CSUB’s ‘Rich’ wrestling history continues at nationals today
One of the longest-running streaks in Kern County sports nearly came to an end earlier this month.
Chance Rich, Cal State Bakersfield’s nationally ranked 133-pound wrestler, looked to be the Roadrunners’ best candidate to excel at the Pac-12 Championships on March 5 and continue the program’s 49-year run of NCAA Tournament bids, but he aggravated an injury and had to medically forfeit a pair of matches.
No other CSUB wrestler finished above fifth place, the Roadrunners came in last in the conference and the streak looked to be in jeopardy before the redshirt junior Rich — with a proven record of qualifying in two previous seasons — got an at-large bid from the NCAA on March 7.
Now, seeded at No. 21 in his class, Rich is in Tulsa, Okla., and ready to take on No. 12 Chris Cannon from Northwestern this morning.
Rich will be the final winter-sport athlete in competition, as spring teams continue to move deeper into their conference schedules.
BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE Baseball:
Canyons completed a sweep in BC’s first conference series of the year. The Cougars beat the Renegades 17-5 and 9-6 last Thursday and Monday behind eight combined hits and six RBIs from former CSUB freshman standout Andrew Allanson. Luis Fuentes, on a hot streak of his own after missing several weeks of action, drove in four runs of his own, but it wasn’t enough as BC fell to 6-14 with nine straight losses. The team will host LA Mission today.
Softball: The Renegades continue to suffer from weather-related schedule disruptions. After taking a tough 2-0 home loss to conference rival Antelope Valley last Thursday, BC had its Tuesday matchup at LA Mission moved up to Bakersfield Wednesday before overnight rain in town forced another postponement. After playing just four games in the last three weeks, the Renegades will travel to Citrus today.
Miscellaneous and looking ahead:
Men’s tennis picked up its second straight win against Glendale to improve to 6-3 and will host Santa Barbara today ... After the weather
unranked Memphis in the American Athletic Conference title game, minus league player of the year Marcus Sasser (strained groin). They will open against Northern Kentucky (22-12). Potential hurdles could include Penn State, which took Purdue down to the wire in the Big Ten, and SEC Tournament runner-up Texas A&M.
WEST REGION: The Jayhawks fell 76-56 to Texas in the Big 12 championship game and they wound up with the top seed in a stacked region. They will open against Howard (22-12), making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1992. Potential hurdles include No. 6 TCU (2112), which beat Kansas at Allen Field House 83-60 on Jan. 21, and Arkansas (20-13).
GAMES TO WATCH No. 7 Texas A&M (25-9) vs. No. 10 Penn State (22-13)., today, 6:55 p.m. (TBS):
The Aggies, who felt snubbed last season, are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018, and the Nittany Lions’ drought dated to 2011. Both flirted with league tournament titles and have been hot. Texas A&M went 19-4 after a loss to Wofford and Penn State has won eight of 10.
No. 8 Arkansas (20-13) vs. No. 9 Illinois (20-12), today, 1:30 p.m. (TBS):
The Razorbacks have made back-to-back trips to the Elite Eight. Top prospect and potential top NBA draft pick Nick Smith Jr. has only played in 14 games because of knee issues, but has scored 20-plus in half of the team’s last six. Illinois won the Big Ten season title before being ousted by Penn State in the first round of the league tournament. Illinois is led by transfers Terrence Shannon Jr. (Texas Tech) and Matthew Mayer, who helped lead Baylor to the 2021 national championship.
No. 5 Miami (25-7) vs. Drake (27-7), Friday, 4:35 p.m. (TBS):
The game features two conference players of the year, Miami’s Isaiah Wong in the ACC for the regular-season co-champions, and Drake’s Tucker DeVries from the Missouri Valley Conference tournament champs. DeVries is averaging 19 points while Wong leads the team in scoring (16.2 points per game), assists and steals. Drake made the Elite Eight three years running, though it has been a while (1969-71).
No. 6 Kentucky (21-11) vs. No. 11 Providence (21-11), Friday, 4:10 p.m. (CBS):
Led by last year’s AP player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe, the Wildcats are trying to avoid back-to-back firstround exits after that infamous defeat to Saint Peter’s. The Friars, meanwhile, went to the Sweet 16 before losing to eventual champion Kansas. They’re led by Kentucky transfer Bryce Hopkins.
GO FIGURE
Texas Southern and Kennesaw State are in. North Carolina is not.
The Tar Heels are the first team since the bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985 to start the season ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 poll and finish it with an NCAA tourney airball.
Kennessaw State, three years removed from a 1-28 season, made the field. So did Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament champion Texas Southern, which is 14-20. Southern Conference champ Furman is dancing for the first time since 1980 and MEAC winner Howard makes its first appearance since 1992.
GO DEEPER
Gun violence has cost lives and disrupted college sports all season, touching some of the top programs in college basketball, including Alabama. Coaches have been thrust into uncertain and unwelcome roles in trying to navigate the topic — as well as the fallout from the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
The NCAA Tournament is filled with great players and the AP All-America team is a good place to get familiar with the names. It’s also an event where guys you’ve never heard of — no offense, Drake — can take a star turn. Guard play is always going to be important (see: Baylor, 2021 title winner) and there are some NBA prospects in the mix.
Bet on this, too: Some player — maybe more than one — will have a chance to join the mustachioed Doug Edert (remember Saint Peters’ inspiring run last year?) and find a way to cash in on their celebrity.
HOW TO WATCH
Every game of the men’s tournament will be aired somewhere, either on CBS, TBS, TNT or TruTV and their digital platforms. CBS will have the Final Four semifinals and national title game this year. Fans of Jim Nantz should soak up every moment: It’s his final NCAA Tournament.
There are multiple sites listing game times, channel and announcing team, including the NCAA and CBS. The NCAA will again stream games via its March Madness Live option and CBS games will be streamed on Paramount+.
BETTING GUIDE
Who’s going to win the national championship? The betting favorites this week to reach the Final Four are Houston, Alabama, Purdue and either Kansas or UCLA, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
MARCH MADNESS CALENDAR
Selection Sunday set the bracket matchup s for the First Four and first- and second-round games that stretch from Florida to California.
Sweet 16 weekend will see games in New York City (East Region), Las Vegas (West), Kansas City, Missouri (Midwest), and Louisville, Kentucky (South).
Where is the Final Four? In Houston, on April 1, with the championship game on April 3. Basketball aficionados, take note: The women’s NCAA Tournament will hold its Final Four in Dallas, a four-hour drive up the road from Houston.
Can’t get enough March Madness? Well, there is talk about expanding the tournament despite a host of challenges. Enjoy the 68-team version for now!