The Cal Men's Basketball program is gearing up for an exciting showdown as they secure a 2-seed in the NIT Tournament. They'll be hosting the University of Illinois-Chicago this Wednesday evening, with the action tipping off at 8 PM on ESPN+.
UIC Flames come into this matchup with a solid 19-15 record, having clinched fifth place in the competitive Missouri Valley Conference. This marks their first postseason appearance since their impressive run to the CIT finals back in the 2017-18 season.
Should Cal emerge victorious on Wednesday, they’ll then host the winner of the Colorado State vs. Saint Joseph’s clash.
The Albuquerque bracket is stacked, featuring top-seeded New Mexico and 4-seed Utah Valley, the former team of Mark Madsen.
Meanwhile, Coach Charmin Smith’s Golden Bears have also made waves, securing a #3 seed in the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament. They'll be taking on the Santa Clara Broncos on Thursday.
The Broncos boast a strong 24-9 record, finishing third in the WCC, and their 13 conference wins tie the most in their program’s history. Their last appearance in the WBIT was after the 2024-25 season.
The game time for Thursday’s face-off is yet to be announced. If the Golden Bears advance, they’ll face off against the winner of the #2 seeded Kansas State vs. Georgia Tech game.
It’s shaping up to be an exhilarating week at Haas Pavilion, so let’s pack the stands and support our Bears!