2015–16 Texas–Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros men's basketball team

The 2015–16 UTRGV Vaqueros men's basketball team represented the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was head coach Dan Hipsher's third season with the UTRGV program, although his first under the "UTRGV" name. The Vaqueros played their home games at the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the university's campus in Edinburg, Texas and were members of the Western Athletic Conference. They finished the season 8–22, 4–10 in WAC play to finish in a tie for sixth place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the WAC Tournament to Seattle.

2015–16 Texas–Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros men's basketball
ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
2015–16 record8–22 (4–10 WAC)
Head coachDan Hipsher (3rd season)
Assistant coaches
  • Andy Hipsher
  • Jai Steadman
  • Willie Watson
Home arenaUTRGV Fieldhouse
2015–16 WAC men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
New Mexico State13–1 .929  23–11  .676
Grand Canyon*11–3 .786  27–7  .794
Cal State Bakersfield †11–3 .786  24–9  .727
Seattle7–7 .500  15–17  .469
Utah Valley6–8 .429  12–18  .400
UMKC4–10 .286  12–19  .387
UT Rio Grande Valley4–10 .286  8–22  .267
Chicago State0–14 .000  4–28  .125
* Ineligible for postseason during transition to Division I.
† 2016 WAC Tournament winner

This was the first season as an institution for UTRGV, which was formed in a consolidation between University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) and the University of Texas at Brownsville. The former UTPA athletic program was converted to that of UTRGV, with UTPA's conference membership and athletic history transferring directly to the new institution.

On March 15, 2016, the school removed Dan Hipsher as head coach.[1] On March 31, the school hired Lew Hill as head coach.[2]

Previous season

The Texas-Pan American Broncs finished the 2014–15 season 10–21, 4–10 in WAC play to finish in a tie for seventh place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the WAC Tournament to UMKC.

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Elijah Watson1G6'2"185RS FreshmanChicago, ILTransferred to Kaskaskia College
Isaiah Hobbs3G6'4"178FreshmanBoynton Beach, FLTransferred to Howard College
Shaquile Boga5G5'11"170SeniorSt. Louis, MOGraduated
Moe McDonald10G6'4"185RS FreshmanMcAllen, TXTransferred to Highland Community College
Andreas Bigum11F6'9"218JuniorCopenhagen, DemarkTransferred to Fresno Pacific
Janari Jõesaar21F6'6"208SophomoreTartu, EstoniaSigned to play professionally by Rapla
Shaun Noriega22G6'4"207RS SeniorSarasota, FLGraduated
Josh Butler33F6'6"225SophomoreLos Angeles, CAWalk-on; left the team due to personal reasons

Incoming transfers
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
J. J. Thompson3G6'0"185RS SeniorIrving, TXTransferred from Southeast Missouri State. Will be eligible to play immediately since Thompson graduated from Southeast Missouri State.
Nick Dixon5G6'2"180RS JuniorBellwood, ILJunior college transferred from Morton College
Lew Stallworth13G6'1"175SophomoreNewhall, CATransferred from UTEP. Under NCAA transfer rules, Stallworth will have to sit out for the 2015–16 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.
Michael Hoffman21F6'8"192JuniorBurleson, TXTransferred from Lafayette. Under NCAA transfer rules, Hoffman will have to sit out for the 2015–16 season. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.
Dino Mercurius30G6'4"165SophomoreBronx, NYTransferred from South Florida. Under NCAA transfer rules, Mercurius will have to sit out for the 2015–16 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.
Ot Elmore33G6'3"190RS SophomoreCharleston, SCTransferred from VMI. Under NCAA transfer rules, Mercurius will have to sit out for the 2015–16 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.
Dakota Slaughter35F6'6"220RS SeniorFishers, INTransferred from Alabama. Slaughter will be eligible to play immediately since Slaughter graduated from Alabama.

2015 incoming recruits
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
William Brooks
C		 Torrance, CA Westwind Prep Academy 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Oct 23, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Walter Jones
SG		 Newborn, AL Sunshine High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) N/A Oct 25, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Antonio Green
SG		 Tupelo, MS Tupelo High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2015-09-18.

