SAN DIEGO, CA (KGTV) — The UC San Diego men's basketball program has become quite a story after they competed at the NCAA Division II level from 2000 to 2019.
In 2021, they made the move to Division I and the Big West Conference, and the team is off to their best start in program history with a 17-4 record going into Tuesday night.
"It's quite the progression from where we started as a non-scholarship division two school to now competing for the top of the Big West and playing high-level Division I games," says UCSD Head Coach Eric Olen.
Olen is in his 12th season as the Triton's head coach. Under his guidance, the team is receiving national attention and is one of the top mid-major programs in the country.
"It's an amazing place. I think coach Olen and his entire coaching staff has prepared us for big games, and prepared us for all that can be thrown at us," said guard Chris Howell.
"I think the program is in a great spot. We have a great group of guys, a great coaching staff, and we all play well off each other," added guard Hayden Gray.
"I'm pleased as this is a really good team that we have. We have guys that have bought into the way we want to play and they are playing great basketball," Olen said.
The Triton's move from NCAA Division II to Division I meant a four-year reclassification period that made them ineligible for postseason tournaments. That all changed this season, as they can now take part in the Big West Conference tournament and, hopefully, the NCAA Tournament.
"It's the tournament at the end that means the most," said Olen. "So it's all about working towards our best basketball."
