UTPA opens season with afternoon tilt

EDINBURG — The University of Texas-Pan American men’s basketball team is about to embark on one of its most difficult schedules in recent memory.

The Broncs’ two-game exhibition slate may suggest they are no where ready for their brutal competition in the coming weeks and months, beginning with Louisiana Tech at 1 p.m. today at the UTPA Field House.

UTPA lost to Division II St. Edwards’s University 84-72 last Saturday but defeated another D-II opponent, Texas A&M-International, 64-54 on Monday.

Although there were signs of improvements between the two exhibition contests, Broncs first-year coach Ryan Marks said the team needs to be even better if it expects to be competitive.

“I think the improvement was more substantial then even the outcome may have suggested” Marks said. “At the same time, if we play at the same level (today) like we played against International, it probably isn’t going to be a real rosy day for the Broncs.”

Junior guard Manny Hendrix tried to downplay the two preparation games, adding that the Broncs are still becoming acquainted with one another.

The team is limited in its Division I experience with new faces composing more than half the squad.

“It is always disappointing to lose,” Hendrix said. “It’s better to lose early and find out what you did wrong and make the corrections, which we did against A&M-International.”

As of today, though, it is no longer about their exhibition games. Tech is a team on the rise. WAC coaches picked the Bulldogs to finish fifth in the conference after they made a nine game improvement last season.

Tech may not seem like a daunting foe but it took care of its exhibition game, 91-54, against Lincoln Missouri University. Marks includes the Bulldogs as among the best they will play this season.

If Hendrix is worried, he is not showing it.

“We play a lot of big-time schools,” Hendrix said. “We feel like our coaching staff will have us ready for these games so we can knock some of these teams off and get our stock up. … I’m not trying to take anything away from the teams we are playing but they tie their shoes just like we do.”

FREE THROWS: Broncs post Luis Valera led the team in scoring (28 points) and rebounds (15) in the two exhibition games and has looked more aggressive. “It is my last year and I want to have a great season. I want to do good and help my team have a winning season,” Valera said. … Bulldogs return guard Kyle Gibson, who averaged 16.1 points last season.

Peter Rasmussen covers UTPA athletics for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448 or via e-mail at prasmussen@themonitor.com.