Even before the creation of the new university and the boost athletics received as a result, there was something stirring. Women’s basketball was the first team to really take strides in improvement.
Larry Tidwell, head coach of the UTRGV Women’s Basketball Team, is the lead architect in the upward motion the program has taken. All three of his seasons at the helm of the team have seen an improved record.
In the 2013-14 season, the Broncs’ 14 wins were second best in program history. The next two years were 19-win campaigns that ended in the conference championship game.
One constant has remained through Tidwell’s tenure, the influence of freshmen and underclassmen. In his first season, his leading scorer was a freshman, Shawnte’ Goff. Even though she’s been the leading scorer on the team since her first year, that hasn’t stopped newcomers from also making a big impact on the squad.
In the 2014-15 season, it was Hildur Kjartansdóttir making an impression, earning 16 starts that year and leading the team in rebounds eight times. Kjartansdóttir also made it to the All-WAC Newcomer team at season’s end.
Last year, it was Bernesha Peters who stepped into the role of wonder freshman. Peters led the team in scoring and assists four times each last season. Even while playing through injury in her first year, she averaged 10.5 points in conference play.
This season, however, it remains to be seen if a freshman will step into a crucial role. There are four incoming freshmen on the roster.
Tidwell praised his recruiting class, and the player he felt was furthest along in development. The coach also said he would put the best combination of players regardless of classification.
“We have a nice recruiting class. Megan [Johnson], right now, is at the head of that recruiting class. We’re just trying to bring them along and getting better,” Tidwell said. “You come in and you earn playing time every day. We’re trying to find the best mix and the best team.”
Tidwell said guards play an important role as they facilitate the plays.
“Guards win championships for us; post players have to win a lot of games. Guards win championships because if you can’t get it to the post players, you’re not doing what you need to do,” the four-year head coach said.
Johnson comes to the team from Newcastle, Australia. The 5-foot-10-inch guard has been getting reps in practice and has seen game action already.
“No matter what, I want to work hard and earn my minutes and I want to prove that I’m here for a reason, that’s my motivation,” Johnson said. “They expect you to work and you’re rewarded for that sort of behavior. Transitioning in as a freshman is always going to be difficult, but the older girls have really helped out and stepped up as leaders.”
The Australian, and all the other guards on the team, have the ability to work directly with one of the top players in the conference on a daily basis. Goff, the four-year starter, is someone everybody is able to look up to.
“Every day, we’re working against the WAC player of the season last year. She pushes me, like all the older girls,” Johnson said. “You may not be at that level yet, but that’s what they want you to work towards.”
Goff has seen four different recruiting classes, including her own, and said the talent level of newcomers hasn’t changed and that’s a positive.
“We kind of recruit those players who are gonna fit right in with the way that we play. We don’t recruit anyone that’s different and we’re [not] going to change [that],” she said. “The level of talent has definitely stayed the same, which sounds like a bad thing, but it’s not; we’ve had winning seasons. As far as recruiting, I think they’re doing a really good job.”
It would be unfair pressure to expect a freshman to be the next Vaquera with conference freshman of the year honors. It also wouldn’t be a complete surprise considering the immediate success many women have had under Tidwell’s leadership.
The freshmen and underclassmen will be the focus in just a few short seasons, so their roles will be under close watch this year as they pave the way for an increasingly powerful program.
