Tim Floyd’s revival: fool’s gold or the real deal?

Sure, UTEP had made the NCAA Tournament three times before Tim Floyd’s arrival -- each appearance ending in a loss (almost had Maryland and Utah) -- but Floyd becoming head coach was the greatest thing to happen to UTEP basketball since the 1992 Sweet Sixteen run.

Floyd has undoubtedly underachieved -- but maybe the tide is turning.

Seven-plus years into the coach Floyd experiment and here we stand in a season no one, and I mean no one (not even the most dedicated homer fan), could have predicted.

The first season with Tony Barbee’s holdovers nearly resulted in a fairy-tale start for Floyd, but we all know how Memphis ended that dream so rudely. While it stung, most fans chalked it off to Floyd not having his players, with an attitude equivalent to “no harm, no foul”. Fair enough, and no argument over here.

So let’s fast forward to that glorious day when Floyd pulled off the impossible signing of coveted 5-star recruit... who shall go unnamed to spare the readers any more anguish dredging up the hurtful past of his departure. While some might not agree, the Miners still haven’t recovered, and I know plenty of fans who still aren’t over it (*weakly raises hand*).

While UTEP’s cupboard wasn’t exactly bare, the program was dealt a crushing blow, not only to the roster but mentally.

Even with the prized recruit moving on, UTEP was still considered one of the top teams heading into the '13-14 season. Maybe Floyd could still make some noise, right?

Not exactly.

After a highly-publicized gambling scandal, three players were kicked off the team prior to conference play, and fans had to ask if this nightmare would ever end. Similar to this season, most fans assumed the worst and felt the season might be lost.

Hold the phone.

In what many have considered coach Floyd’s best coaching job at UTEP (this season notwithstanding), the Miners turned a negative into a positive, reeling off eight straight conference wins after a conference-opening loss to Charlotte.

Tough ending losing to Southern Miss in the C-USA tourney, but a season fans felt Floyd could build on considering all the high drama.

The hits kept on coming.

'14-15 also ended in disappointment when many thought UTEP could make a run in the C-USA tourney. With Vince Hunter leading the charge, the Miners fell in the semifinals and salvaged an NIT invite. After an embarrassing loss to Murray State, some fans were losing that loving-Floyd feeling, and Hunter leaving for the NBA didn’t help matters.

With Hunter and most of the remaining starting lineup (to graduation) gone, '15-16 wasn’t pretty. While UTEP had a winning season, the season would be classified as a struggle by many, and was ended mercifully by Marshall in the C-USA quarterfinals.

At this point, more fans wanted Floyd on the hot seat, and with more departures (graduation, leaving early, transfers) and lack of talent/depth, most were getting prepared for what could be Floyd’s second losing season at UTEP -- and still might be without running the table.

Fans were certainly not prepared for the dismal start and an improbable 12-game losing streak that followed.

UTEP wasn’t going to can Floyd, but the fans were ready to help him move -- and the Fire Floyd / Mike Price incident in the Don Haskins Center showed how far this program had tumbled.

Season lost. … When does football season start?

If anyone can explain what happened next, please reach out and let me know.

Everyone recalls the 0-3 conference start on the heels of a historic losing streak: This season was never going to end.

Then the fateful Bob Stull email: To most, a slap in the face telling fans to be relax a la Aaron Rodgers. No one (except maybe Mike Price) took the email seriously enough to give the program any slack. Even the most loyal supporters were thinking maybe it’s time for Floyd to go. I can admit I was even wondering if it’s time for UTEP to cut its losses.

If UTEP could just break this streak and go close to .500 in conference play, this season wouldn’t be a total disaster.

Then overtime, I mean, overtimes happened.

Streak over!

"The Closer" -- as I like to call him -- Dominic Artis ended the streak with the shot heard all over the 915 and eventually the nation, thanks to ESPN.

A huge weight was lifted off everyone’s shoulders, but UTEP couldn’t possibly get out of the C-USA cellar, right?

Another overtime win. ... Maybe UTEP can make this semi-respectable and end the season on a positive note?

4-4 in C-USA play. ... So far so good. Offense playing well, defense playing a thousand percent better than earlier in the year. But UAB and Middle Tennessee coming to town? Back to reality.

Nah, let’s take two.

So many turning points in the season, and while the OT wins started the turnaround, the sweep over UAB and Middle Tennessee showed this UTEP team will be a thorn in everyone’s side up to the C-USA Tournament. Maybe a first-round bye isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

The Louisiana Tech loss hurt, but these Miners dusted themselves off and went back to work winning their next five games in impressive fashion -- with an ODU win away from a 3-seed in the conference tourney.

I am not saying UTEP is going to win the C-USA tourney, but it wouldn’t shock me if they somehow, someway pull off the ultimate turnaround and shocked the basketball world. Floyd deserves his due (admit it Fire Floyd peeps), but I have to hand it to the young men that could have thrown in the towel. No one would have blamed them for tanking. It has been a pleasure to watch this team come together and prove everyone wrong.

We left them for dead earlier in the season, and here we are. … In Floyd we trust?

Be afraid, C-USA. Be very afraid.