreaking achievement and the impact they had on the integration of college athletics.
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The Miners have appeared in 17 NCAA tournaments and have a combined record of 14-16
The UTEP Miners men's basketball team has a rich history, including numerous appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The team has competed in 17 NCAA Tournaments, achieving a combined record of 14-16. This includes their landmark victory in the 1966 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, where they made history.
On March 19, 1966, the Texas Western Miners, as they were then known, faced the University of Kentucky Wildcats. The Miners started five African-American players, a first for an NCAA basketball championship game. The team included players like David "Daddy D" Lattin, known for his powerful dunks, and Bobby Joe Hill, who was lightning-quick with steals. The Miners emerged victorious with a score of 72-65, capturing the NCAA crown and finishing the year with an impressive 28-1 record. This game was more than just a sporting event; it symbolised the breakthrough of black athletes into college sports and accelerated the advancement of racial integration in athletics.
The Miners' 1966 championship win had a significant impact on the desegregation of athletics. It inspired college teams throughout the South to actively recruit black athletes, challenging the segregation that was still prevalent in the region. The Miners' success also had cultural significance, particularly given the context of the Civil Rights Movement. The team's victory demonstrated that race should not be a barrier in sports or any other realm, and it reflected the diverse cultural environment of El Paso, a border city where different cultures had long coexisted harmoniously.
The 1965-66 Texas Western Miners team has been immortalised in various forms of media, including the book "And 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, recognising their outstanding achievements and their contribution to the advancement of racial equality in sports.
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Frequently asked questions
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has had a basketball team since 1965. The team was previously known as the Texas Western Miners.
The UTEP Miners have been very successful. They won the 1966 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and have appeared in 17 NCAA tournaments. They have also appeared in ten National Invitation Tournaments and three College Basketball Invitationals.
The UTEP Miners are an NCAA Division I men's college basketball team competing in the Conference USA.
The UTEP Miners play their home games at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.
The UTEP Miners' head coach is Don Haskins, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.
