RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men's basketball hit the court for their first official team practice on Monday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. 
 
After doing some good things in the summer, the Vaqueros were excited to get back to work as they get ready for their upcoming season. The Vaqueros have been focused on doing all the little things that will help add to their success.
 
"It feels great," UTRGV Head Men's Basketball Coach Kahil Fennell said. "It does feel a little bit like a holiday when we can get in here for an extended amount of time and do everything we can to get better, whether that individual work, skill work, putting shots up or obviously competing like we did this afternoon. All those things are critical for us to improve."
 
The Vaqueros bring back just four from last season with 10 newcomers. 
 
There are a lot of things to like about the incoming group that gives Coach Fennell and his staff excitement for the season. 
 
"Our length, our position versatility, but more than anything we tried to focus on bringing in winners," Fennell said. "Guys that have had success at winning at other programs and that value winning. They value the team collective concept. We are big on individual development but as long as we are doing that in the framework of what we are trying to do as a team. We are really excited about their skill set. We are excited about their size, but I think it's their mindset that has been the biggest boost to the program."
 
The first team practice of the fall semester was full of energy with everyone pulling for each other. The Vaqueros know that the team gets better as a whole when each individual gets better. 
 
Going into Coach Fennell's second season with the program, some foundations have remained the same. It's always about being the best version of themselves every day. 
 
"Coaching this group has been fantastic and I am excited about being with them every day," Fennell said. "They are incredibly coachable. They are incredibly competitive. They are tough. They want to win. They want to get better. All those things make my job a lot easier. We still have to get better at basketball and try to be the best version of ourselves."
 
Practice was not just full of energy but of competition as well. The hard work from the summer has the Vaqueros in a good spot as they begin the countdown to their season opener. 
 
While they are excited about what they have done thus far, they know there is still more work to be done to get where they want to go.
 
"There is still a long way to go," Fennell said. "We've had a good amount of summer practices, fall camp and stuff like that as we roll into official practice. So much has to reveal itself as far as diversity, we have some injuries as well, right now we are in the competition phase. The guys are trying to seize the opportunity, and they have done a tremendous job with that but now guys have to separate themselves and establish themselves."
 
Whether it's the first day of practice or the final day of summer workouts, the message is clear. It's all about competing. 
 
The Vaqueros are getting that into their mindset as they look to turn heads in their second season in the Southland Conference. 
 
"The expectation is to compete like crazy," Fennell said. "I think when you have as many players that are similar in size, similar in skill set, similar resumes, how competitive they are is really going to separate them. How competitive they are leads into their coachability and into their toughness, physicality and their effort. Those are things we demand every day in everything we do. We try to win everything."
 
The bar has been set for the Vaqueros after having their first winning season since 2018 and one of the best turnarounds in the NCAA last season.
 
This group wants to reset that bar and do something that hasn't been done at UTRGV. Their drive, determination, and will to win will make this season fun to watch. 

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