Dustdevils ready for DI test

TAMIU junior forward Justin Lafitte and the Dustdevils play NCAA Division I UTPA tonight. (PHOTO BY CUATE SANTOS | LAREDO MORNING TIMES)

In a winter schedule full of finals and games against inferior competition, the Texas A&M International men’s basketball team finally gets a chance to see precisely where it stands 10 games into the season.

The Dustdevils are in Edinburg today to face its lone NCAA Division I opponent this season, Texas-Pan American. The program has never defeated a DI school in regular-season play and is 0-9 all-time.

“We tried to get more DI’s and just couldn’t get anyone down,” TAMIU coach Shane Rinner said. “We tried to get as many as we could, but couldn’t get anyone to play us. We’d play as many as would play us, but it’s hard to get games.

“When you start to get better, they don’t really want to play you. They’re looking for a night off and for someone they think they can beat.”

The Dustdevils are 6-3 heading into tonight. The Broncs are 2-8, but have played a rigorous early schedule, with losses to DePaul, Northwestern, UT-Arlington, and, most recently, No. 2 Ohio State.

The Broncs are 6-0 all-time against the Dustdevils in a series that dates back to 2003, but this will be the first time Ryan Marks, formerly the head coach at St. Edward’s and in his third year in the Valley, faces TAMIU while at the helm of UTPA.

When Marks was the head coach for the Hilltoppers, he competed against the Dustdevils for three years as a Heartland Conference foe. Marks has a 6-0 record against TAMIU.

“They’re going to be ready to play someone they think they can beat. They’ve played a tough schedule,” Rinner said. “They’re going to be hungry. They play hard, but it’s tough to get a read on them because they’ve played such superior talent. It’d be like watching us against the teams we played last weekend and trying to get a feel for how good we are.

“I just know they’re tough, well-coached and they’re going to be hungry.”

TAMIU athletic director Leonard Nardone guessed that tonight’s game brings in a guarantee of “about $4,000” for the Dustdevils.

The Dustdevils are coming off an encouraging week, posting two wins against programs from the Christian collegiate athletic association last weekend and following that up with a demanding week of practice, with players starting to put the pressure on each other and holding one another accountable.

“We’re coming off a pair of games where I felt they were kind of hard to play. I felt we showed up focused and played for 40 minutes each game,” Rinner said of last weekend’s blowout wins against Hillsdale Freewill Baptist and Arlington Baptist. “That’s easier said than done. The scoreboard says that it’s easy, but it’s not.

“We saw a team of our caliber (Texas-Permian Basin) who couldn’t do that (maintain focus), so I’m pleased in that we’ve made a lot of strides from this time last week to now.”

If the players consistently sustained that concentration and intensity last weekend, one can only imagine how revved up they’ll be for UTPA.

“It’s always fun, playing a DI,” said senior guard Brian Schaeffer, the team’s leading scorer and second-leading rebounder. “We always take it personal. We feel that’s where we should be (DI), so it’s always something to look forward to.”

Last weekend, the Dustdevils embraced a motto of “playing against perfection,” as in playing to their own standard and not the name on the front of the opponent’s jersey. Rinner said if his team can “equal the mental with the physical,” it can be good.

Players have willingly adopted that thinking.

“We’re looking at it as TAMIU versus perfection,” junior guard Tyree Murray said of tonight’s affair. “We’re thrilled to be playing a DI, but the games we’ve lost, we’ve beaten ourselves.

“It’s just another opponent. We’re going up against perfection.”

Playing against perfection

Joe Reid and the TAMIU Dustdevils have won six of nine games this season. (PHOTO BY DANNY ZARAGOZA | LAREDO MORNING TIMES)

It’s been a while since I blogged about the TAMIU men’s hoops team. This is a period of trial-and-error that generally serves as a time for the team to find itself and hopefully gain some momentum heading into the start of conference play in January.

So how do they look? What’s the latest? Well, the Dustdevils are playing great basketball, winning five of their last six games for a 6-3 record heading into Saturday’s bout against NCAA Division I Texas-Pan American. Up to this point, they’ve been without the services of senior forward James Silvie, still out with a pulled groin. That’s about 12-15 points and 6-8 rebounds missing from the lineup.

In short, they’ll only get stronger and bigger once the 6-foot-6 Silvie gets back on the floor. It’s important to remember that, because as well as TAMIU has been playing of late, I tend to forget it as well. Things will only get better.

Last weekend’s slate against Hillsdale Freewill Baptist and Arlington Baptist – christian collegiate athletic programs that TAMIU defeated by an average of 56.5 points per game – were hardly telling about where this team stands right now. Those teams were cupcakes. They tried and gave a nice effort, but they’re about 2-3 levels below where TAMIU stands on the ladder.

What you had to look at was how the Dustdevils played in regard to accomplishing goals they wanted to achieve.

TAMIU has adopted a motto of “playing against perfection” of late. It’s meant to keep the team focused on playing against its own standard opposed to the name across the front of the opponent’s jersey, whether it’s an Arlington Baptist or UTPA.

The players, for one, have bought in. After last weekend’s games, they didn’t talk about beating Hillsdale or Arlington so much as they talked about limiting turnovers, playing better positions defensively and playing with full effort from the opening tip. They weren’t patting themselves on the back for scoring 100 points against Hillsdale or shooting 60 percent against Arlington.

They harped on the spurts of lack of focus and too many turnovers. Against Hillsdale, the Dustdevils were sloppy. They played hard, but they didn’t play TAMIU basketball.

Against Arlington, they did. And that’s what matters. They won the games within the game.

