City on a Hill Press » Men’s Basketball

Slugs End Chapman’s Streak

City on a Hill Press — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:15:44 +0000

Photo by Auralee Walmer

With only seconds remaining on the clock, the Slugs held their breath as the Chapman team approached the free throw line with a chance to tie the score. As the ball hit the rim and ricocheted away from the basket, the Slugs clinched the win, prevailing in a low-scoring battle.

On Jan. 20, the UCSC men’s basketball team edged out a win in a 44-43 nail-biter against rival Chapman University, supported by a packed crowd. The win improved the Slugs’ record to nine wins and nine losses for the year, with a 4-4 record versus Division III teams.

Senior UCSC guard Sam Allen said the key to the win was a group effort, with everyone fighting for their teammates.

“This was a great team win,” Allen said. “Everyone did their part. There was no selfishness, there were no egos. We were playing as a team.”

Head coach Gordon Johnson said he was pleased with the win.

“Overall, we did a great job,” Johnson said. “I’m elated right now. This is a great win. Chapman is our nemesis, so it feels good to come away with a victory.”

This is a significant upset, as Chapman finished last year at No. 4 in the west region. The Slugs ended Chapman’s six-game winning streak on Friday. Chapman University had not lost since Dec. 10.

Though the team won, Coach Johnson still sees room for improvement.

“There are still things we need to get much better at, particularly our shooting,” he said.

Senior forward Brent Jacobs led the team with 11 points total, shooting only four for 11 from the field. Together, the two teams made only 31 shots of 89 attempts.

The Slugs are looking to qualify for the NCAA Division III National Championships, which begins on March 1. The tournament culminates in the Final Four held in Virginia, from March 16-17.

Senior guard Nathan Mohri said confidence will be a key factor in the team’s success.

“We have to go through the rest of the season believing we can win every game,” he said.

Senior guard Sam Allen said the Slugs need to carry the momentum of their win over Chapman into their final seven games of the season.

“From here on, we need to build on this win to push us through the year,” he said. “We need to put together a winning streak to have a shot at getting into Nationals.”

The Slugs will play Pacifica College on Jan. 27 at 6 p.m., and UC Merced at home on Jan. 28 at 7 p.m.

Slug Basketball Redefining Its Rank

Elizabeth Arakelian — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:37:41 +0000

Junior Brent Jacobs finishes an alley-oop over two Chapman defenders. The Slugs gave the nationally ranked Chapman Panthers a run for their money on Sunday, before eventually losing a hard-fought battle with a score of 69-62. Photo by Sal Ingram.

Upon entering the West Field House on a Wednesday afternoon, the screeching of basketball shoes and bellowing voices fills the air. Following the staircase on the right to the room above, the sound diminishes. In their office upstairs, head coach Gordon Johnson and his assistant sit at their desks, eyes avoiding the large window that overlooks the basketball court. Peering through the window, it becomes evident by the lettering stamped across their practice jerseys that Chapman University’s basketball team is the source of the noise below.

The court, on which both teams practiced Wednesday afternoon, was the setting for a competitive game between UC Santa Cruz and Chapman University Thursday evening.

Having maintained a lead for the entire first half, the Slugs’ control slowly started to slip away after the third quarter. UCSC led 29-27 at the half, but with 11 minutes on the clock, Chapman caught up, tying the game at 42 all. In the final 10 minutes, Chapman stubbornly held a four-point lead, trading baskets with the Slugs. However, Chapman ultimately broke away, turning its four-point lead into a seven-point chase, which proved too much ground for the Slugs to cover in 11 seconds. As the buzzer sounded, Chapman stood victorious, 69-62.

Prior to the game last Thursday night, UCSC’s hopes were high. Senior Ryan Matsuoka, a guard on the team, said the evolution of the UCSC basketball team has been dramatic over the last few years.

“When I began here, we were more of an intramural program,” Matsuoka said. “We have transformed from a walk-on program to a recruited team. The increase in player ability has filled the holes our program had.”

Team guard junior Nathan Mohri agrees.

“Other teams used to think we were a for-sure win, but now they have to compete,” Mohri said.

This was evident Thursday evening as the Banana Slugs gave Chapman a run for its money. The team has improved greatly because of the strong bonds among its teammates.

“Our chemistry as a team has been key to our rise in success,” said point guard senior Darrin Lew.

