RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men's basketball team wrapped up their summer practice slate on Friday. 
 
The last two months really flew by but not without growth from the Vaqueros. 
 
"I thought it was a positive summer in a lot of different ways," UTRGV Head Coach Kahil Fennell said. "I thought we grew tremendously, pretty much in every facet as you would expect when you got a new group coming together. The goal is to be a far different team by mid-august than you were when you arrived in June, so I certainly believe we achieved that. I thought guys worked really hard. I thought they showed great competitive spirit and competitive character. They worked on their individual game and worked to get better on their own. I think by and large it was a positive summer."
 
The Vaqueros returned just three from last season in Jaylen Washington, Marshal Destremau, and Kwo Agwa so there were plenty of new faces in the fieldhouse this summer. 
 
The new group brings plenty of experience from different levels and also brings a ton of success as well. That will to win has carried over to UTRGV and has been felt throughout the summer. 
 
"I think this is a competitive group," Fennell said. "They really want to win. They want to win every segment, every drill. We are working with individuals to win aspects of possessions, win the action, win the box out. They are naturally growing into that because they are inheritably competitive. It's been awesome. I think there is a real unselfishness with this group. There are a lot of guys that have won a lot of games on this team. I think they recognize the big and small things that it takes to win. I think there are some real positive intangibles with this group, which is exciting."
 
The summer also allowed this new group to build on their team chemistry. It has seemed that everyone one the squad has the same goals and is pulling in the same direction. 
 
Team chemistry is always an important factor in the success of a team and the Vaqueros have been able to lay a strong foundation for the upcoming season.
 
"I think the chemistry amongst the team has been terrific," Fennell said. "I think the guys really get along. There are a lot of like-minded guys. We don't have selfish players. I think the guys enjoy playing with each other. I think that makes the off the court stuff a little easier as well and vice versa. When the guys get along with each other at home, at the dorms, or apartments, it's a lot easier to get back on the floor and share the basketball and have fun playing the game. I think the chemistry is really strong now, but it will be tested to a higher degree a little later in the season." 


After eight weeks of practices, the most noticeable thing from the Vaqueros has been their competitiveness. From the start of the summer to the end, the Vaqueros have been able to raise benchmarks on the court and in the weight room. 
 
The Vaqueros like to utilize orange versus gray in their practices and each week it seems like there has been a different each week.  
 
"I keep referring to this, but I think the biggest thing is their competitive spirit," Fennell said. "I think guys truly want to win. They want to have great practices. I think a lot of that is fostered because of the depth of the team. I think there are a lot of guys that are good. There are a lot of good players. I think they look at the guys next them and they think he's a really good player and they have to go at them every day. That's exactly what we've seen this summer. We've had a string of 32 practices where the guys were really competing and working and doing what it takes to be successful. I think that really has changed the environment and the atmosphere around here."
 
Teams won't really see the benefits of their summer work until the actual season gets here but progress can be seen throughout the locker room. 
 
The Vaqueros had that buy in from the beginning of summer and it has paid off for them thus far. Because of that, one could say it was a successful summer for the Vaqueros.  
 
"The measurement of a successful summer comes to fruition in the summer," Fennell said. "But I think the players have done a tremendous job of doing everything they have been asked. They have really poured themselves into their individual development and our team development. They worked tremendously hard with Coach [Lucas] Monroe, who has been creative in keeping them competitive in the weight room. I think they have won that part of the battle. I think we have gotten some terrific individual and team work, so I think it has been a successful summer. Now, we must carry that over into the next phase of this thing."
 
Now the Vaqueros get some time off as they get ready for the fall semester. It will be an important time for each member of the team in order to not to take any steps back. 
 
It will not only be important for their progression as players but it will be an important time to recuperate from their hard work over the last couple of months.
 
"We have a couple of weeks off now," Fennell said. "It's a beautiful opportunity for our guys to rest and recharge mentally, emotionally, physically, the whole nine yards. Resting and recharging is a critical part of the season, especially for a young athlete. It also comes with some responsibility with taking over their own personal development and making good choices while at home. That's a big piece of their maturation process and their professionalism. That will be tested over the next few weeks at home. The march goes on and we have to continue to get better."
 
It has been great to see the Vaqueros progress over the summer months. If June and July are any indication of what is to come in the fall then the Vaqueros will continue to raise expectations heading into their second year in the Southland Conference. 
 
 Support UTRGV Men's Basketball | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube