Author Archives: Jerry Briggs

Having some fun and gearing up for a new season at Rowdy Jam

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UTSA men's basketball team at Rowdy Jam at the Convocation Center on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA men’s basketball team players cheer on a teammate at the Convocation Center. – Photo by Joe Alexander

After a grueling summer of conditioning, followed by fall practices, athletes and coaches for the UTSA men’s and women’s basketball teams kicked back and had some fun Wednesday night at the Convocation Center. In an event billed as Rowdy Jam, coaches took the court and said a few words on a cordless mic to a smattering of fans. Players were introduced, one by one. Finally, the athletes showed off in some shooting games, highlighted by a couple of halfcourt heaves that found the bottom of the net. It won’t be long before the campaign gets underway for real. The UTSA women open with a Nov. 1 exhibition against St. Mary’s University and then a Nov. 7 regular-season opener at Texas A&M. The men open Nov. 4 at home against Trinity University.

UTSA men's and women's basketball teams at Rowdy Jam at the Convocation Center on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA men’s and women’s basketball teams, showing off for the fans. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Damara Allen. UTSA men's and women's basketball teams at Rowdy Jam at the Convocation Center on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA freshman Damara Allen celebrates after drilling a shot from halfcourt. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Damari Monsanto. UTSA men's and women's basketball teams at Rowdy Jam at the Convocation Center on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA guard Damari Monsanto – photo by Joe Alexander

Jordyn Jenkins. UTSA men's and women's basketball teams at Rowdy Jam at the Convocation Center on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA forward Jordyn Jenkins – Photo by Joe Alexander

Rowdy Jam primer: UTSA women earn their respect in the American

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Jordyn Jenkins. UTSA beat Northern Colorado 80-62 in the first round of the WNIT on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

High-scoring forward Jordyn Jenkins returns to play for a UTSA team that hopes to improve on last year’s 18-15 finish. – File photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The UTSA women’s basketball program is slowly starting to gain respect around the American Athletic Conference. This time last year, there wasn’t much buzz about the Roadrunners. This year, entering their second season in the AAC, they’re picked to finish fifth among 13 teams despite the loss of two key players, Elyssa Coleman and Kyra White.

Coleman has retired medically with knee problems, while White took the opportunity to turn pro.

In Coleman, a 6-foot-3 post, the Roadrunners had a steady scorer, rebounder and shot blocker. With White, a 5-9 guard who works now for a pro team in Ireland, they had a do-it-all backcourt performer who played defense, rebounded and also split time with Sidney Love in running the offense.

Sidney Love. UTSA beat Northern Colorado 80-62 in the first round of the WNIT on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Junior guard Sidney Love averaged 9.6 points on 36.1 percent shooting from the field last season. – File photo by Joe Alexander

White ranked among AAC leaders with 34 minutes per game.

Even with those two stalwarts no longer on the team, the new-look Roadrunners that fans will see Wednesday night at Rowdy Jam could very well have more upside than the ones that finished 18-15 last season. By the time conference season rolls around in late December, they could be more dangerous than the group that finished 10-8 and took a No. 4 seed into last season’s AAC tournament.

More than a few offseason developments have allowed the Roadrunners to dream even bigger this season.

First, forward Jordyn Jenkins is working her way back into peak conditioning. Jenkins, who sat out the first 21 games last year rehabilitating a knee injury, is expected to be a stronger player than the one that averaged 17.1 points and 6.8 rebounds in 12 games at season’s end.

She’s had a full summer of conditioning to get stronger, which according to the plan, at least, should help her return to the level of play that allowed her to become the Conference USA Player of the Year in 2022-23. Recently, she was named as a preseason, first-team all-conference pick.

“I think for Jordyn, her focus just needs to be getting back physically,” UTSA coach Karen Aston said earlier this summer. “When I say physically, I’m talking about conditioning (and) being able to withstand night after night of high-minute games.”

In addition to an improved Jenkins, the Roadrunners’ returning players have stepped up their games, as well. This would include high usage players last season, such as Love, Aysia Proctor and Idara Udo, who all played more than 30 games and started 20 or more. Love had 32 starts and averaged 30 minutes. Among players who didn’t play heavy minutes last season, Siena Guttadauro has been playing extremely well in practice lately.

Giving UTSA even more firepower are six new players, notably, transfers Nina De Leon Negron and Nyayongah Gony. De Leon Negron is a 5-6 point guard who can run the offense, score and rebound. Gony, a long-armed, 6-4 forward with speed and jumping ability, has shown flashes of becoming an impact defender.

It wouldn’t be a major surprise, either, to see one or two of Aston’s four incoming freshmen push for playing time. With depth at all positions, a group highlighted by 6-foot-3 shooting guard Mia Hammonds from Steele is a luxury for Aston, who is entering her fourth season at UTSA.

“I think we have a lot of potential to be great,” Jenkins said Monday at the AAC media day. “We have so much talent. We’re all trying to fit into one team and one working offense. We have potential to start off strong and be undefeated (early in the season). It’s just about building our chemistry and keeping up the good work.”

