Good Sports: UC Merced basketball headed to national tournament for 1st time

Merced, California (KFSN) – For the first time in the history of the program, the UC Merced Men’s basketball team is heading to the NAIA National Tournament.

“I mean, very few people can say that they competed at the national level,” says Guard Cameron Brown.

Despite losing in the Kail PAC tournament championship game, Bobcats got a big bid after setting a 20-0 record of 10-0 after setting a 20-day season.

Coach Kevin Fam says, “We really wanted to play at the conference championship house, but to get a national tournament, it has always been our goal.”

After a decade on the helme, Fam has a dance ticket.

But the time to celebrate is over.

“We are grateful for it, but at the same time, it is an opportunity for us to offer what we can do at the national level.”

The bracket of a 64 teams, UC Merced, seized one of the final locations as 16 seeds.

Now they have been entrusted with the task of facing the top seed college in Adhu, the country’s top team at 29-2.

“Yes, we are a 16 badge, but we know that when we are in our best place, we can play at a high level,” says Senior Guard Eden Ciula.

“We just want to be a Cinderella team, make some noise,” says Senior Forward Jaron Martal.

Earlier, the coach is undergoing under -dug.

A nail graduate, Fam spent his first five years working out of college, working for an ecosystem, is one of the world’s IT firms.

He finally decided to quit corporate jobs for the court.

He said, “My mother thought I was crazy, but the great thing is that I bought it a house.”

Entering the ranks of the high school and Joko, Fam eventually got a job as a Bobckets Women’s Basketball Head Coach before taking over the men’s program.

“All the time and effort are not just for developing our players, but our program,” he said.

The winner of 14 of his last 14 games, Bobcats, turns to Adho with a ton of confidence.

Brown said, “We know we can compete with someone in this country, and we’re going there to show it this weekend.”

“Many people don’t think we can do it but we know we can, and it’s really the most important,” said Sevilla.

So, with the difficulties against the bobcats, what would be the meaning of being worried on the national stage?

If the UC breaks down the bracket, they would have been the first 16 badges to finish the No. 1 team in the history of the tournament.

“Anything is possible,” Fam said. “You just had to play a game at a time, it’s true who you are and go out and compete.

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