California Baptist selected for school's first-ever NCAA men's basketball tournament appearance
For the first time in the school's nearly 80-year history, California Baptist University is going dancing in March Madness. The Lancers first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament comes after they were selected by tournament organizers on Sunday.
The Lancers, who earned a No. 13 seed, qualified for the tournament with their 63-61 victory over Utah Valley University in the Western Athletic Conference tournament championship game.
"Truly a dream come true," said Head Coach Rick Croy while speaking with CBS LA. "For our players, for our coaches, for our athletic department, for our university. It's really special, we're soaking in the moment."
It's their fourth season of eligibility for the tournament after moving from Division II to Division I and joining the WAC. They had previously made two different Division II Men's Basketball Tournaments, with their farthest run coming in 2018 when they made the Elite Eight.
CBU first organized a basketball team in 1956, marking a 70-year history before securing a spot in the tournament. They will face off against the No. 4-ranked Kansas Jayhawks, who will be making their 35th consecutive appearance. Kansas was 23-10 on the year and fell in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament.
The Lancers are 25-8 this season and enter the tournament on a six-game win streak. They are led by graduate student Dominique Daniels Jr., from Compton. He is averaging 23.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He has a team-high 103 assists on the year and ranks second overall in steals with 32.
Daniels Jr. made the game-winning shot on Saturday night, nailing a 3-point shot with just 17 seconds left to play.
"We play hard and we're gonna compete," Daniels Jr. said on Selection Sunday. "We're not competing just for show, we're here to win games."
CBU's women team was also selected for the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament, making CBU one of six universities to have both their men's and women's programs selected for March Madness play after winning their respective conferences, according to CBU's Vice President for Athletics, Dr. Micah Parker.
Despite getting off to a rough start to begin the season, the Lancers were able to turn it around at the perfect time.
"Right before Christmas, we lost six games in a row and most teams kind of fall apart when that happens," said Head Coach Jarrod Olson. "Our team used it as a rallying point."
The women's team secured a No. 16 seed and will face off against the No. 1-seeded UCLA Bruins.
"It's kind of a David and Goliath type of situation, but I will be your best to show and do everything we can," Olson said.
His players agree, including freshman Lauren Olsen, the team's leading scorer this season.
"I've always thought being the underdog is almost a better situation, because one, you get to have fun and two, you get to compete and give it your all," Olsen said.
CBU and UCLA will face off on Saturday at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, where the Bruins play their home games.
