Bloomquist: Reason for cautious optimism with UTEP men's basketball

The hope around this UTEP's men's basketball team, the case it could be good, went something like this: While it didn't look as talented or have the collective resumes as last season's team, it would be a group of Joe Golding players committed to defense, it would be tough, it would play hard and play together unselfishly.

Eight games into a 6-2 start, there should be cautious reason for optimism that is coming to pass.

There are all sorts of things to fix. Free throw shooting and 3-point shooting have been erratic, UTEP has struggled to close out games, and with no go-to scorer they are susceptible to offensive droughts.

There was the lemon of the game against New Mexico State, a good example…