EL PASO, TEXAS -- UTEP junior forward John Tofi, who has been out of action with a foot injury that required a second surgical procedure, has been cleared to return to the court and will practice with the Miners on Friday.
UTEP will work out at the Haskins Center at 12:45 p.m. Practices are open to the public.
The 6-8, 245-pound Tofi started 25 games for the Miners last season. He averaged 10.8 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 57 percent from the field.
Freshman guard Vernon Carr, who has been sidelined with a stress fracture in his shin, was re-evaluated on Thursday and will be out for two more weeks.
The Miners, coming off a 24-8 season and NCAA Tournament appearance, received two votes in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. UTEP would be tied for 40th place if the poll were expanded to include 40 teams. UTEP is the only WAC school to receive votes in the preseason poll.
UTEP will open the 2004-05 season with an exhibition game against the University of Monterrey on Nov. 10 at 7:05 p.m.
Fans can preview this year's men's and women's squads on Saturday, Nov. 6 at Memorial Gym Madness. The event, which will be held at 6 p.m. at Memorial Gym on the UTEP campus, will feature a three-point challenge, a men's scrimmage and dunk contest. Free t-shirts will be presented to the first 1,000 fans. Admission is free.