After 9 seasons and 105 wins, East Texas State basketball coach Dennis Vinzant decided to leave Commerce and hand the reigns over to his trusty assistant Darrell Tully. Tully was not just some assistant coach, he was an all time Lion great way before he took the head basketball coaching job. From 1935-1939, Tully was…
Dennis Vinzant’s East Texas State Teachers College Lions were starting making going to Kansas City a habit at the end of the year, and for the 1942 Lions, it was a start of some adversity that would lay the groundwork for the great teams to come in an era with so much uncertainty. After making…
Dennis Vinzant’s name is not usually mentioned in the names of the great Lion Basketball coaches, but for the pre World War II era and the college students that made up the greatest generation, it was Vinzant that steadied so much of the athletic department at East Texas State Teacher’s College during that time frame.…
In these chronicles, or tales, or whatever you wish to call them, some of them are longer than others and back in 1936, close to 90 years ago, it is a given that basketball was much different today than it is now. The game has evolved (and for the worst in the past decade if…
J.V. Sikes is a coaching legend in the annals of East Texas State Lion history. A northeast Texas native from Leonard, Sikes was a 3 sport letterman at Texas A&M University before he got into coaching. In 1929, Sikes left Southeast Texas and came north to coach the freshman at East Texas State Teachers College…
I love two things, history and basketball. I read a lot because in my 38 years it amazes me how things have progressed from the time I was coming home as a newborn from St. Paul’s Medical in Dallas to the current day. How much our society has evolved and changed from 10, 20, 30…
In the great history of Texas A&M-Commerce Men’s Basketball, there has been success on all levels, starting with the NAIB, the NAIA, NCAA Division II, and now the Lions are carving a trail in Division I. The NAIA years were extremely fruitful, but in 1982, the Lions moved to NCAA Division II. This was one…
Well, it is March, which means time for some madness. At least on the conference level. We still have two more full seasons left to play before we can become eligible for the big dance, and hopefully there is massive improvement made in the Men’s program before that happens, but for now, the best the…
I knew I said we were on a break, but seeing all the great Basketball that has been played in the NCAA tournament has Me thinking about hoops a lot lately. In the decade that I have been writing for this site, doing a smattering of things from history, to great stories, to games we…
First off, I apologize for the lack of coverage of the Basketball teams so far this year, as well as our Call The Roll Podcast that has been delayed. Suffice it to say, Russ and I are still learning the ins and outs of how to manage technology, audio recordings, and all that goes with…
As of July 1, we are finally members of NCAA Division I. It has been something that has been imminent for almost a year now, but finally, Texas A&M-Commerce is at the top of the college athletics rung. We are here. Now, I will admit, and actually this was the opinion of the entire staff…
Sometimes older does not necessarily mean worse. Sometimes older is better. We are a society obsessed with youth and the newest things. We all want new. New cars, new houses, new music, new platforms, new technology, new this and new that. However sometimes there is a great value in cherished traditions and institutions. There is…
It was quite a week in Lion Hoops for both Men and Women. Big wins, heartbreaking losses, and everything in between. Let’s take a look. Lion Women- On January 6th, the Lion Women traveled to the South Plains to face West Texas A&M, and had a major letdown against the Lady Buffs. It was a…
Now that I have covered a few things regarding the Lion Women’s Basketball team, it is time for us to look at our Men’s Program. Let’s get to it. First, whenever you think of Lion Basketball, you think of one word….tradition. The banners that hang inside University Fieldhouse tell the story of a program that…
As I write this article, it is hard to believe that yet another college basketball season has come and gone. Thankfully, this one was the bridge to normal given everything that has happened. This past season was a down year for the Lion Men’s program, while the Women continued their sure and steady progress as…
Well, we are back. I never thought that would feel so good to say, but we are. I would hope that most everyone has come out of the past year with a thankfulness of what you have, however mundane it may seem. I know I am. Anyway, let’s get to it. Women’s Basketball- First, my…
Greetings, Lion fans, and the staff here at The Wire wish we had better news. With the announcement yesterday of the cancellation of championships in all fall sports in Division II, the almost certain run that the Lions would have at a national title in 2020 is not to be. Further details have been reported…
Contrary to what some might think or might not even know, Texas A&M-Commerce/East Texas State has a strong tradition in Men’s Basketball, and as many know has had a lot of recent success in Women’s Hoops. This past season saw the largest attended Women’s game in program history as the Lion Women took down defending…
Here is your weekly dose of everything Texas A&M-Commerce related. Women’s Hoops- After winning their Division and winning the regular season Championship, The A&M-Commerce Lion women found themselves in the LSC tournament championship game after defeating St. Mary’s 70-60 in the LSC quarterfinals, defeated Eastern New Mexico in the Semifinals 68-59 to set up a…
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