UCSD opens 2024-25 season with new coach, roster

UC San Diego is coming off a storybook 2024-2025 basketball campaign.

In their first season of eligibility for NCAA Division I postseason play, the Tritons posted a 30-5 record, won the Big West Conference Tournament and fought Michigan to the finish before losing their first March Madness appearance by a 68-65 score.

However, none of the principals who created such a buzz on the La Jolla campus are returning. Coach Eric Olen has departed for New Mexico. All the major contributing players have also departed.

But new UCSD head coach Clint Allard talks in terms of the Tritons reloading – and not rebuilding – in a 2025-2026 season that begins Monday at 7 with a game against La Verne at LionTree Arena.

“I feel good about this team,” Allard said recently as he discussed the first team he will lead as a head coach.

But Allard is no newcomer to the Tritons. He has been at UCSD for almost half his 40 years — the first five as a student-athlete (2003-2008), then two seasons as a graduate assistant followed by the last 11 seasons as associate head coach to Olen.

“Last season was very special,” said Allard, who was named Olen’s successor last April 16. “That team was so consistent. It brought it and delivered every night. We’re going to have a few more ups and downs as we find our footing.

”But we have everything we need to compete in the Big West. And we’re going to get stronger as the season progresses. Just because the games start, that doesn’t mean the improvement stops.”

In addition to returning several younger players from the 2024-2025 Tritons, Allard brought in eight transfers and two prized freshmen.

“We have a lot of talented guys,” said Allard. “There’s been a lot of teaching of our systems, the things that are pillars of our program — team defense and sharing the ball. Not all of our newcomers were taught the way we would teach them. So, there’s been a big difference.”

Defense is the foundation of UCSD basketball. The Tritons move rapidly between matchup zones and switching man-to-man defenses.

“We want to keep teams off balance through our defense the way we did last season,” said Allard. “Our defensive style fits the university we are. It’s a very ‘team’ concept. You can’t have weak links. Last year we had the personnel, the experience and the knowledge. We’re a little bigger this season. We still have interchangeable pieces. It’s putting it together.”

Allard said the Tritons’ won’t have a traditional starting five.

“It’s more of a rotation than a starting lineup,” he said. “At the start of the season, we could have 10 players in the rotation” — including most of the transfers, both freshmen and several returnees.

Allard discussed key transfers:

Leo Beath is a 6-foot-8 junior forward who was Lynn University’s leading scorer (17.8 points per game) and rebounder (9.6 per game) and an all-conference pick. “He’s really versatile and strong and can be a guard,” said Allard.

Bol Dengit is a 6-11 junior forward from the University of Portland. Said Allard: “He can fly and shoot 3s.”

Tom Beattie is a 6-5 junior guard from Hawaii, who started 24 games, averaged 7.5 points and was a team captain as a sophomore. Said Allard: “Beattie brings leadership and know-how … he’s smart and has quickly picked up our system.”

Graduate student Emanuel Prospere II is a 6-5 guard from Missouri-St. Louis. Said Allard: “He is a matchup problem, a big guard, similar to some guys we had last year. … He can post low as a playmaker.”

Alex Chaikin is a 6-5 guard from Lafayette, who had six 20-point-plus games and was a third-team all-Patriot League pick as a freshman. Said Allard: “He’s one of best returning shooters in country, 47 percent from beyond the line … he came here to be complete player.”

Dimitrije Vukicevic is a 7-foot, 245-pound redshirt freshman center from Washington State, who was the MVP of the Austrian Under-19 Superliga in 2023-2024. Said Allard: “He’s a true change of pace, a physical presence and a good passer.”

Trap Johnson is a 6-6 redshirt freshman guard from Montana State, who was a Texas 5A District Player of the Year as a prep. His progress was slowed by a broken wrist.

The prized freshmen are guards Hudson Mayes (6-5 from Redondo Beach) and Jaden Vance (6-6 from Phoenix). Mayes, the son of former NFL player Derrick Mayes and the grandson of Naismith Hall of Famer Roger Brown, was an All-Southern Section CIF pick.

Two returnees figuring prominently in the rotation are juniors Aidan Burke (a 6-3 guard) and Cade Pendleton (a 6-10 forward).

SDSU women open at No. 4 UCLA

San Diego State’s women’s basketball team also opens the 2025-2026 season Monday night, against fourth-ranked UCLA at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

The Aztecs finished 25-10 last season and won the Mountain West Tournament to earn an NCAA berth. San Diego State has been picked to finish second in the Mountain West this season. Guard Naomi Panganiban has been named to the preseason All-Mountain West Team while 5-11 Aztec guard Kendall Mosley was named the preseason Mountain West Freshman of the Year.