UPDATE (11:05 A.M.): The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Department of Intercollegiate Athletics men’s basketball program will enter a seven-day pause after a Tier I member tested positive for COVID-19, according to a news release earlier today.
The Vaqueros 3 p.m Saturday matchup against Tarleton State at Wisdom Gym has been cancelled.
A Tier I member, according to the NCAA, consists of student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers and physical therapists, medical staff, equipment staff and officials.
The Vaqueros are still scheduled to play Tarleton State in the WAC season finale at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on March 5 and 6, respectfully, at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
The next scheduled game for UTRGV is a conference doubleheader against Grand Canyon University at 6 p.m. Feb. 5 and 6 at Bert Ogden Arena.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the men’s basketball team will square off against Tarleton State at 3 p.m. Saturday at Wisdom Gym, according to a news release earlier today.
This change in schedule comes after UTRGV and Tarleton State’s weekend doubleheader against New Mexico State and Seattle University, respectfully, were canceled due to positive tests of a Tier I personnel within both programs.
A Tier I member, according to the NCAA, consists of student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers and physical therapists, medical staff, equipment staff and officials.
Although Tarleton State is a member of the Western Athletic Conference, the matchup will be considered a non-conference game and therefore not affect the WAC standings where UTRGV is currently the third seed and Tarleton State the ninth seed.
Tarleton State this season has a record of 2-7 and 0-4 in conference play after close losses to Grand Canyon University and California Baptist University. Meanwhile, UTRGV is on the opposite end of the spectrum with an 8-3 record, their best start since the 2004-05 season, and are undefeated to start WAC play, 2-0, that included a 33-point win against Dixie State.
In a weekly news conference via Zoom, UTRGV Head Coach Lew Hill explained that Tarleton State will present a tough matchup with Head Coach Billy Gillispie at the helm.
“Billy’s teams are going to be really good defensively,” Hill said. “He’s going to be very physical; they are going to come at you, they are going to change defenses and really execute offensively. His teams are always disciplined. His record might not show in wins or loses but his team is pretty good. His team can beat you any given day.”
He said the team will be without their second-leading scorer, sophomore guard Quinton Johnson II who is set to miss his fourth straight game due to personal reasons.
With five canceled games this season, Hill explained the need for the program to adjust and adapt on a week-to-week basis as they play admits the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I mean it’s unusual, this whole year is unusual, right, so whatever we have to do to just get on the floor we’ll do it,” he said. “We don’t really love it to be honest but we’re not the only people around the country that’s having to do these types of things, we have to adjust and adapt just like everyone else. Can’t cry about it, just do what you got to do to play games.”
Although UTRGV will face Tarleton State this weekend, their conference doubleheader in the season finale on March 5 and 6 at the Fieldhouse is still scheduled to take place.
For more updates and highlights, visit GoUTRGV.com.
For Vaquero Radio, I’m Luis Rubio.
