Friday, March 20
San Diego, CA
6:45 PM
California Baptist University
vs
University of Kansas
Photo by: Matt Horrocks
MBB Preview: CBU To Make March Madness Debut Friday in San Diego
3/18/2026 3:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SAN DIEGO, CA --- The Lancers are dancing this weekend, as CBU is off to San Diego for the first round of the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. With the Kansas Jayhawks on the schedule Friday night, CBU is hoping the glass slipper fits as the Lancers make their March Madness debut on primetime television.
CBU earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament with its 63-61 victory over Utah Valley in the WAC Championship Game. The win, which was finalized moments before the clock struck midnight on Saturday, was the second WAC title won by CBU that day, as the men's team joined in the celebration started by the CBU women earlier against Abilene Christian.
" We have a great situation at CBU with a great administration and a President that cares," said head coach Rick Croy. "There's so many positives, but you're in the trenches every day, in the same building, in the same weight room, with the women's program. We see the sweat equity they put in, and it's all respect."
Guard Dominique Daniels Jr. has taken over the spotlight following his performance in the WAC Championship Game. Daniels Jr. scored 23 points, but his final nine came on consecutive possessions as he sank three 3-pointers to give the Lancers the lead.
After the game, Daniels Jr. was asked about what it meant to see CBU sweep the WAC on Championship Saturday. Daniels Jr. noted, "When (CBU women's basketball) got the job done, it just got me more excited to play this game. I thought, if we get this job done, we're taking back two trophies. It's truly a blessing, it's definitely an honor, and a moment I will never forget."
Daniels Jr. was named the Most Outstanding Player of the WAC Tournament. He scored 41 points in CBU's semifinal win against Utah Tech.
Just over 15 hours after the championship celebration, CBU learned who its next opponent would be as the 2026 bracket was announced on CBS during Selection Sunday. CBU drew the 13-seed in the East Region and a first-round matchup against 4-seed Kansas.
The winner will move on to Sunday to play either the 5-seed St. John's or the 12-seed Northern Iowa.
Kansas enters the NCAA Tournament for the 53rd time in program history and is led by head coach Bill Self, who is in his 23rd year in Lawrence. Self has guided the Jayhawks to a pair of national championship wins and is an inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, class of 2017.
The Jayhawks enter the tournament 23-10 and will be playing for the first time since their Big 12 Tournament semifinal loss against Houston, 69-47, on March 13. Kansas is ranked No. 17 in the most recent Associated Press Coaches' Poll.
Guard Darryn Peterson leads the Jayhawks in scoring with 19.8 PPG. Kansas features four players scoring double digits. The Jayhawks average 75.6 PPG and allow 69.4 PPG.
The Lancers are led on the offensive end by Daniels Jr., who enters the tournament averaging 23.2 PPG, the fifth most in Division I. Daniels Jr. has six 30-point games this season, including a 31-point outing against Big 12 foe Utah. Martel Williams is second on the Lancers in scoring with 12.7 PPG.
CBU is one of the top rebounding teams in the nation as they enter the tournament averaging 39.9 RPG, the No. 21 rebounding average in Division I. CBU's 7.3 RPG margin is the No. 18 margin in the nation. Thomas Ndong leads CBU with 6.6 RPG, followed by Jonathan Griman (5.9) and Bradey Henige (5.5).
Friday night's game is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. from Viejas Arena in San Diego. The game will air nationally on CBS. Kevin Harlan, Robbie Hummel, and Stan Van Gundy will be on the call. Kevin Kugler and PJ Carlesimo will have the national radio call on Westwood One.
CBU earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament with its 63-61 victory over Utah Valley in the WAC Championship Game. The win, which was finalized moments before the clock struck midnight on Saturday, was the second WAC title won by CBU that day, as the men's team joined in the celebration started by the CBU women earlier against Abilene Christian.
" We have a great situation at CBU with a great administration and a President that cares," said head coach Rick Croy. "There's so many positives, but you're in the trenches every day, in the same building, in the same weight room, with the women's program. We see the sweat equity they put in, and it's all respect."
Guard Dominique Daniels Jr. has taken over the spotlight following his performance in the WAC Championship Game. Daniels Jr. scored 23 points, but his final nine came on consecutive possessions as he sank three 3-pointers to give the Lancers the lead.
After the game, Daniels Jr. was asked about what it meant to see CBU sweep the WAC on Championship Saturday. Daniels Jr. noted, "When (CBU women's basketball) got the job done, it just got me more excited to play this game. I thought, if we get this job done, we're taking back two trophies. It's truly a blessing, it's definitely an honor, and a moment I will never forget."
Daniels Jr. was named the Most Outstanding Player of the WAC Tournament. He scored 41 points in CBU's semifinal win against Utah Tech.
Just over 15 hours after the championship celebration, CBU learned who its next opponent would be as the 2026 bracket was announced on CBS during Selection Sunday. CBU drew the 13-seed in the East Region and a first-round matchup against 4-seed Kansas.
The winner will move on to Sunday to play either the 5-seed St. John's or the 12-seed Northern Iowa.
Kansas enters the NCAA Tournament for the 53rd time in program history and is led by head coach Bill Self, who is in his 23rd year in Lawrence. Self has guided the Jayhawks to a pair of national championship wins and is an inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, class of 2017.
The Jayhawks enter the tournament 23-10 and will be playing for the first time since their Big 12 Tournament semifinal loss against Houston, 69-47, on March 13. Kansas is ranked No. 17 in the most recent Associated Press Coaches' Poll.
Guard Darryn Peterson leads the Jayhawks in scoring with 19.8 PPG. Kansas features four players scoring double digits. The Jayhawks average 75.6 PPG and allow 69.4 PPG.
The Lancers are led on the offensive end by Daniels Jr., who enters the tournament averaging 23.2 PPG, the fifth most in Division I. Daniels Jr. has six 30-point games this season, including a 31-point outing against Big 12 foe Utah. Martel Williams is second on the Lancers in scoring with 12.7 PPG.
CBU is one of the top rebounding teams in the nation as they enter the tournament averaging 39.9 RPG, the No. 21 rebounding average in Division I. CBU's 7.3 RPG margin is the No. 18 margin in the nation. Thomas Ndong leads CBU with 6.6 RPG, followed by Jonathan Griman (5.9) and Bradey Henige (5.5).
Friday night's game is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. from Viejas Arena in San Diego. The game will air nationally on CBS. Kevin Harlan, Robbie Hummel, and Stan Van Gundy will be on the call. Kevin Kugler and PJ Carlesimo will have the national radio call on Westwood One.
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