The 2015–16 Texas–Rio Grande Valley 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 and 4–10 in WAC play to finish in a tie for sixth place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the WAC tournament to Seattle.
This was the first season as an institution for UTRGV, formed in a consolidation between the 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. On March 31, the school hired Lew Hill as head coach.
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 Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Elijah Watson 1 G 6'2" 185 RS Freshman Chicago, IL Transferred to Kaskaskia College Isaiah Hobbs 3 G 6'4" 178 Freshman Boynton Beach, FL Transferred to Howard College Shaquile Boga 5 G 5'11" 170 Senior St. Louis, MO Graduated Moe McDonald 10 G 6'4" 185 RS Freshman McAllen, TX Transferred to Highland Community College Andreas Bigum 11 F 6'9" 218 Junior Copenhagen, Denmark Transferred to Fresno Pacific Janari Jõesaar 21 F 6'6" 208 Sophomore Tartu, Estonia Signed to play professionally by Rapla Shaun Noriega 22 G 6'4" 207 RS Senior Sarasota, FL Graduated Josh Butler 33 F 6'6" 225 Sophomore Los Angeles, CA Walk-on; left the team for personal reasons
Incoming transfers Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School J. J. Thompson 3 G 6'0" 185 RS Senior Irving, TX Transferred from Southeast Missouri State. Will be eligible to play immediately since Thompson graduated from Southeast Missouri State. Nick Dixon 5 G 6'2" 180 RS Junior Bellwood, IL Junior college transferred from Morton College Lew Stallworth 13 G 6'1" 175 Sophomore Santa Clarita, CA Transferred 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 Hoffman 21 F 6'8" 192 Junior Burleson, TX Transferred 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 Mercurius 30 G 6'4" 165 Sophomore Bronx, NY Transferred 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 Elmore 33 G 6'3" 190 RS Sophomore Charleston, SC Transferred 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 Slaughter 35 F 6'6" 220 RS Senior Fishers, IN Transferred from Alabama. Slaughter will be eligible to play immediately since Slaughter graduated from Alabama.
2015 incoming recruits
Roster
Schedule and results
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.
!colspan=9 style="background:#; color:white;"| Exhibition
!colspan=9 style="background:#; color:white;"| Non-conference regular season
!colspan=9 style="background:#; color:white;"| WAC Conference Play
!colspan=9 style="background:#; color:white;"| WAC tournament
See also 2015–16 Texas–Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros women's basketball team
References