Part One - One of many, but like no other

Two years ago when ESPN2 visited the Pavilion for the first time in school history, the country was treated to a thrilling Big West conference matchup. From the opening tip, until the final buzzer, UC Davis and defending league champion Long Beach State competed in an intense matchup. Trailing by one with just a handful of seconds remaining on the clock, the Aggies' 12-foot, baseline jumper at the buzzer fell halfway down and rattled back and forth inside the rim multiple times before popping out and hitting the floor.

Even though the 49ers escaped Davis with a one-point victory that evening, the Aggies were the real winners that night. By playing an exciting and up-tempo style of basketball that was visually appealing, and entertaining to casual and die-hard sports fans alike, basketball fans across the nation and television networks wanted to see the Aggies return to the national stage.

This is why ESPN2 visited the Pavilion once again the following season, and a variety of networks this year were eager to feature UC Davis men's basketball games.

When the Aggies hosted the 49ers this season, a raucous crowd could easily find one of ESPNU's cameras. As was the case two years prior, the network was on hand to televise another special moment in the program's history.

Trailing by 11 with 11:40 remaining in the game, the Aggies battled back and forced overtime when a Corey Hawkins three, and a three-point play from Brynton Lemar pulled UC Davis even at 59 through regulation. 

Since UC Davis was responsible for 14 of the 22 points scored in overtime, the Aggie faithful stormed the court once the final horn sounded. By outscoring Long Beach State 33-19 combined in the final 16:40 of game time, a throng of UC Davis students, and Aggie basketball fans celebrated with the student-athletes that made this entire night possible.

Three weeks later when ESPNU returned to campus, a familiar scene took place once again.

This time, the nation watched UC Davis overcome a sluggish first half plagued by fouls to erase a 14-point deficit in the second half. When Josh Ritchart forced overtime by hitting one of his season-high six threes with 55 seconds remaining, everyone inside the Pavilion, and at home watching the game on their television or computer, prepared for an exciting finish.

Once the Aggies took the lead for good on Avery Johnson's three with 2:55 left in OT, basketball fans were treated to another sensational UC Davis game.

If the Aggies' OT victory against the 49ers solidified its status as a Big West title contender, the team's Jan. 31 home game against Cal Poly cemented UC Davis' position as the most dangerous team in the conference. 

For the second time in three weeks an entire country watched a team that never lost its poise or confidence, created numerous scoring opportunities inside the paint, behind the arc and in between when it was needed the most, and competed with energy and enthusiasm for each and every minute. For the second time that month, another packed Pavilion provided a home court advantage that propelled their team to victory and rattled another opponent.

Before the Aggies returned to the court for their next practice, ESPN and Fox Sports quickly rearranged their respective schedules for the upcoming week. Both quickly announced their intentions to broadcast the Aggies' next two games when they visited UC Irvine and CSUN.

On each occasion, UC Davis rewarded both networks' decision.

Entering the Bren Events Center in a three-way tie for first place with Long Beach State and the host Anteaters, UC Davis was eager to prove itself as the team to beat in the Big West Conference. With an array of scouts, ESPN personnel and league officials in attendance, ESPN streamed a jaw-dropping, statement-making, 19-point Aggie victory.

Two days later on Fox Sports Prime Ticket and Fox College Sports Pacific, UC Davis systematically breezed past CSUN to win its third straight nationally broadcasted contest, help Coach Les collect career win No. 200 and earn sole possession of first place in the Big West standings - a position the Aggies never relinquished for the rest of the season.

After its one-game hiatus from the airwaves when the team returned home to record a regular-season sweep over Cal State Fullerton, ESPN called another audible and chose to air the Aggies' upcoming game at Long Beach State.

The network originally planned to show that night's UC Santa Barbara at UC Riverside matchup; with a more compelling showdown taking place 50 miles away, involving the hottest team on the West Coast, college basketball fans (and pundits) from coast to coast relished their third opportunity to watch UC Davis basketball within a two-week timespan.

As was the case in its previous appearances, UC Davis did not disappoint, led by double digits for most of the evening and competed with such precision, even the hometown crowd left the arena in awe from what it witnessed.

"This team was the first to put UC Davis basketball on the map, on a national scale."  

                                                                                      - UC Davis head coach Jim Les

From the moment off-season workouts started, the 2014-15 team worked tirelessly to place itself in position to win a Big West title and advance to postseason play - two goals that were accomplished for the first time in the program's history this past year. In the process, the team provided network executives every reason to beam Aggie basketball into living rooms (and stream on computer screens and mobile devices) across the country.

UC Davis truly played team basketball, and competed with the type of hustle and heart that resonated with those who followed the sport. Make no mistake about it, every station wanted eyeballs and ratings - something UC Davis provided while strengthening its brand in the process.

From its first opportunity on the Pac-12 Network when the team visited Washington State, until its last game of the season when ESPN2 aired its first round game of the National Invitation Tournament at Stanford, UC Davis took full advantage of every nationally broadcasted game. In doing so, men's basketball earned its place on college basketball's national map and gained the attention of college basketball fans across the country.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of 14 student-athletes, four coaches, seven staff members and thousands of fans and supporters of the program, the nation now knows what makes UC Davis, the school and its basketball team, unique.

Whether games took place on Hamilton Court, or away from campus, you could count on the Aggies to make their opponents work hard for all 40 minutes (or 45, as was the case on three occasions) last season. UC Davis men's basketball embraced this challenge, even if their opponents' chose otherwise; this is why the Aggies won all 14 games played on its home floor and were the only Big West team to sport a winning road - the third topic of this season's four-part review.