As the Austin boys basketball team prepares to compete in the school’s 30th state tournament, they’re likely to be nervous when the big tip-off comes in Williams Arena at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

The Packers will have to be ready to play Saint Thomas Academy when that time comes, but they’ll also have to be ready for the other things that come with going to state. The team may have experience watching the state tournament when Austin went in 2014, but competing at state will be completely different.

Austin head coach Kris Fadness is hoping the team can fight off the distractions and focus on basketball.

“Even though they’ve watched it before, it’s hard,” Fadness said. “You’re dealing with a lot of media attention, you’ve got a bunch of students that want to be a part of it and hang out with the guys, and everybody wants to be involved. I get that, but at some point you have to realize if we don’t go up there and win, we’re going to feel very badly. If you don’t win, the shine on going to state isn’t quite so shiny.”

The Packers don’t have a lot of time to prepare for the big stage, but they’ll certainly be locked in as they look forward to competing.

Austin is the No. 2 seed and DeLaSalle, which has won the last five Class AAA state tournaments, is the No. 1 seed.

“It’s our first time, but we feel like we can make a deep run,” Austin junior Both Gach said. “I feel like we all have the same goal as a team and we’re all on the same page. We want to get that state championship.”

Austin senior Kyle Oberbroeckling said the Packers are pumped to play at state, but they’re focused on the task at hand.

“We just have to keep our eyes on the prize and stay focused in practice,” he said. “In the game, we can’t take a possession off.”

If Austin loses its first game, it will play in the consolation bracket, but if it beats St. Thomas, Austin will play in the semifinals in Target Center at 2 p.m. on Thursday. The Class AAA title game is in Target Center at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Fadness said the Packers are looking to start off strong at the state meet.

“It’s nice to get there, but you’ve got to get that first win and make it an experience,” Fadness said. “We’re a two seed and there’s a reason we’re a two seed. We’ve got to play with a certain level of ability and we’re going to make sure our legs are fresh and we’re in top form.”

Read more on the Packers’ return to state:  Packer boys basketball team will have to stop STA shooters