The UTEP men's basketball team's 2022-23 season looked to be a challenge as soon as last April when an exodus of players started taking graduate transfers, but at times the Miners looked close to a breakthrough in Joe Golding's second season.
There was a stretch in the middle of the year when UTEP was one free-throw away, or a made 3-pointer away, from the top half of the Conference USA race and getting itself in position for something special.
That one play that could put the Miners over the top never came.
"All year long we were fighting for that one inch, fighting for that one inch," Golding said.