They do the bidding of coaches and players. When anyone hits the floor at practice, four of them run out with white towels to dry off the wet spot. They squeeze water into players’ mouths on the sideline. They’re often seen on TV, offering water or a towel on the bench, usually ignored or waved off by a player frustrated with a foul.

Being a manager is a job. They’re not on scholarship. Most aren’t majoring in anything close to sports.

“We’re here an hour before practice, we’re here an hour after the players and coaches leave,” Lliteras said. “It’s a serious, serious time commitment.”

For some, this is actually their second job. Add practices and travel and two jobs on top of regular schoolwork, they might just be as busy as anyone on campus.

But the perk? This league. They love it.

The managers, most of them at least, are basketball freaks. Like Lliteras.

He wasn’t good enough to play in college, he said, so he joined as a manager to stay close to basketball. It’s natural for college men to yearn to play ball, when they may not have time for usual intramurals.

When the team travels, managers set up games with opposing managers. Most say yes.