“If we just focus on what we have to do, we’ll be fine,” senior guard Ryan McLucas said. “We’re not worried about (other teams).”

Even when it comes to the thought of playing a DI, it doesn’t affect them. Just another day at the office.

“We have a lot of players that could be playing at the DI level, so we’ve just got to worry about what we’ve got to do. If we do that, we’ll be successful,” McLucas assured.

Their actions support their words. From Friday’s 62-point win against Hillsdale to Saturday’s 51-point victory against Arlington, the Dustdevils cut down on turnovers (from 16-10), fouls (20 to 13) and cleaned up other subtle, yet relevant, nuances, such as cutting strong in their motion sets, employing a relatively fresh fullcourt defense and doing an all-around better job as far as moving the ball and knowing when and where to get shots.

From the starters to the third-stringers, every single Dustdevil worked. And that’s not easy to do when you could probably beat those respective teams by starting just your third-stringers. I get sloppy just playing a Minnesota or Washington in NBA 2K12, so I can only imagine how disciplined you have to be to keep your intensity and focus consistent in a college basketball game.

It’s obvious this team is settling into its groove, and for that, all you need to do is look at how fast the new kids on the block are acclimating themselves to a veteran unit.

Sophomore forward Joe Reid has grown more comfortable in his role. He’s not pressing as much and his production is impressive (7 points and 4 rebounds in 13 minutes per game). He still can get in foul trouble — hence the few minutes — but he’s aggressive and he attacks. He is getting into a nice rhythm offensively (he hit all seven of his field goals against Arlington Baptist) and that, in turn, has delivered more confidence defensively.

Junior center Jayvin Reynolds has stabilized the inside, which was desperately needed with the graduation of all-conference forward Will Faiivae. His numbers aren’t mind-blowing (5 points, 3.2 rebounds), but he does what coach Shane Rinner wants from his bigs: he runs the floor hard, screens well, protects the paint and takes advantage of the few opportunities afforded to him on offense (64 percent shooting). It helps that Reynolds is a quick study and carries a studious persona. It’s all business with him, and that’s as obvious off the floor as it is on it.

But where you can really see the Dustdevils’ growth is with junior guard Tyree Murray. A scorer by nature, all you have to do is see Murray whip the ball around and make the extra pass to know this team is very close to putting it all together. Before, he would shoot ill-advised shots and pass up on good looks. Now he makes that extra pass and shoots with authority.

“I have a good group of teammates to pass the ball to and we have an unselfish team,” Murray said. “It helps when you have great players to pass the ball to. I definitely have more room to grow, but I’m feeling a lot more comfortable. It’s getting there.”

The Dustdevils have acquired this fast start even with a relatively unstable starting rotation. Only Evan Matteson and McLucas have started all nine games. Reynolds has started seven, Brian Schaeffer 6, Scottie Payne 5, Armando Brito 4, Murray 3 and Ian Salter 2.

It speaks to the team’s depth and versatility that it can keep a nice flow going with so many transient parts.  It all comes back to Rinner’s motto of playing against perfection. Even he is not too concerned about other teams. He’s too busy trying to figure out exactly what he has in his cupboard, and if that might even cost a few non-conference games, so be it.

“It takes some adjustment as far as the idea of playing against yourself,” McLucas said with a smile. “But it makes sense, because we’re trying to be the best team we can be. We have to compete against ourselves, so then it doesn’t matter what kind of team we’re going up against.”

Rinner can sleep soundly at night knowing he has a good team with all on the same page. It’s clear everyone is drinking the kool-aid. You can tell he wants this team to succeed badly. He knows he has the tools. He knows he has the talent. It’s because of that that he’s barking at a player for not cutting hard enough with three minutes left on the good side of a 40-point game. It’s because of that that he, more so than any other season, finds himself teaching, molding, shaping, growing his players.

Let it be understood how fast this team’s aura has changed. Just three, four weeks ago, some of the new guys privately questioned whether or not they thought it was a good idea to come to Laredo. They were dealing with the typical doubts of whether their talents could fit within Rinner’s meticulous, demanding system. There was a fair amount of uncertainty and self-evaluating. But they buckled up and refused to leave the car. Why? Well, it’s my opinion that they know Rinner’s style – as physically and mentally exhausting as it can be – pays off.

And now? Now they smile. Now they laugh. Now they walk with a swagger. Now they no longer worry about where they fit in. They just worry about where the team fits.

That’s pretty much all you need to know about how far this team has come in a relatively short amount of time.

“We’re looking at it as TAMIU versus perfection,” Murray said in reference to the upcoming DI game against UTPA. “We’re thrilled to be playing a DI, but the games we’ve lost, we’ve beaten ourselves.

“It’s just another opponent. We’re going up against perfection.”

