ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Tim Hardaway Sr. sat a few rows behind the Michigan basketball team's bench, a bit more conspicuous than he was at Boardwalk Hall Friday night.

The former NBA All-Star had good reason.

His son, Michigan freshman Tim Hardaway Jr., was playing against his own alma mater. And considering his signature move, the ‘UTEP Two-Step’ was honed when he was in El Paso, Texas, Hardaway Sr. had reason to be divided.

“It’s tough,” Hardaway Sr. said at halftime of UTEP’s 65-56 win over Michigan on Saturday. “But I want my son to do well, the Michigan team to do well. That’s why I didn’t wear my (Michigan) shirt today, because I didn’t want to get my people from UTEP upset.”

They likely weren’t after the Miners beat up on Michigan in the second half. And they wouldn’t have been too angry with Hardaway’s loyalties at the end of the day.

On Friday night, Glen Rice Sr. said if Michigan and Georgia Tech would have met in the tournament's championship game, he would have rooted for Michigan -- where he is the all-time leading scorer -- against Glen Rice Jr.'s Yellow Jackets.

Hardaway Sr. agreed Saturday that he had to side with his alma mater.

Barely.

“I went (to UTEP) four years, had the greatest time of my life there, made a lot of friends and so it’d be kind of hard to side with either team. But if I really had to choose one, I probably would choose UTEP because my son has more years to go and I want UTEP to win now,” Hardaway Sr. said.

“They deserve it. I’d probably go with UTEP, my alma mater. I was there first and that was my second home. I made a lot of friends and family down there.”

When Hardaway Sr. saw the Legends Classic on the schedule, he knew he’d have to make a trip to Atlantic City. He rarely sees UTEP play in person.

Plus, this would give him a chance to see his son play twice early in his career.

“It’s very weird to see my son playing against my alma mater,” Hardaway Sr. said. “It’s very, very funny and I’m just happy to see it. I get to watch UTEP and get to watch my son play.

“I’m happy to see it.”

Father and son discussed the possibility of the teams playing last week, but neither thought it would be in the consolation game.

“I thought about it on the way up here,” Hardaway Jr. said Friday after Michigan lost to Syracuse, 53-50. “But I never thought about it playing at 5:30.”

Big man triples Whenever John Beilein has had a successful team, it usually has been predicated by having everyone on the floor being able to make shots from the outside.

It spreads the court and makes every player a threat from 20 feet and in.

While Michigan doesn’t have that type of production yet -- the Wolverines’ centers were 0 of 6 from the 3-point line Saturday -- the Michigan coach says it is coming.

Michigan’s centers haven’t made a 3-pointer all season, missing all 11 attempts they took.

“(UTEP) was really cheating off their five man and saying, 'We’re going to dare your five man to shoot it,'” Beilein said. Those guys are traditionally pretty good 3-point shooters. They have been in practice.

“If they had made shots tonight, it would have changed the complexion. It’s OK, they will.”

Culpepper crushes UTEP didn’t start its best player Saturday night. When he came in, he took over the game.

Miners senior guard Randy Culpepper hurt Michigan inside with dunks, outside by shooting 3 of 7 from the 3-point line and on defense with three steals.

The defending Conference USA Player of the Year ended up with a game-high 24 points.

“It was a just a matchup thing,” Culpepper said. “Coach (Tim) Floyd wanted me to come off the bench and I don’t mind sacrificing for this team to win. I was OK with it.

“As long as I finish the game.”

All-tournament team Michigan's Darius Morris, UTEP's Randy Culpepper, Georgia Tech's Brian Oliver, Syracuse's Kris Joseph and Syracuse's Rick Jackson were named to the all-tournament team. Jackson was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after the Orange beat Georgia Tech, 80-76, in the title game.

This and that Michigan left for Ann Arbor immediately after its game and will take Sunday off before preparing for Clemson on Monday. The Wolverines travel to Clemson, S.C., for an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game at 9 p.m. Tuesday. … UTEP killed Michigan in the paint, 42-12. … Combined, UTEP and Michigan shot 3 of 20 from the 3-point line in the second half.

Michael Rothstein covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.