Love said she thinks UTSA has “a very high ceiling,” adding, “We have a lot of versatility in lineups and different areas that we can be good at. So, I don’t know. I think this team has a lot of potential.”

Stepping in to fill the void left by Coleman, the UTSA program’s all-time shot block leader, Udo is a likely starter at center with Jenkins at power forward. Off the bench, Gony and returning forward Cheyenne Rowe should figure prominently into the mix in the frontcourt. Two freshman, Ross and freshman Emilia Dannebauer, will supply depth.

As for the minutes vacated by White, Aston is looking at using Love, De Leon Negron and Guttadauro either as point guards or shooting guards. Any one of the three, paired with Proctor, an explosive shooting guard, should give the Roadrunners a dynamic backcourt.

“I think what we have added is going to work in our favor,” Jenkins said.

The difference in UTSA from last year to this year may be in style. Last year, the Roadrunners sometimes got bogged down into slower-paced games, scoring in the 50s and 60s. Players have talked about an emphasis on playing faster to take advantage of the team’s speed.

“There’s a lot of good teams out there,” Love said. “Good teams look different. I feel like, last year, we had a good team. Kyra White, key players like her, of course they’re missed. But this year we have a chance to do something like make some noise in the American conference with the new additions to our team.

“Everybody adds,” Love said. “They don’t take away from the team. I think it’ll be interesting for the people to see.”

Notable

Rowdy Jam, marking the tip-off to the 2024-25 UTSA men’s and women’s basketball seasons, is set for Wednesday at the Convocation Center. Start time is 7 p.m., and admission is free.

The event will feature free pizza for UTSA students, an introduction to the players and coaches on the men’s and women’s basketball teams, and interactive games involving players and UTSA students in attendance.

The UTSA women play an exhibition on Nov. 1 at home against San Antonio’s St. Mary’s University, a Division II program. They’ll open the regular season on Nov. 7 at Texas A&M, a power-conference program from the Southeastern Conference. The Roadrunners will return home on Nov. 9 to face the UT Rio Grande Vaqueros.

Hot-shooting USC rolls in the second half to rout UTSA, 84-63

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Forward Saint Thomas hit seven of eight from the field and scored 21 points Tuesday night as the Southern California Trojans pulled away late for an easy 84-63 victory over the UTSA Roadrunners.

In the exhibition opener for both teams, played at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, the Trojans outscored the Roadrunners 49-31 in the second half to spoil the debut of UTSA coach Austin Claunch.

The Roadrunners played well for a good portion of the first half, going on a run at the end to pull within 35-32 at intermission.

After the break, the Trojans hit 17 of 27 from the field for 63 percent to win in the debut of first-year USC coach Eric Musselman.

Thomas, a transfer from Northern Colorado, shook off a blow to the head in the first half to spark the Trojans. In the opening minutes of the second half, he hit a jumper, a dunk and a three in the first four minutes. His triple from the corner pushed the USC lead to 46-34 with 16:02 remaining.

In response, UTSA guard Primo Spears started to heat up, sparking a 13-3 run with seven points. A stop-and-pop from 13 feet pulled the Roadrunners to within 53-49 with 12:13 remaining.

From there, USC started its roll, going off on an 11-0 run over a four-minute span, fueled by guard Desmond Claude and Thomas. It was Thomas who hit two free throws for a 64-49 lead, and USC kept up the pressure the rest of the way, never allowing UTSA to pull within 10 in the last eight minutes.

For the Roadrunners, Spears led the team in scoring with 14 points. The Florida State transfer finished five of 16 from the field. Guard Marcus “Smurf” Millender added 12 points and center Mo Njie 10.

Halftime

Despite missing eight of their first 11 shot attempts, the UTSA Roadrunners kept playing hard. In the end, Damari Monsanto nailed two three-pointers in the final minute of the half, bringing the Roadrunners to within three. USC escaped with a 35-32 lead at intermission.

Forward Saint Thomas led eight USC players in the scoring column with six points. The Trojans were 11 of 24 from the field and two of nine from three. At the free throw line, they hit 11 of 12.

Guard Marcus Millender led the Roadrunners with eight points and three assists. UTSA finished the half 13 of 31 from the floor and three of 12 from three. Monsanto, for his part, made two of four from long distance. The Roadrunners hit three of six at the line.

UTSA set to play USC in men’s basketball exhibition

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The UTSA Roadrunners are set to open the Austin Claunch era tonight in Los Angeles in an exhibition against the University of Southern California Trojans. Game time from the Galen Center is at 9 p.m.

The first game with the 34-year-old Claunch on the sidelines for the Roadrunners’ men’s basketball team will be aired on the Big Ten Network’s streaming platform, known as BIG+.

Southern Cal is also raising the curtain on a new start. It’s the first game at USC for coach Eric Musselman, who most recently worked the past five seasons at the University of Arkansas. Musselman has led teams to six NCAA tournaments in his career, three at Nevada and three at Arkansas.

