The Season that Counts, Men's Version

This year's version of the UT Arlington men's team has had the best start to a season since 2017/18 when they had an equal 8-4 start en route to a 21-win season. I don't know what fortunes this year holds, but it has been a pleasure to watch the non-conference season.

The last Maverick Rambler post was just two games prior to the completion of the non-conference schedule and the results went the way my optimism was hoping.

UTA's lone-Power Conference game was in California against Stanford. UTA hit a cold streak in the first half while the Cardinal did not en route to a 25-40 Maverick deficit. UTA played toe-to-toe and was on the verge of getting the score within single digits on more than one occasion in the second half, but ultimately it was a 76-60 loss. UTA kept its fairly strong three-point defense going, allowing only five of 16 shooting for Stanford beyond the arc. Conversely, UTA was porous in the paint, where Stanford did a lot of damage.

The Season that Counts, Women's Version

Since I've rotated between weekly UT Arlington men's and women's basketball teams, non-conference games come at a sporadic pace, I haven't really covered the Lady Mavericks this month. As we exit the Christmas break, the non-conference portion of both teams schedule has concluded and there's no better time to check in with the UTA women's team.

UTA had just successfully competed in the North Shore Classic, going 2-1 against two P4 teams and an A-10 squad. In that time, they have compiled a respectable 2-2 record, defeating Little Rock in Arkansas, 62-55, losing in Houston to Rice, 75-54, defeating Texas Southern at College Park Center, 81-73 and closed out non-conference in Baton Rouge to the fifth-ranked Louisiana State Tigers, 110-45.

In the wins, UTA beat who they should have with the Trojans 30-40 spots below UTA in the NET ranking while the Tigers are 150 or so. In the losses, there wasn't anything shattering either.

Starting Strong

If you asked the average UT Arlington fan about their expectations for the 2025/26 men's basketball season, I'm not sure there would have been a consistent consensus. I know some eternally optimistic fans who believe every year is UTA's year. Conversely, I've seen the opposite end of the spectrum where some are of the opinion this will be a disaster.

For those in the middle or those like me who give it an honest attempt at as close to an unbiased look as possible, it is difficult. In the portal era where UTA has seen over 80 percent roster turnover in consecutive seasons, having any kind of expectation either way is increasingly less certain than a Las Vegas roulette table. 

This summer, Athletic Director Jon Fagg told me he thought the team had a high ceiling and would get some wins. Well, the early returns show he may have had the best take. To be fair, I don't get to watch practice and see how the new team looks.