Don't forget this jewel of a Post Season Tounament, with all games at Daytona Beach. Round 1 Games today & Sunday
GL

Chicago State Cougars (12-18) vs. UCSD Tritons (21-11, 15-5 Big West)

Daytona Beach, Florida; Saturday, 3:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: UCSD and Chicago State square off in the College Basketball Invitational.

The Tritons' record in Big West games is 15-5, and their record is 6-6 in non-conference play. UCSD is sixth in the Big West with 23.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones averaging 4.5.

The Cougars' record in DI Independent action is 0-0. Chicago State is the DI Independent leader with 19.9 defensive rebounds per game led by Jahsean Corbett averaging 5.4.

UCSD averages 8.8 made 3-pointers per game, 2.7 more made shots than the 6.1 per game Chicago State gives up. Chicago State averages 69.1 points per game, 0.1 fewer than the 69.2 UCSD gives up to opponents.

TOP PERFORMERS: Tait-Jones is averaging 13.7 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Tritons. Bryce Pope is averaging 17.4 points over the last 10 games.

Wesley Cardet Jr. is scoring 18.1 points per game with 4.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists for the Cougars. Corbett is averaging 20.1 points and 9.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Tritons: 6-4, averaging 75.9 points, 34.6 rebounds, 11.9 assists, 5.4 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 74.3 points per game.

Cougars: 5-5, averaging 79.4 points, 38.1 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.2 points.

The College Basketball Invitational receives a fraction of the attention devoted to the NCAA Tournament — or even the NIT.

None of that matters to second-seeded UC San Diego, which will make its Division I postseason debut Saturday against No. 15 Chicago State in a first-round CBI matchup in Daytona Beach, Fla. The game tips at 12:30 p.m. PDT and will be available to stream at Flohoops.com.

The winner faces either Fairfield or Little Rock in Monday’s quarterfinals.

For coach Eric Olen’s team, the chance to keep playing — and perhaps even cut down nets — is a nice reward after going 21-11 overall and 15-5 in Big West Conference play. The Tritons were in the hunt for at least a share of the regular-season conference title until the final week and finished second behind UC Irvine.

Because the program is in the final year of a four-season probation period while completing the jump from Division II to Division I, the Tritons were not eligible to play in the NCAA or NIT tournaments.

The Big West elected to not invite them to the conference tournament — won by Long Beach State — either.

So, CBI it is.

“We’re thrilled to extend our season and I’m really proud of our guys for getting to play in such a competitive, quality event like the CBI,” Olen said. “I think we can learn a lot from it. Really proud of our effort through this conference season. I think we learned a lot going through the Big West season and being in contention, playing in big games that mattered late in February and March. And now the CBI can let us learn about being in a tournament setting, a lose-or-go home setting. Our guys are ready to go.”

Olen, who is completing his 11th season coaching the Tritons, was named Big West Coach of the Year. Senior guard Bryce Pope (Torrey Pines High School) was named first-team All-Big West and is a finalist for the Lou Henson Award, presented annually to the top player at the mid-major level

Pope averages 19.3 points per game while playing 36.5 minutes. His consistency mirrors that of the Tritons.

Olen started the same five players — Pope, junior guard Hayden Grey, junior guard/forward Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, junior forward Francis Nwaokorie and senior forward J’Raan Brooks — in every game. Junior guard Tyler McGhie came off the bench with great success; he won the Big West Sixth Man of the Year award.

The Tritons were the only team in their conference to garner multiple postseason awards.

Chicago State (12-18) plays as the nation’s only Division I independent and will be making its first postseason appearance since 2013.

The Tritons and Cougars will be meeting for the first time. Notably, Chicago State upset NCAA tournament participant Northwestern 74-64 on Nov. 14.

First round: Saturday & Sunday, March 23-24

Game 1: No. 8 Northern Colorado vs. No. 9 Cleveland State, March 24, 11 a.m.

Game 2: No. 4 Arkansas State vs. No. 13 Bethune Cookman, March 23, 1 p.m.

Game 3: No. 5 Montana vs. No. 12 Presbyterian, March 24, 1 p.m.

Game 4: No. 2 UCSD vs. No. 15 Chicago State, March 23, 3:30 p.m.

Game 5: No. 7 Fairfield vs. No. 10 Little Rock, March 24, 3:30 p.m.

Game 6: No. 3 Seattle vs. No. 14 Delaware State, March 23, 5:30 p.m.

Game 7: No. 6 Quinnipiac vs. No. 11 Evansville, March 24, 5:30 p.m.

Cleveland State Vikings (20-14, 13-10 Horizon League) vs. Northern Colorado Bears (19-13, 12-7 Big Sky)

Daytona Beach, Florida; Sunday, 11 a.m. EDT

Northern Colorado and Cleveland State meet in the College Basketball Invitational.