He led the Razorbacks into the NCAA’s Elite Eight in 2021 and 2022 and to the Sweet 16 in 2023.

Claunch, who was hired by UTSA in March, finished out his job as an assistant at the University of Alabama through early April. The Crimson Tide, under head coach Nate Oats, made it all the way through the NCAA tournament to the Final Four during that time.

At that point, Claunch reported to San Antonio and started to rebuild a Roadrunners program that has suffered through three straight seasons of more than 20 losses. Over the next month or so he hired a staff and then signed 12 players from the transfer portal.

“Obviously we’re fired up,” the coach said Monday from the American Athletic Conference media day. “We really like this group. It’s a really competitive group. They’ve been working their butts off.

“Excited even for these exhibitions and scrimmages that we have coming up, just to see somebody else and see where we’re at and where we need to get better.

“It’s not even right around the corner. It’s here. Three weeks out from our first regular-season tipoff. So, we’re excited. We got a lot of work to do. But we like where we’re at.”

In recent weeks, the Roadrunners have brandished a physical style and a fast pace during practices at home in the Convocation Center.

Team leaders Primo Spears and Raekwon Horton traveled to the AAC media day and introduced themselves as first-year Roadrunners.

“We’ve been competing against one another for four months,” said Spears, a Florida State transfer, “so it’s going to be great to compete against somebody else, just to see what lineups fit and really, just assessing what we have…Finally get to play with some fans in the arena.”

Horton came to UTSA from James Madison. His hometown is in Santee, S.C. The 6-foot-6 wing played in NCAA tournaments each of the past two seasons, at the College of Charleston in 2023 and for a 32-win James Madison team last year.

“We’re going to play fast (and) get up and down,” Horton said. “But what I like most about our team is that we’re real tough, very competitive and won’t back down.”

Coming up

Tonight: Men’s basketball exhibition, UTSA at Southern Cal, 9 p.m.
Wednesday: Rowdy Jam, UTSA men’s and women’s basketball teams introduced to the fans, at the Convocation Center, 7 p.m.

Spears, Horton uphold the ‘standards’ for UTSA’s revamped basketball program

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Guard Primo Spears has played at Duquesne, Georgetown and Florida State in his NCAA Division I basketball journey. The 6-3 guard will suit up for the UTSA Roadrunners this season.

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Florida State transfer Primo Spears was one of the first players to commit to the UTSA Roadrunners last spring. He was one of the first to arrive on campus earlier this summer. In the four or five practices I’ve seen since September, Spears has clearly emerged as one of the team leaders.

Raekwon Horton. The UTSA men's basketball team on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - photo by Joe Alexander

James Madison transfer Raekwon Horton brings high-level experience after playing in the NCAA tournament the past two seasons.. – File photo by Joe Alexander

First-year Austin Claunch has said it time and again. Spears, a 6-3 guard, is expected to lead UTSA defensively and, really, in much of everything it does this season. That’s why a question posed to Claunch on ESPN+ at the American Athletic Conference media day Monday was significant as I sat here in my living room, trying to sort things out a little more than two weeks shy of opening night.

The question: “Coach, when you went out recruiting (Primo Spears), why did he have to be on this year’s team?”

The answer: “I think, obviously, you watch film and his talent jumps off the page. But what’s been really encouraging for me is just his leadership and the way he carries himself every single day. He wants more accountability. Really, both these guys.”

Attending the event in Irving, for UTSA, were Spears and James Madison transfer Raekwon Horton.

“For us, for a first-year head coach, you certainly want an expectation,” Claunch continued. “(You want) your standard (to be) … to win every game. You want to win the championship every year. But it’s really important that we get a certain kind of person in (our) locker room … (Primo) holds himself to the highest standard, and Rae is the same way.

“That’s why I’m really encouraged by this year and what we’re going to do.”

The Roadrunners enter the 2024-25 season with their own fans likely viewing every positive media report with a grain of salt.

New UTSA men's basketball coach Austin Claunch was at the Roadrunners softball game on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at Roadrunner Field to throw out the first pitch. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA men’s basketball coach won 90 games and two regular-season championships at Nicholls State University. – File photo by Joe Alexander

The fans, after all, have witnessed three straight discouraging losing seasons under the previous coaching staff. Three straight seasons with more than 20 losses. Following the past two seasons, UTSA fans have watched an exodus of most of the scholarship players leaving the program for better on-the-court situations as well as better NIL financial arrangements.

With Claunch coming in to replace Steve Henson as coach, the Roadrunners last spring had 12 scholarship players take their chances elsewhere. Guard Naz Mahmoud was the only player from the previous regime to return. Claunch, hired in March, wasn’t able to devote his time fully to the new job until he finished his old job.

As an assistant coach at Alabama, he rode the wave, all the way to the NCAA Final Four.