Dustdevils off to best start in three years

Scottie Payne and the TAMIU Dustdevils are off to the team's best start in the last three years. (PHOTO BY CUATE SANTOS | LAREDO MORNING TIMES)

Fresh off a four-game, 11-day road trip in West Texas and California, the Texas A&M International men’s basketball team has reason to hold its head high heading into a stretch where it will end the year playing six of seven games at home.
At 4-3, the Dustdevils are off to the best start in head coach Shane Rinner’s three years at the helm. The road trip brought forth big wins over regional foes West Texas A&M and Abilene Christian that will serve as crucial toward an at-large bid, as well as more telling signs in regard to the character of the this year’s bunch.
“Overall, this stretch that we had was encouraging,” said associate head coach Bryan Weakley, who led Tuesday’s practice while Rinner remained in California recruiting. “We started to see more leadership from our seniors during crucial parts of the game. “
TAMIU went 3-1 on its road trip after starting the season 1-2. It won close games in Odessa – 53-50 over West Texas A&M and 71-69 over Abilene Christian – and lost by eight to Cal State Stanislaus before dominating Cal-Merced 92-71.
Like last year’s extended trip to Hawaii, it was a chance for the Dustdevils to get back on their feet and right some wrongs. While much work still needs to be done – such as limiting turnovers – this year’s trip paid dividends, both on and off the floor.
“They really help and bond a team,” senior center Evan Matteson said of the long getaways. “It’s kind of like forced bonding because we’re together all the time, but it’s good. We had some time where we can do whatever we want, whether it’s going to go get food, go to a movie … it was nice.”
While Weakley said coaches are still trying to find out what’s “in the guys’ hearts,” he did note that, should things come together accordingly, it’s a unit that can even be better than last year’s historic team.
The Dustdevils are off to a fine start even without the services of key senior forward James Silvie, one of the team’s strongest interior threats. The versatile Silvie is day-to-day with a pulled groin.
“We haven’t come close to maximizing our group, though I think a lot of teams are saying that at this point of the year,” Weakley said. “With all the returners, we thought we’d be a bit further ahead than where we are, but we’re not too far from being a really good basketball team.
“If this group decides it wants to be good, they can be really hard to beat come March.”
The Dustdevils were tested late in all their wins on the trip, aside from Saturday’s rout against Cal-Merced. The ability to execute and close out teams down the stretch that was on display early in the season proved just as true on the road.
“We have a group of guys that really step up to the plate,” Matteson said. “When it comes to crunch time, there are no other guys I’d rather play a game of basketball with.”
Aside from a trip to Edinburg to play NCAA Division I Texas-Pan American on Dec. 10, the Dustdevils won’t leave Laredo until Dec. 18 for Christmas break.

 

Dustdevils’ warts minor, yet significant all the same

Sitting at 1-2, Ryan McLucas and the TAMIU Dustdevils have more than a few concerns just three games in. (PHOTO BY CUATE SANTOS | LAREDO MORNING TIMES)

As the Texas A&M International men’s basketball team embarks on a four-game, 11-day road trip starting today in Odessa, there are a fair share of warts three games into what figures to be a lengthy season for the defending conference champs.

Those warts are specifically three: 1. Too many turnovers. 2. Poor defensive rebounding. 3. Lethargic offense.

Simple, basic stuff that a team returning 12 starters, including eight seniors, probably shouldn’t be worrying about right now. Problem No. 3 is understandable, but a club predicated upon smart, precise execution and physicality should not be having issues with the first two.

Because of the relative simplicity of the concerns, however, head coach Shane Rinner essentially sees no real trouble.

“The guys know what they’ve got to do,” Rinner said Wednesday. “Basketball’s not rocket science. I think we have guys who know what they’ve got to do; the thing is, are they going to do it?”

From a player’s standpoint, they do, in fact, know what they have to do. And it is indeed a bit disconcerting that a veteran team is having trouble with simple stuff. That’s what the 16 days of fall practices were for, cleaning up any loose ends as far as the basics.

“You would think, with 12 returners, we wouldn’t have that problem (turnovers, running poor offense), but I think that’s part of the problem,” senior wing Armando Brito said. “When we’re on offense, we’re not getting into our man with the proper foot angles so that our teammate who has the ball can get it to us safely. It’s simple fundamental things we’re not doing at a high level right now and it’s costing us games.”

The Dustdevils have proven to have trouble with rangy, athletic teams, as the two consecutive defeats to Texas A&M-Kingsville proved. When teams push the ball and attack the rim and penetrate, TAMIU doesn’t have the foot speed or lateral movement to compete. Not yet anyway. To beat the Dustdevils, from what I’ve seen at this point right now, you have to not allow them to get set defensively and get into their stance, where they do a decent job of forcing contested jumpers and putting bodies in the driving lanes.

But that – better defense in one-on-one situations – will come with time, once the Dustdevils get more sure of themselves defensively and the newcomers become more comfortable in the plethora of demands Rinner holds them accountable for on that end of the floor. What’s more worrying is how they consistently get beat out of position of their space and pushed around. That, more so than anything in itself, is the reason for the turnovers, which have led to so many points at the other end.

The Dustdevils simply are not strong with the ball, almost to the extent of being uncertain with it.

“We’re just not paying attention to details, like getting into our man and being physical and owning a spot,” senior guard Ryan McLucas said. “We’re lacking that. Being physical and owning spots on the floor is a mentality that, even though it’s early, we need to get there.”

That’s not the only thing.

On Wednesday in practice, senior guard Brian Schaeffer preached to his teammates about taking things personally. He emphasized sacrificing for others. For 10 minutes, he held court – literally – and spoke of his disdain of what he was seeing. Players and coaches quietly listened, and I have to imagine it was a nice sight for Rinner.

“It’s something minor right now, but you don’t want it to get bigger,” Schaeffer said of the slow start. “We started 0-7 last year, including exhibitions, and we don’t want that again. We have a good enough team to where we can fix this right now.”

McLucas said that Schaeffer did have the team’s complete attention.

“It has to deal with us listening to each other,” said McLucas, who hinted that there may have been a sense of dissension among the team during the first three games. “We can’t disregard what someone tells us, because that’s a brother telling us, and if a brother is telling you something, you take it in and listen.

“We’re all here for the same goal and that’s to win.”

