Men’s basketball prepares for new season
Junior guard Hasan Abdul-Hakim (from left) dribbles the ball away from junior guard Sherman Brashear and sophomore forward Isaiah Barganier during practice Oct. 3 in the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus. Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Men’s Basketball Team is set to start its season with a non-conference home game against Southwestern Adventist University at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 6.
Its first conference game is against Grand Canyon University Nov. 29 at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
Senior forward Ahren Freeman said the team was working on its “aggressiveness and defense” for the new season.
Freeman said the new players are adjusting well in the program.
“They’re picking up everything really fast, really well,” he said. “Everybody is built into what coach Fig really wants for the team.”
Freeman said every single game counts, but he was really looking forward to the conference games.
“[My mentality] is just bringing everything out of me that I have,” he said. “Give it all for my team to help us win as many games as possible.”
Freeman said he thinks, as a senior and returning player, he will be taking on more of a leadership role in the team.
“Being a returner is really important,” he said. “Knowing, having experience in what coach Fig wants in his system, so just using all my knowledge that I got from last year, built on it for this year and just helping everybody out.”
He said his goals for the team and himself are for UTRGV to win more than 15 games this season.
“It’s always good to keep improving every season,” Freeman said. “We did all right last season, but we’re looking to have a more positive record this year.
“My main goal right now is really to make first team on conference,” he said. “So, I’m just working really hard to build towards that.”
Freeman said the last time the team played in California was not to his satisfaction, so he looks forward to the Acrisure Invitational on Nov. 24 and 25.
“When we go back, we’re going to be looking for some revenge,” he said.
Senior forward Daylen Williams said the team was maintaining its conditioning and lifting weights.
He also said all players are getting to know each other and becoming closer as time goes by.
“We have a lot of new guys,” Williams said. “Just trying to build chemistry and bonds, get to know each other. … We actually went on a little trip, like a team-bonding trip. … It was somewhere, like, Hunt, Texas. … We stayed in a cabin in the woods. Everybody kind of got out of their comfort zone, but overall it was pretty fun.”
He said since he is a senior, he will try to make this his best year.
“I’m not going to take it lightly,” Williams said. “I’ll keep trying to lead by example and, hopefully, things go our way.”
Head coach Matt Figger said the team worked hard during the summer.
Asked how the new players have integrated into the team, Figger said they have raised its competitiveness.
“They came in and raised the level of culture, our competitiveness … every day,” he said. “Our six newcomers have pushed the needle and are pushing our returners to get better each and every day.”
Figger emphasized the importance of students coming out to support the team.
“They’re our biggest season ticket holders,” he said. “ … That’s part of the package being a student here. … They are our biggest supporters.”
Figger said he wanted the excitement and support for UTRGV Madness to carry over with the same energy for home games.
“[Madness], it’s a tradition here,” he said. “ … It’s competition amongst different entities on campus, our players are going to enjoy it. It’s a special thing.”
Figger said having all those supporters at the games could be the greatest home-court advantage.
Students receive free admission to UTRGV athletic events with their student ID.
For more information on UTRGV Athletics, visit goutrgv.com.
