When guards Jhivvan Jackson and Keaton Wallace are on the floor, UTSA men’s basketball coach Steve Henson is always comfortable. No matter the opponent or the deficit, the Roadrunners will put up points.  

Last year, the duo of Jackson (22.9 points per game) and Wallace (20.2) formed one of the highest-scoring pairings in the nation. Both return as juniors in 2019 poised to lead an experienced Roadrunners squad to another step forward after last year’s 17-15 mark and second-place tie in Conference USA at 11-7 in league games.  

“It gives us the ability to score in bunches, and also we can be down in a ball game and know that any minute we can come down and get back-to-back-to-back 3s with very little execution, really,” Henson said. “Just those two guys have that terrific talent level and ability to get their own shot, so it’s really good.”  

Both proved to be long-range bombers last year, ranking in the top 10 nationally in 3-pointers per game. Wallace averaged 3.78 per night, with Jackson at 3.59.   

Jackson, 6-foot, is a volume shooter who last season led the nation by taking 40.1 percent of the shots when he was on the court, per KenPom. Henson said the challenge for Jackson this year is to be more efficient, improving on his 38.6 percent shooting from the field and 35.1 percent mark from 3-point range through better shot selection.  

Wallace, 6-foot-3, was the more efficient scorer last season, hitting 42.2 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from beyond the arc. Henson said Wallace has stood out as a vocal leader who is making a greater effort to distribute the ball during fall workouts.  

UTSA also returns starter Byron Frohnen, a versatile 6-foot-6 frontcourt player who led the Roadrunners with 6.8 rebounds per game as a junior last year.  

Rather than look to replace point guard Giovanni de Nicolao directly, UTSA will spread the role between Jackson, Wallace and the rest of the backcourt rotation. Sophomore Adokiye Iyaye, praised by Henson for his ability to make smart, simple plays while Jackson and Wallace handle the bulk of the scoring, will likely inherit most of de Nicolao’s minutes.  

Atem Bior, a 6-foot-7 senior, and Luka Barisic, a 6-foot-10 junior, will play significant roles in a frontcourt that Henson called the deepest he’s had in four years at UTSA. Bior spent more time in the gym this offseason than anyone on the roster, Henson said, after averaging 5.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game as a defensive standout last year.  

Barisic, a newcomer from Highland Community College, is not expected to be a high-volume rebounder but will offer 3-point shooting and reliable passing at center.  

Defensively, Henson said he hopes the Roadrunners have the improved depth and athleticism necessary to play a more aggressive, trapping style that can better complement UTSA’s fast-paced, free-flowing offense. 

Preseason MVP:
Keaton Wallace. An athletic 6-foot-3 guard and UTSA’s best all-around player, Wallace averaged 22.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season while leading the team in blocks (22) and ranking second in assists (76) and steals (42).

Game of the Year:
The season opener Nov. 5 at Oklahoma, as UTSA coach Steve Henson returns to face the team he coached as an assistant from 2011-16.   

Impact-First Year Player:
Luka Barisic