Coach Johnson said that this is the closest knit group of players he has had while coaching at UCSC and commends seniors Ryan Matsuoka, Greg Palmer and Brandon Sanchez as dynamic leaders.

Prior to the defeat, Johnson said he believed the team had the right mentality to beat its rival. However, though the team has developed and improved, the loss to Chapman may serve as a reality check.

“In order to get to where we want to be as a team, we’ve got to go through Chapman,” Mohri said.

In his office the day before, Johnson also spoke of his desire for the team to break into the upper echelon of teams on the west coast. He said that this is a lofty goal but not an unattainable one.

Although it may take more time for the team to ripen in order to compete with teams in the upper tier, Johnson is here to see the team through.

“Many coaches have had issues with the bureaucracy here and left after a short amount of time,” he said. “However, I hate starting a job without finishing it.”

He has called Santa Cruz home for the last nine years, a feat in “coach time” at the university.

During their Thursday evening game, the Slugs demonstrated that not only can they compete with teams such as Chapman, but they can also maintain control throughout the game.

“I’ve done athletically what I wanted to do,” Johnson said. “Now it’s my job to get these men to where they want to go.”

This Week in Sports

City on a Hill Press — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:55:47 +0000

Winter is coming, and with the changing of the seasons, the UCSC athletic seasons are also changing. The soccer teams have kicked off their off-seasons and the sun has set on women’s volleyballs’ bumping and spiking. But men’s and women’s basketball have tipped off with all the promise a new beginning brings.

Recent Results

Men’s basketball
Nov. 15: UCSC vs. William Jessup (home) 70-73 (loss)

Women’s basketball
Nov. 17: UCSC vs. Menlo (home) 60-51 (loss)

Upcoming Athletics

Women’s basketball
Nov. 23: UCSC vs. Bethany (home) at 6 p.m.

Men’s basketball
Nov. 23: UCSC at Menlo College (away) at 7 p.m.

This Week in Sports

Julia Reis — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:12:09 +0000

{Last Week’s Results}

Men’s Basketball
2/11 vs. La Sierra (away) 83-67 (win)
2/13 vs. Chapman (away) 80-63 (loss)*

Men’s Tennis
2/13 vs. Fresno City (away) (results not yet posted)
2/13 vs. Fresno Pacific (away) 8-1 (loss)

Men’s Volleyball
2/12 vs. Stevens (away) 3-0 (win)
2/12 vs. Medaille (away) 3-2 (win)
2/13 vs. Rivier (away) 3-0 (win)
2/13 vs. New Paltz (away) 3-2 (win)

Women’s Basketball
2/6 vs. Pacific Union (home) 58-55 (win)

Women’s Tennis
2/13 vs. Mills (away) (results not yet posted)

{Upcoming Athletics}

Women’s Basketball
2/18 vs. Cal State Maritime (away) at 7:30 p.m.*

Women’s Tennis
2/21 vs. NDNU (away): time TBA
2/23 vs. Sonoma State (away) at 2 p.m.

Men’s Tennis
2/19 vs. Mission (home) at 2 p.m.
2/20 vs. Foothill (home) at 2 p.m.
2/21 vs. American River (home) at 2 p.m.

Men’s Volleyball
2/24 vs. Stanford (away): time TBA
2/26 vs. Holy Names (home) at 7 p.m.

*indicates last regularly scheduled game of the season

This Week in Sports

Julia Reis — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:18:08 +0000

{Last Week’s Results}

Men’s Basketball
2/6 vs. UC Merced club (home) 83-37 (win)

Men’s Tennis
2/7 vs. Westmont (home) 8-1 (win)

Men’s Volleyball
2/5 vs. Stanford (away) 3-1 (loss)

Women’s Basketball
2/4 vs. Simpson (away) 51-46 (win)
2/6 vs. Pacific Union (home) 58-55 (win)

Women’s Tennis
1/31 vs. CSU Bakersfield (home) 5-4 (win)

{Upcoming Athletics}

Men’s Basketball
2/11 vs. La Sierra (away) at 7 p.m.
2/13 vs. Chapman (away) at 7 p.m.

Men’s Tennis
2/13 vs. Fresno City College (away) at 9:30 a.m.
2/13 vs. Fresno Pacific (away) at 2 p.m.

Men’s Volleyball
2/12 vs. Stevens (away) at 2 p.m.
2/12 vs. Medaille (away) at 6 p.m.
2/13 vs. Rivier (away) at 10 p.m.

