The Chico State men's basketball team will reach the halfway point of its California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) schedule this week, and the Wildcats' fans are hoping it marks the start of a run toward the postseason.
 
At 4-6 in the CCAA (5-6 overall), the Wildcats are currently tied for ninth place in the conference standings, a game and a half behind Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Dominguez Hills, which are tied for seventh. The top eight teams at the end of the regular season will advance to the conference's postseason tournament.
 
The top four teams will host a first-round game and the next four will be on the road. The Wildcats are only two games out of fourth, where there is currently a three-team logjam.
 
However, during practice this week following a convincing win against Cal State Dominguez Hills and a galling overtime loss against Cal State LA, there was no talk about the postseason coming from Head Coach Greg Clink or the rest of the Wildcats. They are working to create continuity both during games (a full 40-minute effort) and from game to game.
 
The team's first 11 games have proven that if they can find that continuity, they certainly have the talent to make that run.
 
The Wildcats are at Cal State Monterey Bay Thursday night at 7:30 and at Cal State East Bay Saturday afternoon at 3. Mike Baca will be courtside to provide the play-by-play, broadcast locally on Newstalk 1290-AM and 102.9 FM KPAY, and simulcast on the Internet via www.chicowildcats.com. Links to live stats and live streaming video will also be available online.
 
One obvious example of the Wildcats' upside is its 59-45 victory over Cal State East Bay earlier this season. In that game, Chico State handed the 13-3 Pioneers one of their rare losses this season, holding them to season lows in points, field-goal percentage, 3-point percentage, made 3-pointers, and rebounds.
 
Cal State East Bay enters Thursday night's game against Humboldt State second in the CCAA standings with a conference record of 8-2.
 
That win marked the Wildcats' 14^th straight against Cal State East Bay. They are 18-1 against the Pioneers in the Clink era and 55-32 since the teams began playing beginning in the 1964-65 season.  
 
Prior to Saturday's rematch, Chico State will take on winless Cal State Monterey Bay (0-15 overall, 0-10 CCAA). The Otters have lost 31 straight.
 
The Wildcats have won seven straight and 13 of their last 14 meetings with Cal State Monterey Bay and lead the all-time series 17-9.