The fact that players are starting to hold themselves accountable so early in the season is a welcome sign, which is why Rinner, all be told, isn’t too preoccupied with the warts. He sees a team that is not happy with how things have gone and know what they have to do to fix it.

It’s not a team that is lost or lacks an identity. Just as we’re talking about a 1-2 team, it’s a squad that could easily be 5-2 by the time it returns to Laredo in a week and a half, all because there is a sense that players desperately want to right the ship, not sink it further.

“They’re disappointed,” Rinner said. “I think they’re mad. I think it’s a wake-up call for them, but it’s still early. It’s hard to know the complete pulse of my team three games in. We’ve been dealing with adversity – a sprained ankle for (junior guard) Tyree (Murray), who can barely walk, and (senior forward) James (Silvie) hasn’t even played yet, so there’s 12-15 points out of our lineup – so the guys just have to respond. We have to find ways to win games.”

Silvie’s return from a pulled groin will be crucial. He is expected to return next week and will be a much-needed help. He provides mismatches, is one of the team’s top rebounders and helps considerably with sustaining offensive flow and establishing an interior threat.

So there is, let it be known, plenty of daylight at the end of the tunnel. It must be reminded that the Dustdevils have played without one of their top three players. The warts are, by all means, minimal and not permanent, but Rinner’s expectations are that of perfection. Where we may see a team having early jitters like any other team in college basketball in the country, he demands excellence, especially when it comes to the basics.

“Nothing’s concerning me except getting this team ready to play,” Rinner said. “My focus is just getting this group to a place where they can function at the highest level.”

The Dustdevils have an immediate opportunity to rectify all starting with today’s game against West Texas A&M in Odessa, followed by another chance Saturday against Abilene Christian.

“As a team, we don’t want to start slow,” McLucas said. “Nobody wants to be in the position we’re in with two straight losses, especially to the same team. Nobody likes to lose, so as of right now, we’re practicing hard and trying to turn it around.

“It has everything to do with just playing basketball and what’s in your heart.”

 

 

Game 2: This time, slow start bites Dustdevils in the end

Sophomore forward Joe Reid was one of few standouts in Saturday's four-point defeat to A&M-Kingsville. (COURTESY PHOTO | TAMIU ATHLETICS)

I lean toward the thinking that it was because of the early start for tip-off. That has to be why TAMIU sits at 1-1 when it should easily be 2-0 against regional competition from a superior conference.

Just 19 hours earlier, the TAMIU men’s basketball team had finished up an emotional 71-58 win over regional power Incarnate Word on Friday night. It was a test the Dustdevils had longed for, against an established program with precious regional points on the line. You got the sense afterward this was a game that meant more than your typical season opener, and physically and emotionally they were spent.

It’s a victory I’m sure TAMIU didn’t just tuck away quickly, knowing it had a game at 4 p.m. against another quality foe the following day. So when Texas A&M-Kingsville, which gave Texas-Permian Basin all it could handle the day before, jumped out to a 9-2 lead just four minutes into the game on Saturday, you kind of expected it. Then again, you didn’t.

After all, this was a TAMIU team that had overcome a sluggish first half against UIW. Surely it knew how pivotal fast starts are. And after watching UTPB go down to UIW in the first game Saturday, certainly the Dustdevils knew this was their chance to show early they were the better team. It was UTPB and TAMIU, remember, that ended up tied and shared the conference regular season title last season before TAMIU defeated UTPB handily in the conference postseason tourney title game for a right to the NCAA’s.

That was apparently neither here nor there. The Dustdevils found themselves down by 25 points five minutes into the second half against TAMUK, allowing turnovers and poor rebounding to show their ugly faces once again. But TAMIU rallied, quite fantastically. They turned up the defensive pressure with a fullcourt press, moved the ball better, did a nice job of establishing the inside bigs and, all of a sudden, that 25-point deficit was 10 with 7:28 remaining and then 4 with 2:26 left.

“We moved the ball better, got the ball inside and our big men started getting more physical,” senior guard Brian Schaeffer said. “We started putting the ball in the hole and then we started pushing the intensity defensively, forcing turnovers. We were able to get them out of what they were able to do.”

Basically, the Dustdevils were doing what they couldn’t – or refused to do – in the first 25 minutes. The fact that they also fought back should not be a shock either; it’s in their DNA to grind and never give up. Never once did you get the impression they would fold and just let this one play out. The shocking aspect is the fact that they ever let themselves be buried so deep, so quickly to begin with.

The turning point, in my eyes, was the call made with 57.2 seconds left. Trailing by 4, TAMIU’s Evan Matteson drove the lane, came to a stop and put in a short shot off the glass. But before the ball dropped, the whistle blew. Charge. Going the other way. And Matteson’s fifth and final foul to boot.

What should have been a two-point game with plenty of time remaining was instead a six-point deficit after TAMUK capitalized with freebies at the other end since they were in the bonus.

“That was a real soft deal,” TAMIU coach Shane Rinner said of the foul on Matteson. “The guy jump-stopped, barely made contact and the game had been physical all night long. That was bogus, but that didn’t lose the game for us.”

So what’s bothering TAMIU? Well, for one, turnovers. I’ll never understand why statistics don’t account for offensive fouls, particularly forays to the basket that are clearly out of control and detrimental to the team, as turnovers, but, unofficially, the Dustdevils had 17. So far, UIW and TAMUK have had field days getting points off turnovers, and those are easy baskets Rinner loathes. TAMIU has also done a shaky job of forcing turnovers. In the first half Saturday, TAMUK only had three (unofficially). In the second half, when the Dustdevils amped up the pressure, they had 11.

