Ready, set, go!

While UTRGV’s basketball teams are in the midst of their conference play, other teams representing the Vaqueros prepare to do the same.

The men’s and women’s basketball teams are in the middle of their conference play with mixed results.

In WAC play, the men’s team is 2-3 and 10-11 overall. In contrast, the women’s team is 0-5 in their conference standings, with an overall record of 10-10.

The UTRGV Men’s Basketball Team lost to Seattle University in a home game Jan. 20 with an overtime score of 79-76.

Against the same school, the women’s team lost 64-56.

Men’s Head Coach Lew Hill said the players need to improve their defense to increase their winning chances in future conference play.

“Last three games we haven’t done a good job of defending, so we have to go back to doing what we do best, which is defending,” Hill said. “We’ve been giving them too many easy baskets.”

Women’s Head Coach Larry Tidwell said the Vaqueras will continue to look ahead to future games in their conference schedule.

“We lost some close ones by two, four, six, eight [points],” Tidwell said. “I still have confidence in this team, that we can come back strong and be a factor in the conference tournament.”

He said he needs to do a better job getting the Vaqueras prepared.

As of press time, results for UTRGV’s match against Chicago State University on Saturday were unavailable. Visit goutrgv.com for the score.

Baseball

The UTRGV Baseball Team starts its first tournament of the year Feb. 16. The Al Ogletree Classic tournament will take place at home. The Vaqueros will hit it out with Central Michigan University and Stephen F. Austin State University from Feb. 16-18.

Head Coach Derek Matlock said the players are ready for the tournament.

“The kids are buying in, the kids are working hard,” Matlock said. “It’s exciting to see them, to sit back and be their biggest fan.”

Kicking off its season, the team is also hosting an intersquad scrimmage, which will include live music by the UTRGV Pep Band and pregame music by local musician Charlie Garcia. There will also be a cookoff. The event will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium.

Track and Field

The men’s and women’s track and field teams had their first meet Jan. 12 at the Ted Nelson Invitational in College Station. The men’s team placed sixth out of 14, while the women’s placed ninth out of 14.

Both also competed in the Houston Invitational last Friday and Saturday, but as of press time, results were unavailable. Visit goutrgv.com for results.

Head Coach Darren Flowers said both teams are using these upcoming meets to gear up for conference play, which starts Feb. 22 in Nampa, Idaho.

“We’re gonna make sure everyone is ready,” Flowers said. “We have about two weeks to have to make a big push towards conference.”

Flowers is a new coach who started at UTRGV last July and believes the athletes have adjusted to his coaching style.

“Anytime you get a new coach in a new situation, it’s really hard, and in this case, we have a whole new coaching staff,” Flowers said. “So I think initially that can be pretty tough.”

Track and Field is introducing freshmen Abraham Chirchir from Kenya; Dobri Stalev from Bulgaria; Gabriel Kiprono from Kenya; and junior Omar Almog, of Jerusalem, Israel, who transferred from Eastern New Mexico University.