BAKERSFIELD, CA – The Bakersfield College men's basketball team is gearing up to begin their 2019-2020 season at the West Hills-Lemoore Tournament next week, November 14th. The Renegades are suiting up a majority of fresh faces and hope a new roster is key to being successful.
Head men's basketball coach Richard Hughes is excited to get the season started, "With exception of three returners, the majority of the team is new. We have many new faces so it will be exciting to see how they perform in a collegiate basketball game." After finishing last season with an overall record of 15-12 and not making it to post season, BC is looking forward to a youthful roster to give them the edge for a better season.
Suiting up in the red and white are returners Shannon Wafer, Blake van Uden and Malik Tautau, who contributed to the `Gades average of 78.6 points per game. Alongside those three are 17 newcomers. Coach Hughes knows the three returners will show leadership to their new roster, while also contributing great effort, hustle, and sacrifice. Although, the team is working from the ground up, he believes the team is a cohesive unit.
Besides having an inexperienced roster this season, the Renegades will not let it deter them as the team can proudly say they have size and chemistry. About six players are standing tall at 6'5 while the others are at least six feet. More importantly the connection of BC can be described by coach Hughes in three characteristic which are, play hard, play fundamentally, and play unselfishly.
Although, Bakersfield is ready to compete with a slightly different team, the Renegades will give it all they got against conference foes West LA, who has won the conference two years in a row. Santa Monica College and Citrus College are also games to look out for because both made the State Elite Eight last year.
The Renegades tip off their season against Cosumnes River on Thursday, Nov. 14 followed by Folsom Lake and Hartnell College on Friday, Nov. 15 and 16th at the West-Hills Tournament. Their home opener will be played against Cuesta College at 4pm in the Gil Bishop Sports Center in their first game of the Renegade Classic on Friday, Nov. 22 and then against Napa Valley on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 3pm.
Click this link for the 2019 Renegade Men's Basketball schedule.
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