With basketball season fast approaching, the men’s team at Salt Lake Community College is gearing up for the 2018-19 season by hosting the annual SLCC Jamboree at Bruin Arena.
The tournament, which begins Oct. 20 at 9 a.m., features 11 teams from the Scenic West Athletic Conference and other neighboring conferences. The tournament allows SLCC to get warm, get out on the court and be competitive before the regular season.
Last season, the Bruins flaunted a 30-3 record, going 12-1 in conference before falling to South Plains Community College, from Texas, in the NJCAA National Tournament.
Coach Todd Phillips is entering his seventh season with the Bruins, and says he’s looking forward to showcasing the hard work his team has put in during the offseason.
“We’ve got a great team this year,” says Phillips, who claims a NJCAA National Championship in 2016. “Winning doesn’t come easy, and we’re a team of hard workers. The work these guys put into practice and in the gym conditioning reflects every time they step on the court.”
With a six-month season full of weekly games and tournaments, a strong work ethic is key. It is also important to start strong, Phillips says, so the team can continue to build winning momentum.
“Coach Phillips’ record speaks for itself,” says Hunter Schofield, a 6-foot-8 sophomore forward. “It makes sense in that he wants us to perform at our very best and to be the best, you have to be willing to work for it.”
It’s no secret that a hard-working and well-prepared team in the preseason plays better than those loosely coached, and the Bruins have proven this multiple times throughout Phillips’ career at SLCC.
It seems the Bruins have worked out some minor changes from last year, as the team seeks to not only take the conference, but eventually hold the coveted title of National Champion.
For more information on SLCC men’s basketball, including schedule and where to live stream games, visit SLCC Athletics.
