Bobcats open in the top-20

The Saddleback men's basketball team opens the season on Thursday at the Ventura College "We Play Hard Tournament" in Ventura.  The Bobcats are ranked No. 17 in Southern California to start the season, according to the California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association (CCCMBCA) Poll.

Saddleback finished the 2021-22 campaign at 17-12 overall and 9-7 in Orange Empire Conference play, making it to the second round of the Southern California Regional Tournament before falling to San Diego Miramar College (62-67).  Now in his second season at Saddleback, coach Jeff Oliver has a veteran squad after a mixed bag of results with a mostly freshman lineup a year ago.

Saddleback returns three All-Orange Empire Conference players in Jimuel Reyes, Nick Bowden and Derek Rubidoux.  The trio combined for 29 points and 12.1 rebounds-per-game in 2021-22.

Reyes scored in double-figures 16 times during the season, averaging 12.8 points-per-game while shooting 42.9% from three-point range in conference play.  Reyes led the team in both assists (66) and steals (59) and had a season-high of 25 points against Irvine Valley College on February 15.

Bowden was named to the All-Orange Empire Conference Second Team after averaging 13.6 points-per-game during the season and 13.7 points-per-game in conference play.  Bowden was a pillar of consistency throughout the season, scoring 20-or-more points in seven games.  Bowden showed off his sharpshooting skills when he set the single-game record with nine three-pointers in a game against Santa Ana on February 4.  The sophomore from Playa del Rey (St. Bernard HS) was second on the team in assists (65) and third in steals (31).

Rubidoux was a valuable piece of the puzzle for the Bobcats and earned All-Orange Empire Conference Honorable Mention as a result.  Despite being just 6-foot-3, Rubidoux proved to be one of the better rebounders in the entire conference, averaging 7.9 rebounds-per-game during OEC play (4^th).  Rubidoux led the team with 184 rebounds for the year and was second on the team in steals (35) and fourth in assists (56).  The sophomore from Riverside (Poly HS) had a season-high of 17 points against Fullerton College on February 17.

"Our experience should dictate what kind of a team we are this season," head coach Jeff Oliver said. 

Saddleback opens on Thursday when they play host Ventura College in the opening round of the Ventura College We Play Hard Tournament at 6:00 PM.  Ventura opens the season at No. 13 in the CCCMBCA Poll.  The Pirates were 25-3 a season ago.