Women’s Basketball
2/18 vs. Cal State Maritime (away) at 7:30 p.m.

Women’s Tennis
2/12 vs. Sierra (home) at 2 p.m.
2/13 vs. Mills (away) at 12 p.m.

This Week in Sports

Julia Reis — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:54:43 +0000

{Last Week’s Results}

Men’s Basketball
1/22 vs. Chapman (away), 79-60 (loss)
1/23 vs. La Sierra (away), 56-55 (win)
1/24 vs. University of Dallas (away), 58-57 (loss)

Men’s Tennis
1/29 vs. Cabrillo (home) 9-0 (win)
1/29 vs. Lewis and Clark (away) 8-1 (win)
1/30 vs. University of Idaho (away) 6-3 (loss)
1/30 vs. De Anza (home) 9-0 (win)
1/30 vs. Whitman (away) 8-1 (win)
1/31 vs. Linfield (away) 9-0 (win)

Men’s Volleyball
1/29 vs. Baruch (home) 3-2 (win)
1/30 vs. Baruch (home) 3-1 (loss)

Women’s Basketball
1/28 vs. Bethany (home) 63-46 (win)

Women’s Tennis
1/31 vs. CSU Bakersfield (home) 5-4 (win)

{Upcoming Athletics}

Men’s Basketball
2/6 vs. UC Merced (home) at 8:30 p.m.

Men’s Tennis
2/6 vs. University of Nevada-Reno (home) at 9:30 a.m.
2/6 vs. Westmont (home) at 1 p.m.

Men’s Volleyball
2/5 vs. Stanford (away) at 7 p.m.

Women’s Basketball
2/4 vs. Simpson (away) at 7 p.m.
2/6 vs. Pacific Union (home) at 6:30 p.m.

Women’s Tennis
2/6 vs. NDNU (away) at 2 p.m.

This Week in Sports

Julia Reis — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:44:21 +0000

{Last Week’s Results}

Men’s Basketball
1/22 vs. Chapman (away), 79-60 (loss)
1/23 vs. La Sierra (away), 56-55 (win)
1/24 vs. University of Dallas (away), 58-57 (loss)

Men’s Tennis
1/16 vs. UC Davis (away), 5-1 (loss)

Men’s Volleyball
1/16 vs. Cal Baptist (home), 3-1 (win)

Women’s Basketball
1/23 vs. University of Dallas (away), 78-67 (loss)
1/24 vs. Chapman (away), 61-49 (loss)

Women’s Tennis
1/23 vs. Santa Clara (away), 1-0 (loss)

{Upcoming Athletics}

Men’s Basketball
2/6 vs. UC Merced (home) at 8:30 p.m.

Men’s Tennis
1/29 vs. Lewis and Clark (away) at 6 p.m.
1/30 vs. Whitworth (away) at 10 a.m.
1/30 vs. Whitman (away) at 6 p.m.
1/31 vs. Linfield (away) at 9 a.m.

Men’s Volleyball
1/29 vs. Baruch (home) at 7 p.m.
1/30 vs. Baruch (home) at 3 p.m.
2/5 vs. Stanford (away) at 7 p.m.

Women’s Basketball
1/28 vs. Bethany (home) at 6 p.m.
2/4 vs. Simpson (away) at 7 p.m.

Women’s Tennis
1/31 vs. CSU Bakersfield (home) at 12 p.m.
2/6 at NDNU (away) at 2 p.m.

This Week in Sports

Julia Reis — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:30:41 +0000

{Last Week’s Results}

Men’s Basketball
1/14 vs. Pacific Union (home) 68-52 (win)
1/16 vs. Menlo (home) 75-56 (win)
1/19 vs. Holy Names (home) 60-57 (win)

Men’s Tennis
1/16 vs. Santa Clara (away) 4-0 (loss)
1/16 vs. UC Davis (away) 5-1 (loss)

Men’s Volleyball
1/15 vs. Springfield (home) 3-0 (win)
1/16 vs. Cal Baptist (home) 4-1 (win)

Women’s Basketball
1/16 vs. Menlo (away) 65-63 (loss)
1/19 vs. Holy Names (away) 57-52 (loss)

{Upcoming Athletics}

Men’s Basketball
1/22 vs. Chapman (away) at 12:30 p.m.
1/23 vs. La Sierra (away) at 8 p.m.
1/24 vs. University of Dallas (away) at 3 p.m.