    Roster
    2015–16 UTRGV Vaqueros men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 Everett Osborne 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)190 lb (86 kg) RS SrPalisades
    Los Angeles Trade Tech    		 Los Angeles, CA
    G 2 Mike Lopez 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg) SoWylie Abilene, TX
    G 3 J. J. Thompson 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)190 lb (86 kg) RS SrIrving
    Southeast Missouri State    		 Irving, TX
    G 5 Nick Dixon 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)175 lb (79 kg) JrProviso West
    Morton College    		 Hillside, IL
    G 13 Lew Stallworth (I)  6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)187 lb (85 kg) SoWilliam S. Hart
    UTEP    		 Newhall, CA
    G 20 Walter Jones 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)200 lb (91 kg) FrSunshine Newbern, AL
    F 21 Mike Hoffman (I)  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)215 lb (98 kg) JrNolan Catholic
    Lafayette    		 Burleson, TX
    F 23 Dan Kimasa 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)230 lb (104 kg) SoTampa Bay Christian Academy Kigali City, Rwanda
    F 24 Shaquille Hines 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg) SrHarlan
    Trent Prep High    		 Chicago, IL
    G 30 Joaquin Pistokache (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)175 lb (79 kg) RS JrSharyland
    Roberts Wesleyan    		 Mission, TX
    F 32 Adonis Rwabigwi 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)220 lb (100 kg) RS SoTampa Prep
    Furman    		 Kigali City, Rwanda
    G 33 Ot Elmore (I, W)  6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)175 lb (79 kg) RS SoFort Union Military
    VMI    		 Charleston, WV
    F 35 Dakota Slaughter 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)222 lb (101 kg) RS SrFishers
    Alabama    		 Fisher, IN
    F 44 Christopher Ikuenobe 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)240 lb (109 kg) RS JrNigerian Air Force Secondary School
    Independence CC    		 Warri, Nigeria
    G 55 Antonio Green 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)165 lb (75 kg) FrTupelo Tupelo, MS
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule and results

    [3]

    For the first time in club history, every home game will be televised. UTRGV has entered into a deal with TWCS Texas to broadcast all 13 home games. Every home game, unless it becomes a WAC DN exclusive, will air on the network.[4]

