Vaqueros’ tourney canceled

UTRGV graduate guard Jordan Jackson dribbles the ball toward the basket during a game against Utah Valley University Feb. 13 in the Fieldhouse in Edinburg. Wolverines junior guard Brandon Averette (left) and sophomore guard Trey Woodbury follow Jackson. AMANDA VELA/THE RIDER PHOTOS

Amid the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the Western Athletic Conference canceled the Men’s and Women’s Hercules Tires WAC Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas due to concerns about the safety of student athletes, coaches, staff and fans.

The UTRGV Men’s Basketball Team finished the season with an eight-game winning streak for an overall WAC play of 9-7, earning the Vaqueros not only the No. 2 seed in the tournament, but also the highest ranking in program history.

While the UTRGV Women’s Basketball Team was given the opportunity to play during the WAC quarterfinals, the team fell short 73-61 to New Mexico State University on March 11. New Mexico State was set to play against regular season champions University of Missouri-Kansas City.

The cancellation of the tournament put an end to the Vaqueros’ winning streak and their shot at competing in the March Madness this year.

UTRGV junior guard Chris Freeman jumps in an attempt to shoot the ball in the basket during the Feb. 13 game against Utah Valley University.

Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque said the team wasn’t able to compete for a championship in the tournament.

“The thing that we regret the most is that we had a men’s team that has won eight of their last 10 games, and we’ve had sell-out crowds,” Conque said. “And we weren’t able to take that momentum into the tournament. So, the fact that that didn’t transpire certainly hurts us emotionally, but it also hurts us from the standpoint that we really felt like we had the potential to possibly win the tournament as the two seed and garner the institution’s first NCAA bid in basketball. Each year we go into the season hoping to compete for a championship and make the NCAA Tournament and to know that that wasn’t an option in [2020] certainly leaves a lasting impact on the program.”

Conque is grateful to his coaching staff and student athletes who understand how important it is to stay healthy today to keep representing UTRGV tomorrow.

“[I am] so proud that our coaches and our student athletes have handled this so well,” Conque said. “They are faced with adversity in life in many different forms and for young people to be faced with adversity like this, we’re calling it … somewhat of a premature transition.

“So, their season wasn’t finished and they had to make this transition much sooner than what they were hoping. But everybody handled it so well. I know [UTRGV Men’s Basketball Head Coach Lew Hill] and the entire program, they’re already focused on next year and they want to make sure our student athletes are taken care of, that they’re safe, that they’re well today and their mind is already shifted in how we can get back into this position and compete for a championship next year and get that first NCAA bid for our university.”

The Western Athletic Conference announced Wednesday all spring conference competitions have been suspended for the remainder of the academic year. Other sports affected were baseball, golf, tennis and outdoor track and field.