The UC San Diego men’s basketball team is heading to the 2025 NCAA Tournament after winning the Big West Conference. In the Big West tournament, it defeated UC Santa Barbara 69-51 and UC Irvine 75-61 in the championship game to clinch the auto-bid.
The Tritons are 30-4 overall this season and on a 15-game winning streak.
UC San Diego NCAA Tournament Appearances
In 2025, UC San Diego basketball will make its 1st appearance in the Division 1 NCAA Tournament in its 1st year eligible for the Big Dance.
The Tritons joined Division I and the Big West Conference from Division II in 2020, which came with a four-year transition period.
They appeared in the NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament five times between 2008 and 2020.
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UC San Diego Basketball NCAA Tournament Wins
UC San Diego has not won a game in the Division 1 NCAA Tournament, appearing in the Big Dance for the first time in 2025 and losing to Michigan
UC San Diego Basketball Coach Eric Olen Salary
Eric Olen has a 2024-25 base salary of $345,000 as UC San Diego’s head coach.
Olen is in his 12th season leading the program and is the all-time wins leader in Triton basketball history. He has been the head coach at UC San Diego since 2013-14, and it’s his first and only college head coaching job. Olen was an assistant coach on the staff from 2004-2013 before being promoted to head coach.
Olen played collegiately at Spring Hill College, helping the Badgers to three straight NAIA National Tournament appearances, highlighted by trips to the Elite Eight in 2000 and 2001.
