The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2023-24 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach State Basketball is sponsored by CSULB Distinguished Alumnus Nelson Farris.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach State men’s basketball for the 2023-24 season is sponsored by Arline & Mike Walter.
It’s been a long 12 years for Long Beach State men’s basketball fans.
What followed after the Beach played in the NCAA Tournament in 2007 and 2012 was a dozen years of near misses and disappointment. Many of those LBSU teams were favorites to win the Big West Conference championship, but this 2024 team was certainly not.
That was especially true this month after the Beach closed the regular season on a five-game losing streak and 17-year coach Dan Monson was told his contract would not be renewed after his next loss.
A galvanized LBSU squad turned it all around at the perfect time to beat UC Riverside, top-seeded UC Irvine and UC Davis in the conference tournament and punch its ticket to the big dance.
As part of the West Region hosted in Salt Lake City, No. 15 LBSU is facing No. 2 Arizona on Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Delta Center.
“It’s going to be a tall task but that’s what the NCAA Tournament is about, it’s meeting tall tasks and conquering them,” said LBSU coach Dan Monson. “Is it a good draw? Probably not, but I know 300 teams in the NCAA Division I that aren’t in the tournament that would do anything to have that opportunity to play Arizona.”
Arizona is one of the best offenses in the nation this season and Las Vegas oddsmakers have them as one of the top four teams most likely to win the tournament. Although LBSU has been outscoring teams and struggling defensively all year, coach Dan Monson said his team won’t reinvent themselves.
“One thing you can’t do is go to the NCAA Tournament and try to be somebody you’re not,” said Monson. “We’re not going to hold the ball so we only get beat by 20 instead of 30. We’re going to play and try to be the aggressor. We’re not going to run with them but we’re going to try and find opportunities on the open floor because that’s where we’re the best.”
Junior forward Aboubacar Traore has been the best player on the floor for LBSU and was named Big West Tournament MVP last weekend. CLICK HERE to read more about Traore.
“I think this is a team that can win games in the tournament and we’re going to find out,” said Monson.