“We’re still trying to figure out each other and mesh,” Schaeffer said. “It’s only the second game, and even though we have a lot of seniors back, it’s a new team and new pieces are playing and the ones being integrated in. It’s not a concern, but we do see this as a lesson learned.”

But what’s really haunting the Dustdevils are the sluggish starts. On Friday against UIW, the Dustdevils trailed by two after allowing 36 points on 48 percent shooting. On Saturday, they allowed 39 points on 47.1 percent shooting.

While he essentially dismissed the rough start Friday to it being the first game, Rinner listed that as viable concern on Saturday.

“We didn’t come ready to play,” he said. “We came out and thought we could sleep walk and just show up and play. That’s not going to happen.”

You could also point to rebounding, particularly defensively. The Dustdevils did a much better job attacking the glass in the second halves of both games, but they could help themselves out if they do so right from the get go.

Aside from Matteson and sophomore Joe Reid, the Dustdevils mostly get rebounding from the guard spots in Schaeffer (13 rebounds in two games off the bench), Ryan McLucas (seven rebounds in two games, three offensive) and Scottie Payne (five rebounds in two games). That won’t cut it when you also have 6-foot-11 Ian Salter (four rebounds in two games; 28 minutes played) and 6-foot-7 Jayvin Reynolds (four rebounds in two games; 47 minutes played). To this point, Schaeffer, at 6-foot-2, has been the team’s most consistent and aggressive rebounder, and I don’t think it’s even close.

Be as it may, two games in, the Dustdevils at least know where to start: 1) Better intensity at the start of games, 2) Quit turning the ball over, 3) Attack the glass.

If you’re a TAMIU fan, however, rest assured that this is still a confident bunch. Rinner praised the closing flourish as an example of his team’s toughness and relentlessness, and players can’t wait when they see A&M-Kingsville again on Tuesday, this time in Kingsville.

The way they finished Saturday’s game can indeed be the wake-up call they needed and lesson learned, as Schaeffer attributed it, or it can be the start of bigger problems down the line.

Tuesday, in round two against the Javelinas, will be telling.

“What will be most important is we’ve got to bring that intensity,” Schaeffer said about Tuesday’s game. “They’re going to know from how we played in this second half that we weren’t happy and we put the pressure on them. They had us down by a lot, but the way we picked it up, they’re going to know they’re going to need to bring energy. We have to outmatch that.”

OTHER NOTES:

– I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from Reid, who’s athleticism and shot-blocking ability were huge down the stretch Saturday. The official box score had Reid with four points, six rebounds and two blocks in 16 minutes. But I had him for four points, five rebounds and four blocks. He also had eight points, four rebounds and an assist against UIW Friday.

– In an interesting move, Rinner substituted Schaeffer for Ryan McLucas to start the second half on Saturday. Rinner would not go into detail after the game about why the move was made, though he did acknowledge Schaeffer played really well.

– I thought junior guard Tyree Murray could be huge Saturday due to the apparent lack of energy from the start from the team. He was. In a display of how big of a spark he could be, and the potential of his offensive prowess, Murray contributed 12 points in 22 minutes. Even more impressive? No turnovers.

– In the preseason, Rinner mentioned the idea of playing McLucas, Scottie Payne and Murray together as part of a dynamic three-guard lineup. We saw that on Saturday. The trio played approximately nine minutes together – including six in the second half as TAMIU started to make its run back into contention – and compiled a plus/minus ration of plus-3. Rinner did pretty much downplay it when asked if we would be seeing more of it sooner than later: “We needed to score points and Ryan and Tyree can shoot it,” he said. “We needed some shooting on the floor.”

– The Dustdevils need to get more out of starters Ian Salter and Armando Brito. Brito has his moments and seems to play much better in the second half when the game’s at stake, but he hurts the rest of the time. Salter, after a nice debut Friday, made too many lapses defensively on Saturday and was outplayed thoroughly by Reid. In 11 minutes, Salter had no rebounds.

– During the tournament these last two days, I saw quite a bit of UTPB, which is ranked to place fourth in the conference this year. The Falcons, who return six seniors from last year’s conference regular season co-champ and postseason tourney finalist, are their typical selves: boatload of talent, but sloppy, undisciplined, unsure defensively. They will let opponents stay in games and 3-point shooting can hurt them. Their raw talent and speed are impressive and second, likely, to none, but the intangibles will doom them, particularly against defensive-minded squads like TAMIU and St. Mary’s.

Final Stats: http://www.godustdevils.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2011-2012/tamimb2.html 

 

 

 

 

 

Issues remain for Dustdevils with season looming

Junior guard Tyree Murray and the Dustdevls still have a lot of cleaning up to do before next Friday's season opener. (PHOTO BY CUATE SANTOS | LAREDO MORNING TIMES)

On Friday, the TAMIU men’s basketball team scrimmaged Southwest Texas Junior College. In a session that consisted of two 20-minute periods and a 10-minute period, the Dustdevils won 120-47.

Still, nothing to see here. Friday’s scrimmage was no adequate judge for the Dustdevils. SWTJC consisted of little more than ill-advised 3-pointers and turnover after turnover after turnover.

And yet TAMIU still had concerns, the most glaring being a lack of communication on the floor and poor defense, by coach Shane Rinner’s standards.

“I think we’re learning to be a team,” Rinner said afterward. “I think there were times when they played the way we envisioned them to play as far as the energy and the communication. The thing this group’s got to do is make sure they move self out of the way and move team squarely in the middle. It’s all about ‘we,’ not ‘me.’”

