When everybody else at Long Beach State packs it up for the winter, the sports on campus keep going. Here is a list of some key games for the LBSU men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Men’s Basketball
At No. 4 Kentucky (Dec. 23, 10 a.m.)
The Kentucky Wildcats will be the fourth ranked opponent that Long Beach State will play this season. In its first year under head coach John Calipari, Kentucky boasts the top recruiting class, which includes freshman star John Wall.
The game, which will be televised on Fox Sports South, also has the potential to be a history-making affair. Kentucky is currently in a race with North Carolina, among others, to be the first program to reach 2,000 wins.
Kentucky could prove to be a match up nightmare for the 49ers as the Wildcats’ smallest player, Eric Bledsoe, is listed at 6-foot-1. Wall, who leads the team in scoring, is a stout 6-foot-4 and has a chance of being the first overall pick in the next NBA draft.
The opposing players will only be half the battle for LBSU in its first-ever meeting with the Wildcats. Kentucky’s 23,000-seat Rupp Arena is the largest venue that The Beach will play in during the regular season. Kentucky has only dropped 60 contests at Rupp since the arena made its debut in 1976.
At No. 8 Duke (Dec. 29, 4 p.m.)
There are two things that give Duke a distinct advantage over visiting teams: Mike Krzyzewski and the Cameron Crazies.
Krzyzewski has coached the Blue Devils since 1980, leading them to three NCAA national championships. He also led Team USA to a gold medal in the 2008 Olympics.
The game will only be the second meeting between the two schools. Duke won the first game, 79-78, in 1979.
The Blue Devils feature a preseason All-American selection Kyle Singler. The 6-foot-8 junior is averaging 17.1 points per game, while also managing to pull down seven rebounds per contest.
Duke’s Cameron Crazies have gained recognition as the most famous student section in all of college athletics. Their unrelenting chants can be a major distraction to opponents.
This game will also be shown on Fox Sports South.
At UC Riverside (Jan. 2, 7 p.m.)
Just four days after the game against Duke, LBSU will travel to UC Riverside to take on the Highlanders in its first Big West Conference game.
UCR is currently undefeated at home and returns a talented group of players, including preseason all-conference selection Kyle Austin.
LBSU lost both meetings with the Highlanders last season.
At Cal State Fullerton (Jan. 7, 7:05 p.m.)
The Titans no longer have Josh Akognon, but the rivalry between LBSU and Cal State Fullerton usually provides excitement.
CSUF was able to pick up an early season win against UCLA, but has struggled as of late.
Vs. UC Santa Barbara (Jan. 14, 7:05 p.m.)
UC Santa Barbara was selected to finish second behind the 49ers in the preseason media poll, and could prove to be LBSU’s toughest Big West opponent this year.
The Gauchos have received a boost from sophomore transfer Orlando Johnson. The former Loyola Marymount player was selected to the preseason All-Big West team.
Women’s Basketball
The Long Beach State women’s basketball team will compete in nine games over the winter break.
On Dec. 20, The Beach will kick off a five-game homestand beginning with a 7 p.m. contest against the University of Idaho.
Big West Conference play kicks off on Jan. 2 when the UC Riverside Highlanders visit the Walter Pyramid for a 2 p.m. showdown.
UCR, which is led by Marissa Rivera, has four players averaging double digits.
Other noteworthy games include matchups against the California Golden Bears on Dec. 21, as well as Big West rival Cal State Fullerton on Jan.7.
Cal advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament last year, its first trip to the Sweet 16 in school history. The Bears were beaten by eventual national champion Connecticut.
Although Cal has four losses in the early season, three have been to top 10-ranked opponents. The Bears were recently upset by San Jose State in a 68-66 loss to the Spartans.
CSUF will be the second Big West opponent the ‘Niners will take on when they meet in the early afternoon on Jan. 7. It will be the battle of first-year head coaches as Marcia Foster has now taken over the Titan program. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Titans are led by the shooting guard combination of Megan Richardson and Lyndsey Grove. Richardson is averaging 14.0 points per game, while Grove is averaging 13.5 per game.
The Beach and the Titans have both suffered losses to Loyola Marymount and Oregon this season.