Supposedly, UTEP coach Tony Barbee is a major conference rival for the University of Memphis. But it didn’t seem that way Tuesday afternoon, as the former Tiger assistant got a warm welcome when he stopped by practice. Barbee was in town checking on his two Memphis signees, Ridgeway guard Jason Jones and Raleigh-Egypt center Arnett Moultrie.

Certainly, Barbee is more friend than enemy of the Tigers. But it’s not crazy to think that UTEP could be the second-best team in Conference USA this season, hopefully giving Memphis a true rival in the league it can attach to for the next few years. Tony is very pleased with the way his team has played to this point, nearly knocking off Texas A&M and sweeping the all-important home-and-home series with New Mexico State. If UTEP can beat New Mexico at home and somehow sneak out a win at Texas Tech, then finish a strong second to Memphis in the league, the Miners will certainly be in the discussion come Selection Sunday.

Also, Tony is working with former Tigers center Kareem Cooper, who left the program this past summer and is paying his own way at UTEP this year in hopes of earning a scholarship when he becomes eligible next season. Barbee said Cooper came in at 330 pounds but is down to 295 and “is the best player on the floor” during practices. “He’s going to have to earn his way, but it will be hard to keep him off the floor,” Barbee said.

Hopefully Kareem continues to do well at UTEP and can salvage his basketball career. At Memphis, he was lazy and surly and had pretty much worn the patience of everybody who tried to help him. Though Kareem has talent, believe me when I tell you the Tigers are better off without him. And he’s better off at UTEP. “He needed a second chance somewhere else,” Barbee said. “A change of scenery.”

Meanwhile, the Tigers have had a couple really good practices in a row. Sophomore Pierre Niles is struggling with a back issue, while Shawn Taggart had to sit out Tuesday with a left ankle injury. He hurt himself at the end of Sunday’s practice (the Tigers were off Monday), but it isn’t serious and he should be ready for Saturday’s game at Middle Tennessee State.

Mid-South weather reached a new level of weird today with high temperatures in the upper 70s around the region.

We’ve had so many warm days lately that it seems like area critters are starting to feel confused.

A Fayette County landowner sent me a trail camera photo late last week that clearly shows turkeys strutting in a green field. Many hunters have reported poor deer movement, and the bugs have come out of hibernation in force.

I went down to the pond to feed the fish Tuesday evening, and I was almost eaten alive by mosquitoes. While walking the banks of the pond, I actually saw several largemouth bass cruising the shoreline - just like they would if they were preparing to spawn during the spring.

The forecast is calling for a low of 27 degrees Saturday night.

I sure hope it gets there.