“Coach (Nate Oats) was super excited for me,” Claunch said. “I told (UTSA) it was really important for me to finish what we were doing at Alabama. You know, I owe coach so much for the opportunity, and it meant a lot. You know, it was my first time in the NCAA tournament. I wanted to finish it the right way.

“Of course, (we had) an incredible run for a couple of weeks. To finish it at the Final Four was certainly special. I want to be able to replicate that experience with these guys. The NCAA tournament is a special thing. I want our guys to ultimately experience that same thing.”

Claunch, 34, who grew up in Houston, finally arrived in San Antonio in April. All of a sudden, he was hit with a wave of tasks. Doing an introductory news conference. Hiring a coach staff. Getting on the phone and then talking athletes into visiting the campus.

“Yeah, we were certainly drinking out of the fire hose for a little bit,” he said of his first few weeks on the job. “But, I was really lucky. I brought in some guys who had worked for me at Nicholls (State). Whether it’s a (coaching) staff or a team, you want to surround yourself with guys you trust and people that value the things you value. And I felt we did that. Our staff did an incredible job.

Added Claunch: “I’m excited about where we are and the people we have in our locker room.”

Spears, who grew up in Connecticut, said it was important for him to find the right fit after he entered the transfer portal.

“(Coach Claunch) is one of the youngest coaches in the country,” he said. “He’s hungry. He’s gritty.” Added Horton, a 6-foot-6 wing player and a South Carolina native: “For me it was coach, and the community, as well.”

Horton has played in the NCAA tournament in each of the past two seasons, in 2022-23 with the College of Charleston and last season with James Madison.

“Me and my teammates, we talk about March Madness,” he said. “I told ’em, like, what it felt like. How special it could be. I told ’em the work it would take to get there. So we’re just locked in and focused on that.”

Realistically, it’s the longest of long shots that Horton will hit the jackpot and play in an NCAA tournament for the third year in a row with a third different team.

At the same time, the UTSA players didn’t like the idea that the AAC coaches picked them to finish tied for 11th in a 13-team conference.

Horton isn’t making any bold proclamations, saying only that he expects a “gritty” effort from the Roadrunners.

“We’re looking to change how it was from last year,” he said.

Claunch said the Roadrunners will be “process-oriented” in his first season at the helm.

“It’s not just about, do we win or lose the game,” he said. “We’re trying to build something special. Something that’s bigger than any of us. More important than the result, every single day, is who we are and the program we’re building.”

Notable

UTSA will play an exhibition game against Southern Cal on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Upcoming, the Roadrunners are expected to take on the McNeese State Cowboys in a closed scrimmage.

They’ll open the regular season with two home games, with the opener set for Nov. 4 against Division III Trinity University of San Antonio, followed by a Nov. 9 meeting against North Dakota. UTSA will play on the road at Bradley University on Nov. 12, then will return home to face Little Rock (Ark.) on Nov. 16.

Two of UTSA’s better non-conference games will be at Saint Mary’s, Calif., on Dec. 3, followed by a game at Arkansas on Dec. 7. Saint Mary’s is one of the favorites in the West Coast Conference. Arkansas is expected to contend under first-year coach John Calipari, who has led UMass, Memphis and Kentucky to the Final Four.

The Roadrunners open conference play on Jan. 4 at Tulane. UTSA’s first conference home game is set for Jan. 7 against Tulsa. Last year, the Roadrunners finished 11-21 overall and 5-13 in the AAC. Henson was fired following a first-round AAC tournament loss to Temple.

Predicted order of finish in the AAC men’s basketball race, according to the coaches’ poll, with first-place votes in parentheses and total points:

1 UAB (9) 141
2 Memphis (4) 136
3 South Florida 108
4 Wichita State 102
5 Florida Atlantic 97
6 Temple 86
7 North Texas 83
8 Charlotte 65
9 East Carolina 63
10 Tulsa 44
11 UTSA 35
Tulane 35
13 Rice 18

AAC preseason honors:

Player of the Year
Yaxel Lendeborg, Sr., F, UAB

Freshman of the Year
Jared Harris, G, Memphis

All conference first team
Yaxel Lendeborg, Sr., F, UAB*
RJ Felton, Sr., G, East Carolina
PJ Haggerty, R-So., G, Memphis
Tyrese Hunter, Sr., G, Memphis
Jamal Mashburn Jr., Gr., G, Temple

All conference second team
Efrem ‘Butta’ Johnson, Jr., G, UAB
Alejandro Vasquez, Sr., G, UAB
KyKy Tandy, Gr., G, Florida Atlantic
Colby Rogers, R-Sr., G, Memphis
Jayden Reid, So., G, South Florida
* denotes unanimous selection

AAC head coaches

Years at their respective schools
Starting first year: Austin Claunch, UTSA; Rob Lanier, Rice; John Jakus, Florida Atlantic.
Second year: Amir Abdur-Rahim, South Florida; Ross Hodge, North Texas; Aaron Fearne, Charlotte; Adam Fisher, Temple; Paul Mills, Wichita State.
Third year: Eric Konkol, Tulsa; Michael Schwartz, East Carolina.
Fifth year: Andy Kennedy, UAB.
Sixth year: Ron Hunter, Tulane.
Seventh year: Penny Hardaway, Memphis.