Men’s Tennis
1/29 vs. Lewis & Clark (away) at 6 p.m.
1/30 vs. Whitworth (away) at 10 a.m.
1/30 vs. Whitman (away) at 6 p.m.
1/31 vs. Linfield (away) at 9 a.m.

Men’s Volleyball
1/29 vs. Baruch (home) at 7 p.m.
1/30 vs. Baruch (home) at 3 p.m.

Women’s Basketball
1/23 at Dallas Tourney (away) at 6 p.m.
1/24 at Dallas Tourney (away) at 3 p.m.
1/28 vs. Bethany (home) at 6 p.m.

This Week in Sports

Julia Reis — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:29:03 +0000

{Last Week’s Results}

Men’s Basketball
1/8 vs. Bethany University (home) 64-55 (win)

Women’s Basketball
1/7 vs. William Jessup (home) 53-48 (win)

Men’s Volleyball
1/8 at Grand Canyon (away) 3-0 (win)
1/8 at University of Pacific (away) 3-0 (loss)
1/9 at Grand Canyon (away) 3-0 (win)
1/9 at University of Pacific (away) 3-0 (loss)

{Upcoming Athletics}

Men’s Basketball
1/14 vs. Pacific Union (home) at 7 p.m.
1/16 vs. Menlo (home) at 7 p.m.
1/19 vs. Holy Names (home) at 7:30 pm.

Men’s Tennis
1/16 at Santa Clara (away) at 9:30 a.m.
1/16 at UC Davis (away) at 4 p.m.

Men’s Volleyball
1/15 vs. Springfield (home) at 7 p.m.
1/16 vs. Cal Baptist (home) at 3 p.m.

Women’s Basketball
1/16 at Menlo (away) at 5:30 p.m.
1/19 at Holy Names (away) at 5:30 p.m.

This Week in Sports

Alejandro Trejo — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:30:21 +0000

{Last Week’s Results}

Men’s Basketball
12/3 vs. Chapman (away) 74-44 (loss)
12/4 vs. Willamette (away) 93-90 (win)
12/5 vs. Menlo (away) 79-75 (loss)
12/11 at Whitworth (away) 80-58 (loss)
12/12 at Whitman (away) 88-73 (loss)
12/19 vs. Cal Lutheran (away) 65-67 (win)
12/30 vs. William Jessup (away) 80-68 (loss)
1/2 at CSU Maritime (away) 75-60 (loss)

Women’s Basketball
12/4 vs. Claremont Mudd-Scripps (home) 76-67 (loss)
12/5 vs. Redlands (home) 75-60 (loss)
12/11 at La Verne (away) 62-48 (loss)
12/12 at Whittier (away) 72-61 (loss)
12/13 at Occidental (away) 65-48 (loss)
12/19 vs. Cal Lutheran (away) 63-49 (loss)
12/20 vs. Chapman (away) 72-52 (loss)
12/31 vs. Messiah (away) 68-48 (loss)
1/2 vs. Howard Payne (away) 75-51 (loss)

{Upcoming Athletics}

Men’s Basketball
1/8 vs. Bethany University (home) at 7:30 p.m.
1/14 vs. Pacific Union (home) at 7 p.m.
1/16 vs. Menlo (home) at 7 p.m.

Women’s Basketball
1/7 at William Jessup (away) at 5:30 p.m.
1/16 at Menlo (away) at 5:30 p.m.

Men’s Volleyball
1/8 vs. Grand Canyon (away) at 1 p.m.
1/8 at University of Pacific (away) at 4 p.m.
1/9 vs. Grand Canyon (away) at 4 p.m.
1/9 vs. University of Pacific (away) at 7 p.m.

