ODESSA, TX (KWES) - Last week the UTPB Falcons had their historic season come to an end in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II Tournament. In the last two seasons, combined the Falcons record was 52-13. Last year, they won the Lone Star Conference and this year recorded the first two wins in school history in an NCAA Tournament. With all this success, Coach Andy Newman believes this team put U.T.P.B. basketball back on the map.
"Three years ago, when I was recruiting, UTPB was a mouth full. University of Texas of the Permian Basin, you could barely get it out before the kid was like I've never heard of you and he's off the phone. Now people know. We're on the scene now. If you say UTPB in the men's basketball world people say, 'Oh yeah that's a good program that's had success'. Recruiting has gotten a lot easier. Doors are open to a lot of players and coaches that weren't open three years ago. From that standpoint recruiting has gotten a lot easier and the talent coming behind it. We can show pictures now of a full gymnasium and show them Daeshon Francis is now a two-time regional player of the year. The successes we've had now validates how really what this school is about and how cool this town is. Now kids are going to want to come," said Andy Newman.
Coach Newman is excited to see where this program is headed and is looking forward to next season.