AAC in the 2024 NCAA men’s tournament
Recap
UAB Blazers — No. 12 seed UAB, an automatic qualifier as the AAC tournament champion, lost to the No. 5 San Diego State Aztecs 69-65 in the Round of 64.
Florida Atlantic Owls — No. 8 seed FAU, an at-large selection, lost to the No. 9 University of Northwestern Wildcats 77-65 in overtime in the Round of 64.

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Re-arranging the furniture: UTSA men’s hoops practice gets rowdy

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Tai'Reon. The UTSA men's basketball team on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - File photo by Joe Alexander

Guard Tai’Reon Joseph and the UTSA Roadrunners will get tested in an exhibition game Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Southern California Trojans. – File photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Coach Austin Claunch has conducted some rigorous, bump-and-grind type of practices in his first preseason camp with the UTSA Roadrunners.

But from the four or five workouts that I’ve seen since the start of the fall semester, Friday’s may have been the most physical yet.

Damari Monsanto. The UTSA men's basketball team on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - photo by Joe Alexander

Wake Forest transfer Damari Monsanto heated up and hit four long-range shots — three from 3-point territory — toward the end of practice. – Photo by Joe Alexander

The get-after-it tone may have been set in the opening minutes as a few of the coaches took the challenge and ran wind sprints with the players. Even the 34-year-old Claunch put his head down and churned out a couple.

Hey, nobody wants to get beat by the old coach, right?

As the basketball phase of the workout commenced, I noticed the noise level in the Convocation Center. It was loud and getting louder. I swear, by the time they started the four-on-four, followed by five-on-five, the players’ voices — the barking of encouragement to one another — echoed into the rafters.

When the halfcourt scrimmaging started, bodies started flying. Once or twice, they tumbled into chairs on the side. One was flattened, others knocked askew. On one play, a loose ball resulted in players diving on the floor, out of bounds, behind the baseline.

On another, two players — Raekwon Horton and Jonnivius Smith — chased down a long rebound and seemed to careen off one another, off the end of the court and nearly out into the north concourse.

Defense definitely was the order of the day, but moments of offensive artistry also emerged. Tai’Reon Joseph, with a quick first step, slashed for layups. Primo Spears darted into the paint and popped some mid-range jumpers. Naz Mahmoud and Damari Monsanto rained threes.

For Mahmoud, it was one of the better workouts I’ve seen from him in a little more than a year. Not only did the sophomore from Leander consistently make triples out of the corner, he also scored off the bounce a few times, taking it all the way to the rim in traffic on one move.

The 6-foot-6 Monsanto was as good as I’ve seen him since I started attending drills early last month. Getting more and more fit as the fall practices have progressed, the Wake Forest transfer had a big day, raining in four straight jumpers at one point. Three were from beyond the three-point arc. Another came from about 17 feet out of the corner.

“Today, we really needed to get after it,” Claunch said. “Just be physical. Guard each other. Put these guys in some adversity, and I thought they responded.”

AAC media days

The Roadrunners’ men’s and women’s basketball teams will attend media days in the Dallas area this weekend. Representing the men will be Claunch, Primo Spears and Raekwon Horton. For the women, Coach Karen Aston will be joined by Jordyn Jenkins and Sidney Love.

Preseason polls

With the Roadrunners women picked to finish fifth in the AAC regular season, Jenkins was honored as a preseason all-conference first team selection. The UTSA men have been picked to finish tied for 11th out of 13.

California dreaming

Next up for the UTSA men is an exhibition game set for Tuesday night at Southern California, a power conference opponent previously from the Pac-12, now in the Big Ten. The game will be aired on Big Ten Network and streamed via B1G+. Tipoff at the Galen Center is at 9 p.m. central.

“It’s going to be awesome,” Claunch said. “We have a group that wants those matchups and those expectations, to go in and win those games. Obviously we’re a long way away from where we need to be. But, at the end of the day, we want to play the best in the country, and, like you say, USC has a great brand.”

The Trojans are coached by Eric Musselman, in his first year with the program after spending the past five seasons with the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Though the game is an exhibition and won’t count on either team’s record, it’s a fact that UTSA hasn’t had much success against power conference programs. The Roadrunners haven’t won a game against a team from one of the major revenue-producing conferences since they beat the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2009.

Coming together

Despite the results of the AAC polls, UTSA guard Marcus Millender expressed optimism that the Roadrunners could have a “breakout” season.

“I feel like this team is one of a kind,” Millender said. “I feel like this is going to be one of them breakout years, and everybody after this year is going to remember UTSA. We’re going to put UTSA on the map this year. From Day 1, I just feel like all the guys have bought in.

“Getting everyone together, trying to get everyone on the right page, I just feel like this is going to be one of those years, for sure.”

Millender said he didn’t think his teammates paid much attention to the AAC poll.

