This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The timing was right for the Salt Lake Community College men's basketball team.
For the first time, the NJCAA Basketball National Championships have added at-large berths into the tournament, and the No. 5-ranked Bruins (28-4, 14-1 SWAC) fit the bill. Salt Lake is the No. 11 seed and will face the Region 2 Champion and No. 22 seed Eastern Oklahoma State College (19-15) at 11 a.m. in the opening round on March 19.
The National Tournament takes place from March 18-23 in Hutchinson, Kan.
SLCC, Scenic West and Region 18 champions, needed the at-large bid after losing to Region I Champion Central Arizona College (28-4) in the District I Championship on Saturday.
The Bruins return for the first time since they won the national championship in 2009.