Take conference mate ODU, started off like gang busters. Peaked quickly behind their then hot freshman Freeman, but fizzled like a cheap firecracker and lost to MTSU in tourney. You want to play well against top teams in OOC games, but's it's the February to March games when the boys are separated from the men. And to get over that hump you need mentally strong leaders, usually your pg, (with strong play from your forward and center; hence the absolute essential signing of Jones too). That's where Artis comes in. Floyd believes the missing puzzle to get UTEP the conference crown and/or auto bid is solid, smart and tough guard play and he hasn't had that since Culpepper (who was a Barbee recruit). Well, that's the story I've read, heard and witnessed and I'm sticking to it.