“That’s the good thing about our group of guys,” he said. “I mean, me personally, I’ve been an underdog my whole life. I’m just going to put my head down and keep working. I’m pretty sure all the other guys will, too.”

Jordyn Jenkins named first-team all conference in AAC preseason honors

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Jordyn Jenkins. UTSA beat Northern Colorado 80-62 in the first round of the WNIT on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Jordyn Jenkins averaged 17.1 points on 47.9 percent shooting in 12 games last season. She sat out most of the season while recovering from knee surgery. – File photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

UTSA forward Jordyn Jenkins has been named as a first-team all conference selection in the American Athletic Conference’s preseason honors for women’s basketball announced Friday.

Jenkins and the Roadrunners are pegged for a fifth-place finish out of 13 teams in the AAC championship race.

On the men’s side, UTSA has been picked to finish tied for 11th out of 13 leading into Austin Claunch’s first season as head coach.

Jenkins, from Kent, Wash., arrived at UTSA in the summer of 2022 after being selected first-team all conference in the Pac 12 at Southern California.

She immediately made an impact for the Roadrunners, averaging 20.6 points in the 2022-23 season and claiming Conference USA Player of the Year honors.

UTSA’s Guttadauro shines in preseason work after a soul-searching sophomore year

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Siena Guttadauro. UTSA women's basketball at the Convocation Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander

Junior guard Siena Guttadauro figures to play a prominent role on the team this season following a disappointing season in which she averaged only 2.9 points and was benched for much of January and February. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

UTSA guard Siena Guttadauro says she never lost confidence in herself last January and February when she fell out of favor with her coaches and dropped out of the playing rotation. But with her banishment to the end of the bench, she acknowledged that it did hurt her pride.

“Oh yeah, it hurt,” the Roadrunners’ three-point sharp shooter said. “Because I knew I could play and help the team.”

By March, Guttadauro had come to terms with the reality of the situation. She wasn’t playing much for a variety of reasons, but mainly because she wasn’t living up to her end of the deal with Head Coach Karen Aston.

Karen Aston. UTSA women's basketball at the Convocation Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA women’s basketball coach Karen Aston says if the season started today, Siena Guttadauro would be in at least the top seven of her playing rotation. – File photo by Joe Alexander

Now that the air has been cleared between the two parties, so to speak, all is well leading into the feisty 5-foot-6 guard’s third season with the Roadrunners.

Things are so good for Guttadauro, in fact, the native Californian has already worked her way into the discussion for a healthy expansion of her role.

She was one of the best players on the floor Monday afternoon during the Roadrunners’ first official preseason workout, burying at least 3 three-point baskets, all while running the offense and pushing the pace as a point guard.

Guttadauro and newcomer Nina De Leon Negron were both playing the point as returning starter Sidney Love nursed what was termed as a “minor” setback.

“(Siena) makes some really good decisions, and then there are times that she gets a little carried away with trying to make a play instead of just getting us in the flow,” Aston said. “But she’s definitely improved in that area. I’m comfortable with her in the game, period. If we had to play a game today, she’d have to be right up there with the top six or seven.”

The season starts in a little less than a month. After a Nov. 1 home exhibition against the St. Mary’s Rattlers, the Roadrunners open the regular season Nov. 7 at Texas A&M.

After Monday’s workout, Guttadauro discussed an array of subjects, including her feelings that UTSA can win 20 games this season.

She also expressed an interesting take on why she never lost confidence in herself last year after sitting out seven games in a 13-game stretch from Jan. 6 through Feb. 25.

Nina De Leon Negron. UTSA women's basketball at the Convocation Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander

Incarnate Word transfer Nina De Leon Negron is also expected to play point guard in the wake of Kyra White’s departure. White is playing professionally in Ireland. – Photo by Joe Alexander

“Like, me personally, I’m a hooper,” Guttadauro said “I just love to hoop. I just want to get on the court. I want to play. I want to do all these things. But, like, when you get to college basketball, one thing that coach emphasizes, and why our team is so good, is that it’s not just about basketball. It’s about (things) outside basketball.”

Specifically, she mentioned that “turning assignments in on time” and “turning paperwork in on time” in the classroom became a problem for her, and that coaches were sending her a message to rectify the situation.

“I was immature,” Guttadauro said. “I was irresponsible. You know what I’m saying? I didn’t have my stuff together as much (as I should have).”

Fortunately for the Roadrunners, she got her stuff together just in time for the team’s final road trip of the season. On March 2, the former high school standout from San Jose, Calif., knocked down four 3-pointers in UTSA’s 68-61 victory at Wichita State.

Her redemption tour continued at the American Athletic Conference tournament, where she hit two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of a 58-56 win over South Florida in the quarterfinals. Guttadauro enjoyed another solid game off the bench on March 24 in the second round of the WNIT.

She contributed five points, five rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes of a season-ending loss to the Wyoming Cowgirls.

