Tritons making big strides in final season of transition to Division I
Because it is transitioning to Division I, UC San Diego won’t be eligible to play in the Big West Conference Tournament this season.
Coach Eric Olen’s team has to make the most of the regular season.
So far, so good for the Tritons (9-6 overall) who are 3-0 in Big West play for the first time since making the leap from Division II to Division I at the start of the 2021-22 season.
A home win over Cal State Bakersfield (76-64) followed by last week’s away victories over UC Santa Barbara (79-72) and Cal State Fullerton (76-58) are evidence that the program’s transition through a mandatory reclassification period is rolling along nicely.
Add in a win earlier this season over USD and a near-upset victory over now No. 19-San Diego State, and the big picture looks even better.
“Really good road trip,” Olen said. “It’s hard to win on the road in the Big West, and even harder to get two. ... We feel great about the performance. The exciting part is that we can continue to improve. We haven’t played our best basketball yet.”
Tougher tests loom. UCSD still has to play Long Beach State and conference leader and preseason favorite UC Irvine. But the Tritons, who rank third in Big West points allowed (67.5 ppg), have the third-best scoring margin (9.1 ppg) and are shooting 34.7 percent from 3-point range as a team, have shown they can play with anyone.
Olen has utilized the same starting lineup in all 15 games. Senior guard Bryce Pope, who scored a season-high 29 points in the win at Fullerton, has gone for 20 or more in six games.
The 18-point margin of victory at Fullerton was UC San Diego’s largest ever in Big West play.
“It starts defensively,” Olen said. “We’ve made a lot of progress on defense . ... We’re rebounding the ball better and that feeds our offense. … When we move the ball and get quality shots, we’re capable of putting up points.”
Next up: The Tritons host Long Beach State (11-5, 3-1 Big West) Thursday at 7 p.m. and visit Cal Poly (4-12,
0-4 Big West) at 7 p.m. on Saturday
Toreros get another shot
USD (10-7, 0-2 WCC) opened conference play with losses at home to Saint Mary’s and at No. 23 Gonzaga.
The next challenge for coach Steve Lavin’s team comes Thursday, when a good San Francisco squad visits Jenny Craig Pavilion.
Toreros guard Deuce Turner scored a career-high 34 points against Saint Mary’s, then 24 at Gonzaga and has made 12 of 14 from 3-point range in the last two games.
USF has won four straight and seven of eight. Forward Jonathan Mogbo, a 6-8, 225-pound transfer from Missouri State, is coming off a 30-point, 18rebound effort in a 92-88 overtime win at Pacific.
Next up: The Toreros host San Francisco (12-4, 1-0 WCC) Thursday at 7 p.m. and host Pepperdine (7-10, 0-2 WCC) Saturday at 7 p.m.
Clutch shooting for PLNU
Point Loma Nazarene (10-4, 5-1 PacWest) has won consecutive games thanks in large part to clutch 3point shooting.
In a 68-60 win over Fresno Pacific last Wednesday, Luke Smith and Jake Lifgren knocked down 3-balls in the final 1:08 to help ice that win; and on Saturday, Coby Barnes completed a 16-point second-half comeback by draining a corner 3-ball off an inbounds pass with 0.6 on the clock to lift the Sea Lions to a 74-71 win over Hawaii Hilo.
PLNU is shooting 34.7 percent from 3-point range on the season and creating open looks from deep, particularly from the corners, has been a strength.
“Shooting is an emphasis for us in recruiting and in the way we play,” coach Justin Downer said. “You may have noticed we don’t exactly have a bunch of guys tearing down the rim so moving the ball and creating open shots is key for us.”
The Sea Lions have won three straight going into tonight’s showdown for first place PacWest showdown against Biola.
Next up: The Sea Lions host Biola (11-4, 6-1 PacWest) today at 7:30 p.m and play at Fresno Pacific (1-11, 0-5 PacWest) Saturday at 4:30 p.m.