CHICO – The Chico State men’s basketball team has begrudgingly taken on the role of spoiler in recent seasons when it comes to the last weekend of the regular season. Playoff positioning has often been on the line for the opponents, but not the Wildcats. But this time around, the Wildcats are playing for playoff positioning. They have already clinched a spot in next week’s California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament, but their games at Cal State Dominguez Hills Thursday and Cal State L.A. Friday will determine whether they are the No. 5, 6, 7, or 8 seed.
Chico State, 14-11 on the season, enters the weekend tied for fifth place in the CCAA standings with San Francisco State at 10-10. Cal State Dominguez Hills is currently in fourth place at 14-6 in the CCAA and 14-11 overall. Cal State L.A. is tied for seventh with Sonoma State, one game behind the Wildcats, at 9-11 in the CCAA and 13-12 overall.
The Golden Eagles are the only top-eight CCAA team that has not yet clinched a CCAA Championship Tournament berth. They are still in need of one win or one UC San Diego loss this weekend.
The winner of the CCAA Championship Tournament earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament; thus, earning a higher seed is certainly on the Wildcats’ minds. They are guaranteed the No. 5 seed with a pair of wins this weekend, but that may be easier said than done. Dominguez Hills beat the Wildcats 55-40 earlier this season in Acker Gym, and the Wildcats won a 62-61 thriller against Cal State L.A. If the Wildcats split, they will be the No. 5, 6, or 7 seed. If they lose both, they could be seeded anywhere from fifth to eighth.
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Below are all the scenarios that could play out for the Wildcats:
1. If Chico State wins both games it would clinch the No. 5 seed with two wins.
2. If Chico State splits this weekend:
a. it will be the No. 5 seed if Sonoma State AND San Francisco State each lose at least once.
b. it will be the No. 6 seed if Sonoma State OR San Francisco State lose at least once.
c. it will be the No. 7 seed if Sonoma AND San Francisco win two this weekend.
3. If Chico State loses both games:
a. it will be the No. 5 seed if Cal State L.A. loses to Cal State Stanislaus AND Sonoma State AND San Francisco State each lose both of their games.
b. it will be the No. 6 seed if two of the following happen: Cal State L.A. loses to Cal State Stanislaus, Sonoma loses both, or San Francisco State loses both.
c. it will be the No. 7 seed if one of the following happen: Cal State L.A. loses to Cal State Stanislaus, Sonoma loses both, or San Francisco State loses both.
d. it will be the No. 8 seed if Cal State L.A. beats Stanislaus AND Sonoma State AND San Francisco State each win at least once.
