Dixie State University’s men’s basketball team continues to improve this season with a record of 11-10.
The DSU men’s basketball team defeated both University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Chicago State on Jan. 22 and Jan. 29. These two wins brought the team’s record to 11-10. So far, the team has had more wins this season than the previous season. The 2020-2021 record was 8-13.
Head coach Jon Judkins said, “There’s some games that we lost that we could have or should have won but you’re going to have those, but on the other hand, we have had some games that we should have lost that we won. So far we have won more games this season than we did last year, so that to me is an improvement.”
On Jan. 12, the DSU men’s basketball team played California Baptist. The team was down eight points with 1:33 left and were able to close the deficit.
Brock Gilbert, a junior business management major from Syracuse, said team has many talented players and are all capable of putting up points any night. Gilbert also said the team is unselfish and has the ability to control the game when they play good defense.
In the UTRGV game, four Trailblazers scored in double digits. The team was up 50-33 at half time, and concluded the game with a score of 85-74.
Cameron Gooden, a junior recreation and sports management major from Frisco, Texas, said, “Everybody just looks out for one another, and we hold each other accountable.”
Gooden also said he can tell everybody is in way better sync than last season as well.
Judkins said, “It’s been fun coaching [the team], they are very coachable and they try hard. As a coach, all I can really ask is for them to pay attention and give me everything they have, and these guys have done that.”
The next three games DSU men’s basketball team plays are against Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin and New Mexico State. Gooden said these games are all very winnable.
“We have to come out there and execute the game plan, buy in, and the rest of the season is looking real good,” said Gooden.
Judkins said the team pushes the ball up the court, plays lockdown defense and shares the ball.
“It’s exciting to see that we are getting better, and I think we still have a ways to go, but I see improvement and I’m excited for that,” said Judkins.
DSU men’s basketball continues its season at Sam Houston on Feb. 3.
