As Cal Baptist gears up for its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, all eyes are on their Friday night clash with Kansas in San Diego. Tipoff is set for 8:45 p.m. CT, and the Lancers, under the guidance of head coach Rick Croy, are ready to make their mark on the big stage.
Rick Croy, a San Diego native, has a rich coaching journey that began after his playing days at San Francisco State in the late '90s. His path took him from an assistant role at UC Riverside to head coach at Citrus College, and then to St.
Mary's as an assistant. In 2013, he took the reins at Cal Baptist, leading them through a significant transition from Division II to Division I between 2018 and 2019.
Since then, the Lancers have posted a respectable 143-107 record, a testament to Croy's leadership and vision.
Facing Kansas, a powerhouse in college basketball, is no small task. This game marks Cal Baptist's fourth encounter with a Big 12 team this season, having previously battled Utah, BYU, and Colorado. Croy knows the challenge ahead but remains optimistic and focused.
Discussing the matchup, Croy expressed immense respect for Kansas and their legendary coach. "When the draw came out, people talked about Kansas being up and down, but I told our team, this is one of the great college basketball coaches of all time.
We're preparing for the best version of Kansas," Croy stated. He emphasized the importance of staying assignment-driven and acknowledged the formidable speed and skill of Kansas' players, particularly Council on the outlets.
When asked about the possibility of an upset, Croy reframed the narrative. "Our group's been elite with preparation.
We're not trying to shock anybody; we're trying to outcompete them," he said. Acknowledging the challenges on paper, Croy highlighted the confidence within his team, forged through tough experiences, including a tough loss to BYU.
The stage may be bigger, but the Lancers are prepared to rise to the occasion.
One player who stands out in this matchup is Kansas' Darryn Peterson. Croy praised Peterson's exceptional talent and work ethic, noting the pressure that comes with being a top prospect.
"He's a very skilled player and a tremendous athlete. You can see why he's been identified as a number one pick," Croy remarked.
The Lancers know they need to be at their best to contain Peterson and make things difficult for him on the court.
As the Lancers step onto the court, they're not just looking to compete-they're aiming to seize the opportunity and make history in their NCAA Tournament debut.