“Somewhere at the end of conference play – Wichita State, yes – I feel like at that point she was in the rotation,” Aston said. “Once she got herself in it, she never was taken out of it, to be honest with you, and I think that jump-started her spring and her summer.”

By July, Aston was marveling about how her rising junior guard had changed.

“She has dramatically improved,” the coach said. “Improve might even be the wrong word. She has dramatically matured … and I’m really proud of her because a lot of players would have checked out. You know, they would have gone some place else to see if there was going to be a better situation. But she stuck it out, and now she’s kind of over the hump.”

Nyayongah Gony. UTSA women's basketball at the Convocation Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander

Six-foot-four Mississippi State transfer Nyayongah Gony is regarded as a shot blocker and a rebounder who can also run the floor in transition. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Guttadauro said she never considered transferring.

“I love what (the coach) is doing,” Guttadauro said. “Everything she does, there’s a reason behind it. She’s a high-caliber coach with a high-caliber staff. Why would I leave? I have a goal to play overseas (after graduation). Why would I risk that? Like I say, there’s a reason why everyone’s staying.

“Like, why have we had the same team for the last two years? The last three years now. You know why. It’s because people love what she’s doing. I want to be a part of it. For sure.”

Guttadauro seemed to spark a flurry of aggressive play during Monday’s workout.

During full court five-on-five, she started her shooting binge with a triple from the top of the circle after a play in the paint broke down. A few possessions later, De Leon Negron came down on the dribble and fired a one-handed pass cross court to Aysia Proctor, who caught it and knocked down a corner trey.

The flow continued when Maya Linton kicked a pass out to Guttadauro, who drilled another shot from beyond the arc.

“You know, it’s been my position my whole life,” she said of playing the point. “The last two years is the only time I haven’t been a point guard. To be honest, it’s only because Sid is out. I just wanted to step up and play (it) so coach trusts me at that position.

Mia Hammonds. UTSA women's basketball at the Convocation Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander

Six-foot-three freshman guard Mia Hammonds from Steele High School was regarded as one of the best players in the San Antonio area last season. – Photo by Joe Alexander

“It’s been fun. It’s been cool. I do miss my two spot. I’m excited for Sid to come back, for sure. It’s a lot of responsibility.”

The UTSA women will have a hard act to follow after last year’s team finished 18-15 with the program’s first trip to a national postseason tournament in 15 years.

Even though they’ll miss point guard Kyra White, who is playing pro ball in Ireland, and center Elyssa Coleman, who has medically retired, the Roadrunners showed off impressive athleticism all over the floor in their first official workout of the fall.

“I’ve been feeling really good,” Guttadauro said. “Been really excited to be in the gym a lot. So I’m just really excited for the year, for the team we have. The potential we have and how young we are. I mean, this is going to be really a fun year.

“We have people (the last couple of years) that haven’t been able to show what they can do. So this year, I’m excited for that, me personally and for the team, for sure.”

Notable

Both forward Jordyn Jenkins and guard Sidney Love had a “minor setback” a couple of weeks ago and were limited in Monday’s practice, UTSA coach Karen Aston said. “So they’re easing back into it,” the coach said. “They’ve got a lot of experience, and it’s OK to give others reps and let them ease into it. They’re good. We’re just easing them back from a couple of minor setbacks.”

UTSA men to play an exhibition at Southern Cal on Oct. 15

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Coach Austin Claunch and the UTSA Roadrunners will play an exhibition game at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles on Oct. 15, the schools announced Sunday.

For both Claunch and USC’s Eric Musselman, the exhibition will mark a new beginning in their coaching careers, as they will represent their respective schools in front of fans for the first time. The game will be streamed live via the Big Ten Network on B1G+.

Tipoff at the Galen Center is scheduled for 9 p.m. central time.

Austin Claunch. The UTSA men's basketball team on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA coach Austin Claunch will lead his team into Los Angeles on Oct. 15 for an exhibition against the University of Southern California Trojans. – File photo by Joe Alexander

Claunch is in his first season at UTSA after spending a year as an assistant at the University of Alabama and, previously, for five seasons as head coach at Nicholls State. Musselman has worked as a head coach at the highest level of college basketball for nine years, including four at Nevada and the last five at Arkansas.

Musselman’s teams made three NCAA tournaments at Nevada and three more Arkansas. Coaching at Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference, his Razorbacks reached the NCAA round of eight in both 2021 and 2022 and the round of 16 in 2023.

After years in the Pac 12 conference, Southern Cal is entering its first season of basketball in the Big Ten. As such, the game will be streamed live via the Big Ten Network.

For Roadrunners’ fans hoping to attend the game in Los Angeles, ticketing information will be posted on the UTSA men’s basketball schedule page as it becomes available.

UTSA last played at USC in December of 1983. In the Roadrunners’ third year of basketball, they lost 84-68 in what has been their one and only meeting with the Trojans.