This Week in Sports

Julia Reis — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:34:05 +0000

{Last Week’s Results}

Men’s Basketball
11/18 at UC Davis (away) 88-59 (loss)
11/20 vs. Puget Sound (away) 94-79 (loss)
11/21 vs. Whitworth (away) 81-75 (loss)
11/27 vs. Claremont Mudd-Scripps (away) 74-60 (loss)
11/28 vs. Pomona-Pitzer (away) 76-64 (win)

Women’s Basketball
11/17 vs. Mount St. Mary (away) 72-44 (loss)
11/22 vs Rodger Williams (away) 57-54 (win)
11/25 vs. Menlo (home) 69-50 (loss)
11/27 vs. Claremont Mudd-Scripps (away) 63-53 (loss)
11/28 vs. Pomona-Pitzer (away) 94-55 (loss)

{Upcoming Athletics}

Men’s Basketball
12/3 vs. Chapman (away) at 3:30 p.m.
12/4 at Redlands Tournament (away) TBA
12/5 at Redlands Tournament (away) TBA
12/11 at Whitworth (away) at 7 p.m.
12/12 at Whitman (away) at 7 p.m.

Women’s Basketball
12/4 vs. Claremont Mudd-Scripps (home) at 5 p.m.
12/5 vs. Redlands (home) at 3 p.m.
12/11 at La Verne (away) at 5 p.m.
12/12 at Whittier (away) at 5 p.m.
12/13 at Occidental (away) at 1 p.m.

This Week in Sports

Julia Reis — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:34:05 +0000

{Last Week’s Results}

Men’s Soccer
11/14 vs. Claremont Mudd-Scripps (home) 2-1 (loss)*

Women’s Soccer
11/14 at Claremont Mudd-Scripps (away) 2-1 (loss)*

Women’s Basketball
11/17 vs. William Jessup 69-58 (loss)

Men’s Basketball
11/11 vs. SF State (home) 69-68 (win)

{Upcoming Athletics}

Men’s Basketball
11/20 vs. Puget Sound (away) at 8 p.m.
11/21 vs. Whitworth (away) at 8 p.m.
11/27 vs. Claremont Mudd-Scripps (away) at 5 p.m.
11/28 vs. Pomona-Pitzer (away) at 5 p.m.

Women’s Basketball
11/21 vs. Mount St. Mary (away) at 12 p.m.
11/22 at Emmanuel Tourney (away) at 3 p.m.
11/25 vs. Menlo (home) at 6 p.m.
11/27 vs. Claremont Mudd-Scripps (away) at 7:30 p.m.
11/28 vs. Pomona-Pitzer (away) at 5 p.m.

*Indicates NCAA postseason game

This Week in Sports

Julia Reis — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:46:01 +0000

{Last Week’s Results}

Men’s Soccer
10/30 at Chapman (away) 1-0 (win)
11/1 at Cal Lutheran (away) 2-1 (loss)
11/4 at Holy Names (away) (1-0) (loss)

Women’s Soccer
10/30 at Claremont Mudd Scripps (away) 3-2 (loss)
11/1 at Chapman (away) 5-0 (win)

Women’s Volleyball
11/3 at Dominican (away) (3-1) (win)

{Upcoming Athletics}

Men’s Basketball
11/6 at Merced (Club) (away) at 6 p.m.
11/11 vs. SF State (home) at 7 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball
11/6 vs. Mills (home) at 7 p.m.*

*indicates last regularly scheduled game of the year

Men Hope to Build on Last Year’s Success

Alejandro Trejo — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:46:00 +0000

The UCSC Men’s Basketball team breaks a sweat during their practice in the West Field House to perfect one of their many team-oriented drills. Photo by Devika Agarwal.

After the biggest season-to-season improvement in the history of their program, the UC Santa Cruz men’s basketball team is out to build on momentum from last year.

After the team finished last season with eight more wins than in the 2007-2008 season, Gordon Johnson, who’s entering his seventh year as head coach, feels that the players are in top form and ready to up their game this season.

“I’m feeling really good about this year. The kids have come back in great shape and are really focused and ready to get playing,” Johnson said.

Team captain Brandon Sanchez feels as confident as his coach that the team will do well this year.

“Everyone is in real great shape, and has their priorities straight,” Sanchez said. “We’re working as a team and pushing ourselves and one another to get better.”

The Slugs went 11-15 last year (7-10 against Division III opponents), a significant improvement over last year’s record of 3-20. Guard Ryan Matsuoka believes this drastic turnaround is a sign that the team knows how to win.

“Last year we had the biggest turnaround in UCSC history,” Matsuoka said. “We really learned what it takes to win and play as a team.”

Coach Johnson acknowledges, though, that while the team has improved significantly from last year, they are still a work in progress.

“Finishing is something we can learn from last year; we had some real close games that were winnable,” Johnson said. “We also need to work on preventing the offensive rebounds, which really hurt us in a lot of those games.”

