Elevating the program

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Men’s Basketball Team has officially started practice for the new season. Last year, the team set the bar high, but this season the expectations are even higher. 

Last season, the team reached a milestone when the Vaqueros won their first-ever Western Athletic Conference (WAC) tournament game against California State University, Bakersfield 85-70 in the quarterfinal round. 

UTRGV had its first-ever NCAA Division I postseason victory over Grambling State University (74-73) during the opening of the 2019 CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT). 

“To win the first game in the CIT was awesome,” Men’s Basketball Head Coach Lew Hill said. “It was a good place to start.” 

For the first time in 51 years, UTRGV advanced to the second round of the postseason tournament before falling 94-85 to Texas Southern University in the second round of the CIT. 

This season, UTRGV is returning eight players, graduate student guard Jordan Jackson; senior forwards Isaiah Fontaine and Lesley Varner II; redshirt junior Nick Mora; junior guard Javon Levi; sophomore guard Uche Dibiamaka; and redshirt freshmen forward Jamal Gaines and guard Quinton Johnson. 

UTRGV will rely on the experience of Levi. Last season, he broke the all-time WAC record for steals in a season in WAC play (54) and steals per game (3.4) during WAC play. He was also named the WAC Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the All-Defensive Team. 

Levi broke the program record for steals in a single season (109) and was ranked second in the NCAA and first in the WAC in total steals with 109. He was also ranked third in the NCAA and first in the WAC in steals per game (2.95). 

“I want to make All-Conference Team,” Levi said. “I want to be at the top of the nation in steals and assists again. I actually want to increase
my assists this year. That’s one of my main goals.

“I just want to continue to be a leader. Encourage my teammates because without them I don’t get no assists, so it all comes together. So just continue being a leader and encourage them.” 

The Vaqueros welcome six new faces to the program, juniors, forwards Marek Nelson and Anthony Bratton; guards, Ricky Nelson, Rob McClain Jr. and Chris Freeman; and freshman forward Connor Raines.

With many new faces entering the program, the Vaqueros will have to work on gaining one thing. 

“I think we lost a lot of toughness,” Hill said. “We have to replace that toughness, mentally and physically. I think if we can do that, we’ll have a successful season, but we definitely lost a lot of mental and physical toughness. So, we definitely have to replace that. More than production, as far as stats.”

UTRGV will begin the season Nov. 5 against South Dakota State at Brookings, South Dakota.