‘Smurf’ stands tall in early UTSA fall camp basketball practices

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Marcus Millender. The UTSA men's basketball team on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - photo by Joe Alexander

Marcus ‘Smurf’ Millender played 32 games and averaged 9.7 points as a freshman last year at South Alabama. He also shot 42.3 percent from the three-point arc for the Jaguars of the Sun Belt Conference. – Photo by Joe Alexander


By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

What UTSA point guard Marcus Millender may lack in size, he seems to more than make up for it with a variety of enticing skills.

He runs the offense well when called on to do so. He shoots it with confidence from the perimeter, sometimes well beyond the three-point arc, and he just brings a consistent effort to practice each and every time the Roadrunners hit the floor at the Convocation Center.

At least, that’s been my observation in three or four practices that I’ve seen in fall camp workouts.

“He’s had consistent practices because he’s a consistent worker,” first-year UTSA coach Austin Claunch said after Friday’s session at the Convocation Center. “There he is. He’s shooting right now after practice. He’s somebody that really fits our style of play. Then on top of that, he’s a relentless worker.”

On a day that happened to be exactly one month before the team opens the season on Nov. 4 against Trinity, Millender dug into his bag of tricks.

Austin Claunch. The UTSA men's basketball team on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - photo by Joe Alexander

Coach Austin Claunch says the Roadrunners have made good progress in the past week despite minor injuries to two of their best athletes. – photo by Joe Alexander

First, he drove into the paint, drew a defender, and then wrapped a pass around him to a teammate for a layup. Millender also knocked down three-balls in shooting drills and added one long one during half-court, five-on-five.

Never mind that his nickname is “Smurf.” Defenders seem to have a hard time stopping him because of his versatility.

Last season, the 5-foot-11 Millender averaged 9.7 points, 3.3 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 32 games for the South Alabama Jaguars. He knocked down 32 of 73 shots from the arc for 42.3 percent.

On April 26, Millender entered the NCAA transfer portal. The former standout at Houston Legacy High School wanted a new start under Claunch, who at the time had just arrived on the UTSA campus.

“He shows up every single day with the right mentality,” the coach said. “Great attitude. Obviously, he’s playing at a really high level right now.”

Working around injuries

A few injuries have cropped up in the past week. Point guard Primo Spears and guard-forward Sky Wicks were in walking boots and didn’t practice Friday.

Still, Claunch said he’s pleased after a little more than a week of the official fall camp. “It was a good week,” Claunch said. “On the offensive side of the ball, (we’re) just doing simple things better. Valuing the ball. Not turning it over. Passing and catching better. Creating better shots against different types of ball-screen coverages. You know, we’re banged up a little bit. Nothing major. It’s kinda that time of year.”

Claunch decided to hit the pause button on holding any scrimmages until Spears and Wicks, both expected to be key players for the Roadrunners, can return to form. “We wanted to get everybody 100 percent before we headed into some important scrimmages over the next few weeks,” he said.

Stepping up intensity

Small forward Damari Monsanto and point guard Paul Lewis were much more involved in Friday’s practice than they were this time a week ago.

Damari Monsanto. The UTSA men's basketball team on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - photo by Joe Alexander

Wake Forest transfer Damari Monsanto was one of the top three-point shooters in the ACC two years ago. – Photo by Joe Alexander

“Damari’s really starting to get himself back into shape,” Claunch said. “He’s not where he needs to be, but he’s miles ahead of where he was when he got here. And because of that, he’s playing better.”

In three previous seasons at Wake Forest, Monsanto has suffered two serious injuries, including a torn Achilles and a knee injury. Two years ago, after returning from the Achilles problem, he broke out as one of the top long-distance shooters in the Atlantic Coast Conference. But after going down with the knee problem, he sat out for a year before returning to play in a limited role at the end of last season.

“He’s obviously an elite shooter,” Claunch said. “He’s a really underrated passer. Got an incredible basketball IQ and just knows how to play.”

Paul Lewis. The UTSA men's basketball team on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - photo by Joe Alexander

Virginia native Paul Lewis played 31 games last season at Vanderbilt in the Southeastern Conference. Photo by Joe Alexander

Lewis, a transfer from Vanderbilt, has been slowed at UTSA with a foot injury.

“He looks great,” Claunch said. “He’s had two really, really good days. This is a long season, and it’s really good to have another ball handler. It was good to have him back out here. Got to keep him healthy.”

Notable

The NCAA announced on Wednesday that San Antonio will be the site for two major Division I events — the 2026 Women’s Volleyball Championship and a 2027 NCAA Basketball Regional. San Antonio has previously hosted two NCAA Volleyball Championships (in 2005 and 2011) and 11 men’s basketball regionals. The volleyball championship will be held in the Alamodome and the regional will be held in the Frost Bank Center.

The announcement comes as the San Antonio Local Organizing Committee (SALOC) prepares to host the 2025 Men’s Basketball Final Four in the Alamodome April 5 and 7. SALOC, which is a partnership between UTSA, the City of San Antonio, Visit San Antonio and San Antonio Sports, has hosted events that have generated hundreds of millions of dollars for the local economy.