The team lost only one of last year’s players to graduation, which meant more experienced returning players this year. In addition, they were also able to gain players through college transfers, which added to the team’s roster.

“We got a lot of players coming back and some transfer students who are going to bring some real depth to the team,” Johnson said.

Coach Johnson has hopes for his team to go to an NCAA tournament, and he believes the key is to play a tough schedule that will push the team to get better.

“Our schedule isn’t soft, and we did that on purpose; if we’re going to improve we’re going to have to challenge ourselves every day,” Johnson said.

Matsuoka agreed with his coach and wants the team, and Division III basketball in general, to get the credit they deserve.

“Everyone thinks that Division III is a joke, [but] it’s not,” Matsuoka said. “We’re taking on some real tough competition in teams like Whitman and Whitworth, who both have tournament experience. It’s going to be tough, but we have the depth, speed and skills as a team to win.”

Sanchez emphasized that the team is determined to do well this year and bring recognition to UCSC’s basketball program overall.

“This isn’t an intramural team — no offense to them,” he said. “This is a team that is serious about doing well this year, and is serious about bringing success to UC Santa Cruz.”

How to Build a Successful Sports Program

Donald Davis Jr. — Thu, 21 May 2009 09:43:25 +0000

Illustration by Justin Martinez.

In the topsy-turvy world of sports, winning often seems to be everything.

The question then becomes how to build a consistently winning program in order to avoid losses.

“If the school doesn’t support the athletic department, then the funding will not be there,” said men’s head basketball coach Gordon “Gordie” Johnson in an e-mail to City on a Hill Press.

Johnson has over 25 years of coaching experience at the high school and collegiate levels. He said there are three main factors that are directly responsible for success in collegiate sports: institutional support from the school, a helpful admissions program and building a winning tradition.

Support from the school itself, which is usually reflected in how much an institution funds a particular sport, is very crucial in determining how far a sport can really go.

The Office of Physical Education, Recreation and Sports (OPERS) has expressed support for all of UC Santa Cruz’s official teams.

“In the NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association] you need to have some institutional support, so all of our NCAA teams have that,” said Ryan Andrews, executive director of OPERS. “It’s not a lot, but they have it.”

Collegiate teams that have a long, tradition-filled history are usually the ones that are most well-funded by their given institution. Famed programs like Notre Dame’s football team and the Duke and North Carolina basketball teams are prime examples.

This is the second of Johnson’s success factors because such legendary sports programs are the result of a very supportive admissions program.

“[Winning] comes from getting the right students and players in the school, and that’s where admissions come in,” Johnson said. “They control who gets in the school or not.”

Since UCSC is a DIII sports school, it is hard for coaches to recruit nationally ranked athletes. Instead, they have to be more creative and hope that they’ll get lucky and find that diamond in the rough who could help turn a program around.

“For me, with basketball, we are starting to see some changes,” Johnson said. “We have been fortunate the past couple of years to get some really good walk-on [nonrecruited] players and a couple of ‘below the radar’ players that are DII level players.”

That’s not to say that DI and DII athletes are necessarily better than their DIII counterparts, Johnson noted. They just have much more time and help to progress throughout their college career.

“DIII rules will not let coaches work with their players in the off-season unless they are in a class,” Johnson said. “We don’t have year-round basketball programs. Our development of players has to be done during the season.”

This makes recruiting at the DIII level that much more important so as to get the right players. Such well-evaluated recruiting helped Johnson and the men’s team defeat La Sierra University 106-97 at the DIII Independent Championship in their last game of the season.

Bob Hansen, the UCSC men’s tennis head coach who, Johnson said, has one of the best programs in the country, is no stranger to success. His team is currently in the NCAA quarterfinals after dominating both Whitman College and Claremont College in the regional championships. His goal every season is simple: recruit well and train hard.

“Recruiting is what many teams succeed at, which makes their starting level higher,” Hansen said. “But if you do not improve, others will pass you. We have always relied on getting bigger, stronger, faster and better to pass the teams that start with more talent.”

Such a winning tradition is what Johnson considers the last factor in building a championship program.

It might be tough, it might be hard, and it might even require a Herculean effort, but Johnson believes UCSC will soon have multiple sports programs that are notably successful.

“It’s difficult, but it can and will be done here at UCSC,” he said. “The change has already started.”