Despite having a young and inexperienced team, Bakersfield College men’s basketball coach Rich Hughes has set his preseason expectations high.

“We want to contend for championships in the four preseason tournaments we are in, and obviously we want to contend for a conference title, and lastly we would like a berth in the state tournament,” Hughes said when asked about his expectations on this upcoming season. “ Those are our three goals.”

Although the team has a lot of youth, Hughes looks for a couple of returners to step up and get the team going.

He mentioned 6-foot-3 guard Van Holloway, who is returning. “He’s a really good shooter, and we expect good things from him,” Hughes said.

Hughes went on to explain that he is also expecting great leadership on and off the court from sophomore Mike Young.

“This year we are closer as a team, we have better leadership coming from Van and myself we think we can carry the team pretty far,” said Young.

Young mentioned what the team is doing to mentally prepare for the season.

“We work hard every day in practice to push each other,” he said. “If one of us is having a bad day, we have someone there to pick up the slack.”

Holloway also added, “We talk about everything.

“When we have had our differences we’ve learned from them and realized we as a team are all we have, and to reach our goals we must come together as one.”

The Renegades look to start the season off strong when they tip off Nov. 8-10 against Mendocino College at the Cuesta Tournament.