TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (November 2, 2023) - The Salt Lake Community College men's basketball team has experienced many highs over the past few seasons.
 
SLCC has been a consistent NJCAA tournament team, qualifying in four straight seasons and finishing as the NJCAA runner-up in 2022. The Bruins also have built a reputation as one of the top factories of NCAA Division-I transfers in junior college basketball, cultivating players who have gone on to be contributors at notable programs.
 
Still, as the team has opened the 2023-24 season and prepares for a weekend tournament in Wyoming, SLCC coach Kyle Taylor said his team is looking forward to finding a new gear.
 
"I think one of the most enjoyable things about the season starting is to see the players perform under pressure, in real game settings," he said. "Some players are practice players, and some are gamers. With a newly built team every year, it's also fun to see how the pieces start to fit together."
 
With SLCC featuring a No. 5 ranking in the NJCAA's preseason polls, there will be pressure for Salt Lake to be among the top programs when all is said and done on the season. However, Taylor noted how the Bruins keep their expectations consistent from year to year.
 
"We have the same team goals each year, and that is to win the four big championships that are in front of us," he said. "First up is a chance to win a Scenic West Athletic Conference regular season conference championship, then to win the Region 18 tournament championship, and then the NJCAA district championship. Qualifying for the NJCAA tournament is truly the top goal, and then if you're fortunate enough to get there go try to win the whole thing."
 
One of the on-court goals the Bruins will work on in order to achieve that goal will be on the defensive side of the ball, particularly in finishing possessions with rebounds. 
 
"We have really been emphasizing boxing out and finishing possessions with a defensive rebound," said Taylor. "I call it 'picking up your paycheck'. Offensively, we've really focused on playing off two feet. We have great size and athleticism, so we need to take advantage of that in the paint."
 
Overall, Taylor noted Salt Lake's schedule, which includes preseason tournaments in Arizona, Florida and Wyoming, will be well served by the skills the Bruins have.
 
"We share the ball well, our ball moves and doesn't stick too much," he said. "I also like the pace we are playing with, as we are playing fast and downhill and need to do that every night."