The Bears' record in Big Sky games is 12-7, and their record is 7-6 in non-conference play. Northern Colorado ranks fourth in the Big Sky with 7.2 offensive rebounds per game led by Brock Wisne averaging 1.8.

The Vikings are 13-10 in Horizon League play. Cleveland State is fifth in the Horizon League with 35.2 rebounds per game led by Tristan Enaruna averaging 6.5.

Northern Colorado makes 49.0% of its shots from the field this season, which is 3.5 percentage points higher than Cleveland State has allowed to its opponents (45.5%). Cleveland State averages 6.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.3 fewer made shots on average than the 8.8 per game Northern Colorado gives up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Saint Thomas is scoring 19.6 points per game with 9.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Bears. Dejour Reaves is averaging 17.8 points and 1.6 steals over the past 10 games.

Drew Lowder is averaging 11.6 points for the Vikings. Enaruna is averaging 19.7 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 49.0% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bears: 6-4, averaging 78.4 points, 33.4 rebounds, 15.3 assists, 6.3 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 50.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 76.6 points per game.

Vikings: 6-4, averaging 74.4 points, 34.0 rebounds, 13.6 assists, 7.8 steals and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.7 points.

Neither Saint Thomas nor Abercrombie in Northern Colorado’s lineup.

Thomas, Abercrombie, and Dejour Reaves are all out for UNC. Wondering why NoCo paid to play in this tournament

more CBI notes, which will be notable for absences (no Ben Humrichous for Evansville, Jalen Leach for Fairfield

Cleveland State 12, Northen Colorado 12 - 5:04 (1H).

Teams are a combined 14-60 from the field. UNC has shot 16 threes and made 1 so far

for those that noticed the Cleveland St/N Colorado total dropped 4 points , 15 minutes before tip due to injuries, they are at 38 at the half with a 156 full game total
GL

22-88 from the field in the CBI game! 6-14 from the FT line, 4-29 from 3. Incredible stuff

one of the top sweat free unders ever played, combined for 100 with a 156 total
GL

there are 2 more nice spots today , with the moves
GL

here we go again on the next CBI game
GL

No Marquis Barnett here. Only played 14 min in Big South tourney off an injury, so would not be shocking if he sat this out

just some great spots Monday & today
GL

This CBI semifinal will be played at Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. Arkansas State (20-16) is the 4-seed and just outlasted Montana 74-61 in yesterday’s quarterfinal. On the flip side, High Point (26-8) is the 1-seed and just crushed Cleveland State 93-74 yesterday. This line opened with High Point listed as a 2.5-point neutral site favorite. The public thinks this line is way too short and they’re rushing to the window to lay the points with top seed High Point.

Wednesday, 03/27/2024 (619) SEATTLE vs. (620) HIGH POINT
Favoring: HIGH POINT against the spread.
HIGH POINT is 7-0 ATS (+7 Units) versus good defensive teams - shooting pct defense of <=42% this season.
The average score was HIGH POINT 82, OPPONENT 74.6 - (Rating = 3*)

Wednesday, 03/27/2024 (619) SEATTLE vs. (620) HIGH POINT
Favoring: HIGH POINT against the spread.
HIGH POINT is 7-0 ATS (+7 Units) as an underdog this season.
The average score was HIGH POINT 82.2, OPPONENT 77.2 - (Rating = 3*)

Wednesday, 03/27/2024 (619) SEATTLE vs. (620) HIGH POINT
Favoring: SEATTLE against the spread.
SEATTLE is 13-3 ATS (+9.7 Units) versus good teams - outscoring their opponents by 4+ points/game this season.
The average score was SEATTLE 75.9, OPPONENT 71.2 - (Rating = 3*)

Wednesday, 03/27/2024 (619) SEATTLE vs. (620) HIGH POINT
Favoring: SEATTLE against the spread.
SEATTLE is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) versus very good teams - outscoring their opponents by 8+ points/game this season.
The average score was SEATTLE 81.1, OPPONENT 76.1 - (Rating = 3*)

Wednesday, 03/27/2024 (619) SEATTLE vs. (620) HIGH POINT
Favoring: SEATTLE on the first half line.
SEATTLE is 12-1 (+10.9 Units) against the 1rst half line versus good shooting teams - making >=45% of their shots this season.
The average score was SEATTLE 37.2, OPPONENT 31.5 - (Rating = 5*)

Wednesday, 03/27/2024 (619) SEATTLE vs. (620) HIGH POINT
Favoring: SEATTLE on the first half line.
SEATTLE is 9-0 (+9 Units) against the 1rst half line versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game this season.
The average score was SEATTLE 39.7, OPPONENT 32.4 - (Rating = 5*)