What if Texas Western didn’t win the 1966 national championship? Which team would be the best team in UTEP basketball history?

Assuming you took the remaining UTEP NCAA Tournament teams, and pitted them against one another in a 16-team bracket, who would come out on top?

Would All-American Jim Barnes lead the 1964 Miners to the title? Would the upset-minded 1992 Sweet 16 squad reign apparent? Would one of the great UTEP teams from the 1980’s capture the crown?

Imagine if Nate Archibald, Tim Hardaway, Eddie Rivera, Filiberto Rivera and Randy Culpepper all had something to say about it, along with the 1967 defending champions.

There’s no March Madness this year. But there is Miner Madness!

We’ve seeded the teams. We’ve set the bracket. Starting on Thursday (March 26), we’re letting the fans determine the winner. Study the matchups on www.utepminers.com. Then cast your votes on the UTEP Men’s Basketball Twitter beginning on Thursday.

View in-depth analysis for every matchup on www.utepminers.com

First Round

Thursday, March 26 Game A: (1) 1963-64 Miners (25-3) vs. (16) 1987-88 Miners (23-10)

Game B: (3) 1983-84 Miners (27-4) vs. (14) 1974-75 Miners (20-6)

Game C: (5) 1986-87 Miners (25-7) vs. (12) 1962-63 Miners (19-7)

Game D: (7) 1985-86 Miners (27-6) vs. (10) 2003-04 Miners (24-8)

Friday, March 27 Game E: (2) 1991-92 Miners (27-7) vs. (15) 1989-90 Miners (21-11)

Game F: (4) 2009-10 Miners (26-7) vs. (13) 1984-85 Miners (22-10)

Game G: (6) 1988-89 Miners (26-7) vs. (11) 1969-70 Miners (17-8)

Game H: (8) 2004-05 Miners (27-8) vs. (9) 1966-67 Miners (22-6)

Quarterfinals

Saturday, March 28 Game I: Winner Game A vs. winner game H