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Frogs need next 2 wins for NIT votes By
Matt Stiver Three is indeed a crowd. With their NCAA Tournament chances gone, save for winning the Western Athletic Conference Tournament, the men’s basketball team need to close its season with two victories to impress officials with the National Invitation Tournament. Both Texas-El Paso and Southern Methodist face the same scenario. The Frogs will make their case when they face Texas-El Paso at 7:05 p.m. today at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum before traveling to Dallas to face SMU at 1 p.m. Saturday. Though Fresno State has locked up first place, the remaining games will determine seeding in the WAC Tournament. The Frogs, as well as UTEP (currently second) and SMU (currently fourth), also have one last chance to impress NIT voters. Head coach Billy Tubbs said all three teams will probably make postseason play. “We’re not playing for first, but these games are just as important,” Tubbs said. For the Frogs (18-10, 7-7 WAC), currently sitting at fifth in the WAC standings, the final two regular season games could boost their seeding in the WAC Tournament. If the season ended today, the Frogs would play SMU in the first round. Sophomore forward Bingo Merriex, after spending most of the season in a slump, has broken out since becoming a starter. Tubbs said he knew Merriex needed a chance. “I always thought Bingo had a chance to be a 20-point-a-game scorer,” Tubbs said. “Now he has that opportunity.” Throughout the season, Merriex shuttled between small and power forward, playing behind seniors Ryan Carroll and Myron Anthony. When Anthony went down with a sprained ankle, Merriex made the most of his opportunity. Starting against Fresno State on Feb. 15, Merriex scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds. In five games since his insertion into the starting lineup, Merriex has averaged 20.2 points and 6.2 rebounds a game. In 22 games off the bench, Merriex averaged only seven points and 3.2 rebounds. Tubbs said Merriex has benefited from consistent playing time. With Anthony gone from the team, Merriex unveiled a post game to match his deep shooting threat. During a, 110-84, victory over Nevada on Feb. 17, Merriex set a career-high for points (30). “I just go out and play hard every night,” Merriex said after the Nevada game. Despite bleak postseason hopes, Tubbs said the Frogs remain upbeat. “This team is still excited and still wants to play,” Tubbs said. “There are a lot of teams that are ready for the season to end. I don’t think that’s true for our team.” Matt
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