As far as the lack of talking on the floor, that, to me, is issue No. 1 on this team. I believe the defense will improve (too much speed and quickness), but if it’s not in you to be vocal and lead, then it’ll never be your nature.

“It’s a chain effect,” senior guard Ryan McLucas said of talking on the floor. “It’s a matter of leading by example and you just have to keep going at it. It takes awhile to play at the level we need to play at by communicating. One little slip can lead to a breakdown. They’ll get used to it as it goes along.”

McLucas is one of the absolute few who bother talking on the floor, directing and leading. For a team built on defense – especially one that’s found itself broken down and having to help often during practices and scrimmages – that is not a good thing.

There were, indeed, highlights during the scrimmage, but the question is always a matter of how well considering the foe. I liked what I saw from center Ian Salter, who seems more assertive and demonstrative in his role. He’s the Dustdevils’ lone true center. They will need him before it’s all said and done. I liked what I saw from sophomore forward Joe Reid. Every time I see him, I think of all that can be done as far as mismatches and the athleticism he brings. He’s getting better at talking on the floor and it’s obvious he’s getting more and more comfortable.  I liked what I saw from McLucas, who is embracing his role as off-guard. He’s a dead-eye 3-point threat and him and Scottie Payne together in the backcourt is TAMIU’s best option.

I also what I saw out of little Danny Rosas, the freshman guard out of Laredo’s own United High. He’ll never crack the rotation of McLucas, Payne and Tyree Murray, but, man, what a climb Rosas has done. He looked confident, hit all but two of his shots, and scored 13 points. He pushes the ball – which happens rarely on this team in spite of the speed and quickness – and makes smart decisions. By the time he’s a junior, I could see himself as a valuable reserve for this team, and I don’t think I would have ever said that a week or two ago.

What didn’t I like? Well, Murray continues to boast a boatload of potential. He is the Dustdevils’ most creative and lethal offensive threat. He is a true scorer and undoubtedly a difference-maker. But what he has not yet grasped is sprinting hard, running the floor, and communicating. To be fair, both of those things improved dramatically from the start of Friday’s scrimmage to the end. But he’s got to be more consistent. This is someone whose skill set demands for major minutes, but if he doesn’t acclimate into Rinner’s emphasis of defense and intensity sooner rather than later, he may not get them.

“He’ll grow, and he has grown,” Rinner said of Murray. “He’s pretty talented offensively. Guys like him are used to relying on that and lots of times coaches don’t ask them to play both ends of the floor. But he’s gotten the message that if he’s got to play here, he has to play both ends.”

For his part, Murray deserves credit for acknowledging his shortcomings. Now it’s just a matter of doing something about it.

“That’s been one of the knocks on me as a player, playing defense,” he said. “I appreciate him (Rinner) buckling down on me. It’s going to help me individually and it’s going to help the team as well.”

I also didn’t like that junior center Jayvin Reynolds had trouble finishing around the rim against smaller defenders. It’s likely a matter of timing and getting his rhythm down, but that did raise eyebrows. He missed several easy ones around the rim.

Mind you, these are new guys to the system, transfers from junior college. It’s possible I’m expecting a bit too much from them so early, but they’re also going to have to play pivotal roles should the Dustdevils repeat as conference champs and take that next step with a NCAA tourney win. Things like not running the floor hard and not finishing around the rim are inexcusable for a team that boasts great expectations, even if they’re coming from the new men in town.

From a team standpoint, I didn’t like the lack of ball pressure defensively. Yes, the Dustdevils forced turnovers, but that was mostly the doing of SWTJC, which would struggle to beat most of Laredo’s high school teams. The one-on-one defense was also lethargic. The Dustdevils were repeatedly beaten off the dribble, and that may not be too harmful against a JUCO team, but against an Incarnate Word next Friday, or Arkansas-Fort Smith or St. Mary’s in conference, those are daggers.

“If there is one major concern, it’s defense and stopping penetration,” McLucas acknowledged. “We’ve got to do better defending the ball one-on-one because a lot of teams in this conference try to beat you off the dribble and off ball screens.”

Another thing I’ve seen: This is a team that will have to rely extremely heavily on its perimeter play. I see no consistent, true interior threat. TAMIU does a good job at least establishing the inside with post entry passes in its motion, but when it comes down to the fourth quarter, who’s going to get you that go-to bucket inside? Food for thought. The guards are going to have to lead this team, on and off the floor.

Some other notes:

– Senior forward James Silvie is out 2-4 weeks with a pulled groin. He pulled it in Thursday’s practice. Huge blow, considering Silvie is one of the team’s lone threats to produce points inside and one of its top rebounders. Rinner on Silvie’s injury: “It’s unfortunate, but life is full of adversity. For me, I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it. We’ll move on to the next thing. We’ll take care of James, we’ll get him great medical treatment and our job is to coach the team and the guys need to step up. It parallels life. Adversity hits, what are you going to do? Are you going to retreat or are you going to rise up?”

– Rinner on his projected starting lineup with the start of the season six days away: “The starting rotation will figure itself out. Guys that play defense and do what we want will be on the floor a lot. Everything’s open for discussion right now.”

– Reid on his thoughts from Friday’s scrimmage: “We talked more and executed. We played our type of game. That was good for us, just playing our game and not trying to play by someone else’s tempo.”

– Reid on his apparent growing comfort in the system: “I still have a lot of ways to go. I’m by no means 100 percent comfortable. That will come with time and more work and doing what I need to do to be consistent and make sure I get there.”

