by By Bret Bloomquist / El Paso Times , El Paso Times

On paper, that didn't seem to mean much right away, as every player on last season's team was eligible to return, meaning no scholarships would be available.

What Adams knew was that paper and reality often diverge. Since the end of last season, four scholarship players from the Conference USA regular-season runner-up squad have been lost to attrition, while four new players have been signed to take their places.

"I feel good about this team," Adams said. "Last year, we were a little young with seven freshmen, but they gained a lot of experience. Now we've added four newcomers in areas we needed. They should help us."

Gone are two role-playing starters in sophomore Brittany Jones (transfer) and junior Ilda Chambee (graduated and returned to her native Mozambique). Reserve freshman Channing Hillman also is transferring, while sophomore Alyssa Faubion will stay with the team as a manager.

Joining UTEP are: junior college transfers Kayla Guidry, a 5-foot-9 junior guard from Weatherford (Texas) Junior College; Ashley Milan, a 6-0 forward from Neosho (Kan.) Community College; Latvian freshman Aneta Steinberga, a 6-1 forward; and Latvian freshman Kristine Vitola, a 6-4 center.

They join Latvian freshman guard Baiba Eglite, who redshirted last year while awaiting clearance from the NCAA, and 6-3? Belgian junior Tracy Wittebolle, who transferred in last last season but redshirted, to give UTEP six new players.

Also returning are 82 percent of the team's points, 76 percent of their rebounds and 75 percent of their assists.

"Going in last year with seven freshmen, there was so much we didn't know," Adams said. "This year, we won't have as many kids to learn so much about."

The well-traveled Guidry is a friend of former UTEP star Natasha Lacy and is eager to join a team that is expected to be a C-USA heavyweight for a third consecutive season.

"I like the whole environment of the team; it's very nice," Guidry said. "I loved the whole coaching staff, and the new facility was a big star on it. I love winning. Coach Adams has the right attitude."

Guidry played her high school basketball in Louisiana, but she has been in Texas for the past two years.

The biggest loss is Jones, who averaged 7.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and almost 26 minutes a game as a sophomore, but she likely would have had to fight for minutes this year in what figures to be a crowded backcourt.

"It's definitely going to be competitive there," Adams said. "It's a disappointment in that with someone who played as much as Brittany did as a freshman and sophomore, goes through the bumps and bruises when we played a lot of young players, you'd like to reap the benefits when they are a junior and senior.

"She was not happy with her playing time. We wish her well."

Jones is looking to transfer closer to her native Detroit.

Chambee averaged 2.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 15.1 minutes per game while starting 18 of 30 contests. However, she likely would have had a limited role this season with the additions of the Latvians and the return to health of posts Marta Micula and Torrie Childs. Faubion was injured much of last year and played in seven games. Hillman averaged 10 minutes and 2 points per game last year, with much of her time coming late when UTEP was decimated by injuries.

Though UTEP contended for a conference regular-season championship into the final game and ended up with an 18-12 record, height became a major concern with all the injuries late in the season that left the Miners with no player taller than 6-2.

That is now solved with the additions of Vitola and Wittebolle, a transfer from West Virginia, who nonetheless will have to fight for playing time with Timika Williams and sophomore-to-be Fannie Goodwin, who emerged as a dominant player late in the season.

"I feel like we did address that," Adams said. "We're going to be improved there."

What UTEP will have to prove is that it can handle the expectations of being a preseason favorite to win the conference, as the Miners and SMU will probably be the top two teams in preseason polls that will start coming out in four months.

"The thing that's been positive is we've had three winning seasons back-to-back-to-back," Adams said. "That shows consistency."

Bret Bloomquist may be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; 546-6359

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