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As a longtime follower of college basketball here in California, I always find myself asking the same question when November rolls around: can the Cal State Northridge Matadors men's basketball team make a run this season? It’s a ritual, really. Every year, I look at the roster, the schedule, the new recruits, and try to piece together the puzzle. This year feels… different. There’s a buzz, albeit a cautious one, around the Matadome that I haven’t felt in a few seasons. Maybe it’s the returning core of veterans, or perhaps the coaching staff has finally cracked the code. But to understand what a "run" truly requires, I sometimes look beyond the college game, to the professional level where the stakes are immediate and the pressure is magnified. It reminds me of a quote I came across recently from San Miguel Beermen coach Leo Austria. After a crucial win, he said his team played with a profound sense of urgency, driven by the desire to avoid falling into an 0-3 hole before an overseas trip. That phrase, "a sense of urgency," isn’t just coach-speak; it’s the absolute bedrock of any team hoping to defy expectations. And that, I believe, is the first ingredient the Cal State Northridge Matadors need to bottle up if they want to turn potential into a memorable season.

Urgency isn’t about panic; it’s about purpose. For the Matadors, that purpose has to be established from the opening tip-off of Big West conference play. Last season, they finished with a 7-13 conference record, which placed them squarely in the middle of the pack—a familiar, frustrating territory. They showed flashes, like that thrilling overtime win against UC Santa Barbara, but consistency was the killer. They’d follow a great defensive effort with a game where they’d give up 85 points. That lack of night-in, night-out urgency is what separates good teams from those that make a run. Look at the core group: guards Atin Wright and Dionte Bostick are back. Wright averaged just over 14 points per game last year, and Bostick brought a defensive tenacity that was infectious when he was on. But the key for them, in my opinion, is to elevate their leadership. They need to embody that Austria-like mindset, making sure the team understands that every single possession in January matters for where you want to be in March. It’s about not digging an 0-3 hole in your own conference standings, because climbing out of that is a brutal, soul-testing endeavor that few teams manage.

The schedule itself presents both a hurdle and an opportunity. Their non-conference slate is, frankly, brutal. Games against power conference teams are money games that test your mettle. They’ll likely take some losses there, and that’s okay—as long as they’re competitive and learn. The real season for the Cal State Northridge Matadors men’s basketball team begins in the Big West. That’s where the run gets built. The conference is wide open this year. UC Irvine is always tough, Long Beach State has a new energy, but there’s no dominant, unbeatable juggernaut. The door is ajar. To walk through it, CSUN needs to find a reliable third scoring option behind Wright and Bostick. Maybe it’s forward Fidelis Okereke, who showed glimpses of a powerful inside game, averaging 5.2 rebounds in only 18 minutes per game last year. If he can stretch that to 28 minutes and grab 8 or 9 boards a night, it changes everything. They also shot a dismal 31.8% from three-point range as a team last season. If they can nudge that up to even 35%, it spaces the floor and opens driving lanes. These aren’t just stats; they’re the tangible, numerical expressions of that urgency. Improving on last year’s 14-16 overall record is the baseline goal, but I’m looking higher. I think a top-four finish in the conference, which would mean a first-round bye in the tournament, is a realistic and exciting target for this group.

So, circling back to the big question: can the Cal State Northridge Matadors make a run this season? My heart says yes, but my analyst's mind says it’s contingent on a few very specific things. First, health. They can’t afford a major injury to their key guards. Second, they must win the close games. I counted at least four conference losses last season by 5 points or fewer. Flip half of those, and you’re looking at a completely different season narrative. Finally, it’s about developing a killer instinct. Remember Coach Austria’s point about not wanting to go down 0-3? The Matadors can’t let losing streaks fester. They need to respond to a bad loss with an immediate, emphatic win. The culture has to be one of resilience. I’ve been watching this program for fifteen years, through the ups and the downs. The ups, like that magical 2009 NCAA Tournament team, are what make the fandom worthwhile. This year’s squad has the pieces to create a new chapter of success. It won’t be easy. The path never is. But if they can harness that professional-level sense of urgency from day one, protect their home court at the Matadome, and peak at the right time in early March, then yes, the Cal State Northridge Matadors men’s basketball team can absolutely make a serious run in the Big West Tournament. And once you’re there, in that single-elimination frenzy, anything can happen. I, for one, am ready to be surprised.