 

 

Dustdevils lack urgency

Following a poor defeat to Blinn in a scrimmage on Saturday, the TAMIU Dustdevils find themselves having to answer more questions with the start of the season 11 days away.

At the middle of Monday’s afternoon practice, Texas A&M International men’s basketball coach Shane Rinner gathered his team. What he said next was stirring.

“I’m scared to death,” Rinner said. “I’m not feeling the sense of urgency.”

16 days since the start of fall practices, and coming off a sloppy, underwhelming 18-point defeat in a scrimmage to Blinn on Saturday, the Dustdevils’ lack of purpose was startling. They reacted slowly. Their was a constant lack of communication on the floor.

It was a startling turnaround from just a week and a half ago, when this was a team of purpose and acted like it. But now the Dustdevils find themselves discombobulated offensively and too loose defensively.

Rinner does not wish to concern himself with such basics just days from the tip-off to the season next Friday against regional power Incarnate Word. But that’s where he finds himself, having to coax, urge and prod.

“I’m always scared,” Rinner said after practice. “I just feel like the way we were practicing isn’t the way you have to practice in order to win games. It doesn’t mean I’m fearful long-term, but we’ve got to get significant gains. Practices are going by, days are clicking off. I’m always fearful of an opponent.”

Leadership, or lack thereof, is apparently at the heart of the issue. Rinner specifically pointed out his team’s inability to coach each other through drills. Two weeks into practices, and the Dustdevils often find themselves fatigued and having problems with such basic principles as spacing, flashing to the ball and filling spots.

Defensively, they close out poorly and often find themselves in poor position to help.

And while Rinner openly expressed concern with his team’s lack of urgency, his players don’t necessarily see it that way.

“I do think we have a little bit of that, but we also do have a lot of guys who are new and are having to learn on the fly,” senior center Evan Matteson said. “He is right in that we do have to step it up from where we are now, but I think we’ll be ready to go once that first game gets here.”

It’s a domino effect. The lack of urgency – and don’t be mistaken, there is indeed a lack of it – can be attributed to the lack of leadership. The only consistent leader, vocally or otherwise, is senior guard Ryan McLucas. And while others have stepped it up at times, like senior guards Brian Schaeffer and Winston Harris, it’s not enough.

Because of the lack of leadership, there is little to no accountability, a big, big emphasis of Rinner’s. It’s obvious Rinner is getting tired of hearing his own voice and not hearing that of players’. Will Faiivae was the team’s vocal and emotional leader, on and off the court. But now he is gone and that void is painstakingly apparent.

“I do believe we have guys who know how to do it and can do it,” Matteson said of being a leader not only by example but vocally. “They just have to. That’s the bottom line.”

OTHER NOTES:

– The Dustdevils will redshirt junior guard Ty Condie and junior wing Johnel Gray. Gray was expected, but Condie? Rinner had talked highly of him all preseason as if he was ready to step into the starting lineup and contribute. But apparently that’s not the case and Condie will sit out this year. “It’s the right decision for him and our school,” Rinner said of Condie. “He’ll be here a couple of more years. He could have certainly played this year, but he was the only one to have a redshirt year (available). That’s what it came to.”

– Laredo native and Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Kaleb Canales watched a bit of today’s practice. Canales is visiting around, attending different schools’ practices and studying gameplans. He plans to attend another practice or two of the Dustdevils’.

 

The Dustdevils’ sense of purpose

TAMIU's men's basketball practices are aggressive and intense, emphasizing a stingy defense that makes it tough on playmakers. (PHOTO BY CUATE SANTOS | LAREDO MORNING TIMES)

The end of a three-hour TAMIU men’s basketball practice – the second in as many days – was near. The final drill would be a fullcourt shooting exhibition in which the team tries to top 100 points in three minutes on layups, 3-pointers and mid-range jumpers.

Fail. The Dustdevils got to 93 points, but, hey, it was the last drill of a tiring, stressful, physically dominating session. Falling seven points shy after the effort they had just given all day would be understandable.

But no.

“Let’s do it again!” All eyes turned to the baseline, where the players stood, breathing heavily. Tired or not, the goal of the drill was to score more than 100. Not 93. Not 99. One hundred.

“Guys,” head coach Shane Rinner belted with a knowing look. “Practice is over. Are you telling me you’re going to go again?”

No answer. The next sound heard was a long pass that started the second time around for the drill. Throughout it, Rinner applauded, encouraged, clapped loudly. Still, the Dustdevils fell short. Ninety-seven.

Wash, rinse, repeat. Turns out the third try was the lucky charm. The Dustdevils didn’t just pass 100, they scored 112. What had just occurred was an impressive sharpening of concentration and commitment. Sure, practice could have been over after the first time of the drill. Heck, Rinner would have understood.  But there is a bigger picture in mind for this team – defending conference champions – and leaving practice, no matter how tired or worn down, after failing was not an option.

“They’re starting to coach themselves,” Rinner told me after the practice. “And when that starts to happen, you have a chance.”

The first nine days of fall practices for the Dustdevils have been incredibly intense. From the first day, when 11 players were on the court ready to go 26 minutes before the first practice started,  it has been go-go-go. Whether it’s in learning how to control your body on closeouts, proper ball reversals or applying deceiving pressure via talking, your hands and feet, it’s been anything but introductory. Which is admittedly how it should be when you have 12 returners and five new guys, all JUCO transfers.

