By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay
The I-35 rivalry in men’s basketball between the UTSA Roadrunners and the Texas State Bobcats will resume Wednesday night in San Marcos.
UTSA coach Austin Claunch said he believes his team has the capability to ‘get hot,’ hopefully by Wednesday night in San Marcos against Texas State. – File photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA holds a 37-26 lead in the series that dates back to 1985. The Bobcats won the last meeting in 2023, but the Roadrunners have won six of the last nine.
This year will mark a new era in the rivalry, of sorts, with second-year UTSA coach Austin Claunch at the helm, going into his first meeting against Texas State in the series.
Texas State is under the direction of Coach Terrence Johnson, in his sixth season with the Bobcats.
In the early days of the new year, both teams have shown flashes of promising play but neither has won a game against NCAA Division I competition.
The Bobcats (1-2) are coming off a 79-71 loss on Saturday against the Tulane Green Wave in New Orleans, while the Roadrunners (1-1) dropped a 77-60 decision at home on Friday to the SIU Edwardsville Cougars.
Coming up
UTSA at Texas State, tonight at 7
UTSA at Denver, Saturday at 1 p.m.
Records
Texas State 1-2
UTSA 1-1
Notable
Claunch said during his Monday news conference that guard Vasean Allette, a transfer from TCU who is considered UTSA’s top offseason pickup out of the transfer portal, is “day to day.”
“He’ll be in a ‘Runners uniform soon enough,” Claunch said.
Allette last played before UTSA fans on Oct. 25 when he passed for six assists in an exhibition game against Incarnate Word.
“He’ll be back with us,” Claunch said last Friday, following a 77-60 loss at home to SIU Edwardsville. “Just finishing up some things with him personally, sickness and health and some other things. Yeah, you’ll see him back in the fold.”
Coming off last year’s 12-19 season, UTSA fans are in sort of a wait-and-see mode on how much they believe in this year’s team.
Edwardsville coach Brian Barone said after Friday’s game that he feels like the Roadrunners will have a good team. Claunch told reporters Monday that he also has high hopes.
At the moment, though, the guard rotation seems to be in flux.
“You know, with the guards, often times it’s … who can make their first couple,” the coach said. “That’s just, sort of, the reality. I’ve got to do a better job of getting guys in rhythm, especially early on in the year.”
Despite the inconsistencies, Claunch said he thinks the team will come around because the players are working hard and are adaptable to whatever they’re asked to do.
“We’ve said it earlier,” he said, “we’ve got three freshman who are starting. We’re playing a lot of guys with multiple years (of experience). This team is going to get hot, hopefully starting Wednesday.
“I’m really excited about this group as a whole, and I’m excited for UTSA to see it. I know we’re still at the very beginning of the basketball season … The guys love UTSA. They’re unselfish.
“And now it’s time for us and them to turn it up a little bit. Now we got to produce some wins.”