UTEP would have to be considered better with it presently being in Conference USA, plus they've got a lot of history there with their '66 team, Don Haskins, Tiny Archibald, Tim Hardaway, all that stuff.
I can't tell you off the top of my head what conference Charleston is presently in, Cremins being there certainly gave them some legitimacy. Andrew Goudelock, scorer's delight, could have played anywhere.