Rinner implores his team to be tougher, deeper and better conditioned than the opponent. He threw one of those new guys out of the first practice of the season because he was going at “lackadaisical speed.” When asked why, Rinner said he would rather punish the player than punish the team, as practice was supposed to be about learning, not running sprints because of a rookie’s mistake.

Days ago there was an interesting dynamic between Rinner and assistant coach Kemmy Burgess. During a drill, Rinner wanted Burgess to deliver the basketball to him a proper way – bounce pass, at the exact right moment. It took Burgess three or four times before he finally got it down. It was a perfect example of how Rinner demands perfection, whether from team manager Chris Gill (who hustles just as hard as anyone on the floor), his assistant coaches or, of course, his players.

One thing you cannot question during these first few weeks of practice is the team’s work ethic. Aside from that initial incident and a few times here and there when a player or two doesn’t quite run as hard as he’s supposed to, the Dustdevils are a high effort unit that has learned to hold itself accountable (i.e. the shooting drill). But is that supposed to impress Rinner?

No. It’s expected.

“I know you guys are working hard,” Rinner told his team during that three-hour session a few days ago. “But every team in this country is. We have to work harder. We have to work smarter.”

And then there was this:

“Don’t retreat from your mind when you know your body is tired.”

In many ways, Rinner has taken his hands off some of the controls, simply because he does have players who will coach the others and make sure his way is what takes place. But you can also sense a sort of tension and sense of anticipation in the gym. This is a team that returns 12 from last year’s Heartland Conference champion. It’s a team that’s even more dynamic and versatile with the additions of guards Tyree Murray, Ty Condie and forward Joe Reid and center Jayvin Reynolds.

It’s a program that may take awhile to be able to be in this state again, as eight seniors will be lost to graduation of this year. It’s also the final year of Rinner’s contract.

In other words, the Dustdevils are in perfect position to deliver a second conference title and maybe win a game in the NCAA tourney. They are in perfect position to stabilize the program even more so and add some more banners.

All the pieces are in place. The team that finished third in the conference in scoring last year added more shooting, playmaking and speed. The team that finished second in the conference in defense added more rebounding. It’s a team that won’t only thrive in halfcourt sets, but also figures to get easier baskets with its newfound ability to penetrate and get to the rim faster.

It’s a team with a purpose. Last year was nice. Unexpected. Above expectations. Beyond what was required. What would have qualified for a successful year last year would have been a win in the conference postseason tournament. What was delivered was a conference title and a trip to the NCAA’s, where the Dustdevils gave No. 1 seed Central Oklahoma all it could handle in overtime on its own floor.

But this year? The bar has been lifted considerably. Can the Dustdevils live up to the grand expectations now that the community, the university expects nothing less than excellence?

They’re sure practicing like it.

 

 

 

 

TAMIU men’s soccer makes more history

For the first time in the university’s history, a TAMIU athletic program finds itself nationally ranked.

On Tuesday, it was learned that the Dustdevils’ men’s soccer team is ranked No. 22 in NCAA Division II, the first for the school. TAMIU is the only Heartland Conference representative in the rankings.

Coached by Claudio Arias, the Dustdevils are 3-0.

“It’s great incentive to continue working hard,” Arias told me via text.

It’s just another historic first for Arias and his Dustdevils. Last season, his men’s team was the first TAMIU program to claim an NCAA conference championship.

TAMIU has scored nine goals and allowed two this season. Arias attributes his team’s success to his depth and is buoyed by a strong defense, led by goalkeeper Emmanuel Frias.

The team’s primary goal this season has been to qualify for the NCAA tournament, which would be another first for the program.

This season’s accomplishment comes in the midst of another challenging season for Arias. While also serving as head coach of TAMIU’s women’s soccer team, he was also promoted to senior associate athletic director earlier this season.

 

Heartland releases preseason polls

The Heartland Conference released its preseason polls for the 2011 cross country, soccer and volleyball seasons on Monday.

Two of Texas A&M International University’s fall sports teams have been picked to achieve upper-division finishes, with men’s soccer selected second and women’s cross country selected third in polls determined by a vote of the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.

Here are the complete polls:

Men’s Soccer Poll: Points (First PlaceVotes).

1. St. Edward’s, 46 (6).

2.TexasA&M International, 44 (4).

3. St. Mary’s, 25.

4. Newman, 23.

5.UT-PermianBasin, 12.

Women’s Soccer Poll: Points (First PlaceVotes).

1. St. Edward’s, 72 (12).

2. St. Mary’s, 55.

3.DallasBaptist, 48.

4. Newman, 38.

5.TexasA&M International, 20.

6.UT-PermianBasin, 19.

Volleyball: Points (First PlaceVotes).

1. UA-Fort Smith, 121 (10).

2. St. Edward’s, 111 (4).

3.DallasBaptist, 91.

4. St. Mary’s, 82 (2).

5.UT-PermianBasin, 57.

6. Newman, 55.

7.TexasA&M International, 31.

8. Oklahoma Panhandle St., 28.

Women’s Cross Country: Points (First PlaceVotes).

1.DallasBaptist, 81 (10).

2. Newman, 66 (2).

3.TexasA&M International, 55.

4.UT-PermianBasin, 40.

5. UA-Fort Smith, 37.

6. St. Mary’s, 36.

7. Oklahoma Panhandle St., 21.

Men’s Cross Country: Points (First PlaceVotes).

1.DallasBaptist, 58 (8).

2.UT-PermianBasin, 45 (1).

3. Newman, 38.

4. UA-Fort Smith, 27 (1).

5.TexasA&M International, 26.

6. Oklahoma Panhandle St., 16.