MONTEREY >> A state championship doesn’t just come with a banner, rings and a parade for the players. A metaphorical bullseye is painted on their backs.

The topic is likely raised by each of their opponents — these are the defending state boys’ basketball champions.

“We understand we have a target on our backs,” Monterey coach Greg Daniels said. “I would be lying if I didn’t believe that. I’m sure people are coming to our games to see us lose.”

If that’s the case, the Toreadores continue to disappoint those outside the Monterey hallways, as they are off to a 10-2 start, 2-0 in defense of its Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division title.

“I don’t think we’re feeling pressure to duplicate what we did last year,” Daniels said. “This is not the same group of kids. We are playing to our strengths.”

Both of Monterey’s losses this year were to perennial powers San Luis Obispo, which is 14-3, and Bellarmine of San Jose, which is 10-1 and ranked third in the Central Coast Section and 30th in the state.

“Those weren’t bad losses at all,” Daniels said. “I’m not a moral victory person. But I wanted to see how we competed. We lost to Bellarmine by 11. But I saw some positive things.”

The Toreadores have not lost a game since, rattling off seven consecutive wins after beating Salinas 60-28 on Thursday.

“Those losses were a reminder we’re not the same team,” guard Dekota Ordonio said. “It gave us a better perception of how people are going to come at us.”

A guard-dominated team last year, the Toreadores have utilized their size to create mismatches in the paint and on the perimeter this winter, starting with 6-foot-5 forward JJ Roth.

Emerging last year in the postseason, the senior set a State Division IV record with five 3-point goals in Monterey’s state clinching title game.

The sharpshooter continues to drain jump shots, while fearless when going to the basket when defended by smaller players.

“JJ is one of my hardest working kids,” Daniels said. “We’ve asked him to step up and lead. He leads by example with his work ethic. He seldom comes out.”

Overshadowed last year by his brother Ryan, who was The Herald’s Player of the Year, Roth dropped in 24 points in Monterey’s Gabilan Division opening overtime win over Pacific Grove last Tuesday.

Daniels, who is in his 20th year as the head coach and has guided the program to all three of its Central Coast Section titles, still runs an attacking offense that pushes in transition.

That’s made possible by the emergence of guard Ordonio and senior post Jamar Aquino, who is developing into a double-double machine.

“We need to understand that we have to play both ends of the floor,” Ordonio said. “Without the defense, there is no offense and it doesn’t flow.”

While both Ordonio and Aquino had late starts because of an extended football season, their athleticism as multi-sport athletes is evident on the hardwood.

“Our style isn’t to slow it down,” Daniels said. “We want to play fast in transition. But we want to throw it inside. We have bigs that can run the floor. We drill it in our practices.”

Ordonio, who came off the bench last year as a sophomore, has developed into a dependable scoring threat, dropping in 18 in the overtime win over Pacific Grove.

“Dekota has made a big jump,” Daniels said. “But it’s not a surprise. I knew what he could do. He would have played more last year if we didn’t have four guards. You could see sparks in his play.”

Coming from a family whose father and older brother have played professionally overseas, Ordonio is a playmaker who can drain the jumper or penetrate with his quickness.

“I knew I could play,” Ordonio said. “Not seeing the floor a lot last year motivated me. It really impacted me. I was determined in the off-season to just get better, being an impact player.”

The leadership of this team has fallen into the hands of Roth and Aquino, two seniors who saw significant action during the team’s state title run last year.

“JJ and Jamar have been really good seniors for us,” Daniels said. “JJ has this ‘I’m not going to lose’ attitude. The younger kids see it.”

The 6-foot-4 Aquino goes about his business on the court, being a disruptive force on defense and an enforcer on the offensive ends.

“Jamar has elevated his game,” Daniels said. “I think he realized we need him to be a leader and accountable. He’s a senior and kids will follow him.”

That leadership that Daniels — a former Monterey football and basketball standout — preaches is exhibited in practice, where the intensity is sometimes greater than the games.

“The younger kids are watching the seniors, how you hustle, how you talk to your younger teammates,” Daniels said. “That’s the program we want to have.”

Somewhat lost in the Toreadores run to a state title — just the second in county history — was the program’s first Gabilan Division title in 12 years last season.

“I think we’re still a little behind,” Daniels said. “Offensively in running our stuff, our timing and spacing has to improve. Once we understand when to attack, we’ll be a better team.”

A league title is still priority No. 1 for the Toreadores, who are 15-1 over their past 16 Gabilan Division games.

“Pacific Grove was good for us,” Daniels said. “We had some adversity. We were down by five in the fourth. A lot of things weren’t going our way. We got it out of our system.”

What pleased Daniels was the production of Jaeden Chen, who continues to come off the bench and provide a boost, dropping in 10 points against Pacific Grove and Salinas.

“Jaeden is a three-year player that comes off the bench,” Daniels said. “He knows the expectations and knows the level of play we expect. He’s a huge contributor.”

So has been junior guard Quinn Johnson and 6-6 sophomore Bronson Gulley, who starts in the paint for Monterey.

“Quinn is really athletic,” Daniels said. “Gulley is providing points in the paint. We have a nice balance. But we’re not where we need to be.”

Perhaps. But the combinations on the court are beginning to find the chemistry. The effort in practice is not lost when Daniels evaluates his team.

“Half the battle is them realizing their mistakes,” Daniels said. “In watching film, they see it on tape. It helps them understand what we haven’t done.”

Daniels points out that last year’s team was loaded with experience, from a four-year starter, to a league MVP, to two players on a CCS title team from the year before. That’s gone.

Yet, the fire from last year’s state run still burns in those who have returned, perhaps being more of an inferno knowing the effort it will take to put themselves in that position again.

“This team has all the pieces,” Daniels said. “We still have to learn to play the right way and execute in key moments. Once we figure that out, we can become a good team. Right now, we’re solid and moving in the right direction.”