    Date
    time, TV    		 Opponent Result Record Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    11/07/2015*
    7:00 PM    		 Texas A&M International W 67–58 
    		UTRGV Fieldhouse 
    Edinburg, TX
    Non-conference regular season
    11/13/2015*
    6:00 PM, ESPN3    		 at Miami (FL) L 59–86  0–1
    		 BankUnited Center (6,607)
    Coral Gables, FL
    11/16/2015*
    6:00 PM, ESPN3    		 at North Florida L 84–106  0–2
    		 UNF Arena (2,718)
    Jacksonville, FL
    11/20/2015*
    7:00 PM, TWCS    		 Texas A&M–Kingsville W 78–56  1–2
    		 UTRGV Fieldhouse (1,371)
    Edinburg, TX
    11/22/2015*
    2:00 PM, TWCS    		 Portland State L 61–79  1–3
    		 UTRGV Fieldhouse (523)
    Edinburg, TX
    11/24/2015*
    7:00 PM, TWCS    		 Southeast Missouri State W 83–74  2–3
    		 UTRGV Fieldhouse (1,003)
    Edinburg, TX
    11/30/2015*
    7:00 PM, ESPN3    		 at Houston L 65–78  2–4
    		 Hofheinz Pavilion (1,974)
    Houston, TX
    12/02/2015*
    7:00 PM, TWCS Alt.    		 at Lamar L 60–83  2–5
    		 Montagne Center (1,766)
    Beaumont, TX
    12/06/2015*
    2:00 PM, TWCS    		 Angelo State W 76–75  3–5
    		 UTRGV Fieldhouse (821)
    Edinburg, TX
    12/11/2015*
    7:00 PM, TWCS    		 Tennessee–Martin L 64–72  3–6
    		 UTRGV Fieldhouse (1,169)
    Edinburg, TX
    12/13/2015*
    2:00 PM    		 at Texas State L 59–68  3–7
    		 Strahan Coliseum (1,389)
    San Marcos, TX
    12/21/2015*
    9:00 PM    		 at Utah State
    World Vision Classic    		 L 69–94  3–10
    		 Smith Spectrum (8,156)
    Logan, UT
    12/22/2015*
    6:30 PM    		 vs. North Dakota State
    World Vision Classic    		 L 50–68  3–9
    		 Smith Spectrum (7,746)
    Logan, UT
    12/23/2015*
    6:30 PM    		 vs. Idaho State
    World Vision Classic    		 L 64–76  3–10
    		 Smith Spectrum (8,321)
    Logan, UT
    12/29/2015*
    8:00 PM    		 at UTEP L 64–85  3–11
    		 Don Haskins Center (6,819)
    El Paso, TX
    01/02/2016*
    7:00 PM, TWCS    		 Our Lady of the Lake W 89–81  4–11
    		 UTRGV Fieldhouse (1,047)
    Edinburg, TX
    WAC Conference Play
    01/07/2016
    8:00 PM, TWCS    		 at Grand Canyon L 63–83  4–12
    (0–1)    		 GCU Arena (5,452)
    Phoenix, AZ
    01/09/2016
    8:00 PM, YouTube    		 at Utah Valley L 65–98  4–13
    (0–2)    		 UCCU Center (1,881)
    Orem, UT
    01/14/2016
    7:00 PM, WAC DN    		 Chicago State W 82–72  5–13
    (1–2)    		 UTRGV Fieldhouse (1,211)
    Edinburg, TX
    01/16/2016
    7:00 PM, TWCS    		 UMKC W 71–66  6–13
    (2–2)    		 UTRGV Fieldhouse (1,189)
    Edinburg, TX
    01/21/2016
    8:00 PM, ASN    		 at Cal State Bakersfield L 58–77  6–14
    (2–3)    		 Icardo Center (1,501)
    Bakersfield, CA
    01/23/2016
    9:00 PM, WAC DN    		 at Seattle L 59–70  6–15
    (2–4)    		 KeyArena (1,752)
    Seattle, WA
    01/30/2016
    8:00 PM, WAC DN    		 at New Mexico State L 68–92  6–16
    (2–5)    		 Pan American Center (4,710)
    Las Cruces, NM
    02/04/2016
    7:00 PM, TWCS    		 Utah Valley L 77–88  6–17
    (2–6)    		 UTRGV Fieldhouse (1,211)
    Edinburg, TX
    02/06/2016
    7:00 PM, TWCS    		 Grand Canyon L 58–64  6–18
    (2–7)    		 UTRGV Fieldhouse (1,128)
    Edinburg, TX
    02/13/2016
    2:00 PM, WAC DN    		 at UMKC L 58–75  6–19
    (2–8)    		 Municipal Auditorium (1,670)
    Kansas City, MO
    02/18/2016
    7:00 PM, TWCS    		 Seattle W 67–57  7–19
    (3–8)    		 UTRGV Fieldhouse (1,435)
    Edinburg, TX
    02/20/2016
    7:00 PM, TWCS    		 Cal State Bakersfield L 57–70  7–20
    (3–9)    		 UTRGV Fieldhouse (1,299)
    Edinburg, TX
    02/28/2016
    4:00 PM, ASN    		 at Chicago State W 89–79  8–20
    (4–9)    		 Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center (1,902)
    Chicago, IL
    03/05/2016
    7:00 PM, TWCS    		 New Mexico State L 44–83  8–21
    (4–10)    		 UTRGV Fieldhouse (1,336)
    Edinburg, TX
    WAC Tournament
    03/10/2016
    9:00 PM, WAC DN    		 vs. Seattle
    Quarterfinals    		 L 52–75 
    		Orleans Arena (1,472)
    Paradise, NV
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Central.

    See also

    References
    1. WRITER, GREG LUCA | STAFF. "UTRGV re-assigns men's basketball coach Dan Hipsher". The Monitor. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
    2. "Oklahoma assistant hired as UT Rio Grande Valley head coach". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
    3. "2015-16 Men's Basketball Schedule". UTRGV Vaqueros. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
    4. "UTRGV to Televise Men's and Women's Basketball Home Games". UTRGV Vaqueros. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
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