The 2024-25 basketball season arrives with California Collegiate Athletic Association teams on the men's and women's sides both poised to make runs at the NCAA Div. II national championship. 

Cal State San Bernardino on the men's side and Cal State San Marcos on the women's look to repeat their 2024 runs to the national semifinals — and build on them. However, both teams can expect serious challenges from experienced and deep CCAA counterparts. Both the Cal State Los Angeles men's and women's teams return loaded rosters from NCAA Tournament qualifiers in 2023-24, Cal State Dominguez Hills split the men's regular-season title with CSUSB, and Chico State was on CSUSM's heels in the women's title race. 

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Both CCAA seasons promise to be competitive and exciting. Both also figure to impact the national championship picture. The last men's national championship claimed by the CCAA came in 2010 when Cal Poly Pomona, behind NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Austin Swift, topped Indiana University of Pennsylvania. 

Cal Poly Pomona women's basketball owns five national championships, most recently repeating in 2001 and 2002. 

CCAA Men's Basketball

Cal State San Bernardino returned to the Elite Eight in 2024 after its run to the 2023 National Championship Game, and under the direction of a new coaching staff. Andy Newman, who headed up the Coyotes from 2018, made the short move over to Div. I program Cal State Northridge and led the Matadors to a surprising 19-win campaign that included a defeat of UCLA. 

Newman's successor, Gus Argenal, picked right up and led the Coyotes to a 27-8 record and trip to the national semifinals. Argenal came to CSUSB from Arkansas and Nevada, where worked alongside Eric Musselman coaching outstanding teams that made splashes during March Madness. 

But can Argenal and Cal State San Bernardino make the ultimate splash in the 2025 NCAA Div. II Tournament by winning the national championship? First, they'll have to get through the gauntlet that is the CCAA season, which includes a Cal State Dominguez Hills team returning the league's Player of the Year. 

Reloading, Not Rebuilding Coyotes

CSUSB replaces four of its five starters from a season ago, and all four of its double-figure-point per game scorers: Chris Mitchell (16.3 ppg); Sedrick Altman (14.1); Robby Robinson (14); and LeAndrew Knight (10.6). Evan Guillory is the lone starter returning, coming off a season in which the guard averaged 8.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and a team-high 2.8 assists per game. 

Guillory will be a centerpiece around a new-look starting five. The revamped CSUSB roster adds plenty of experience, including Div. I imports Josh Adoh, who started last season at Bucknell; David Elliott IV, an explosive scoring guard off the bench at Utah Tech; and Caleb Hunter, the second Mercer transfer guard to join the Coyotes in as many years after Jordan Jones came to CSUSB a season ago. 

CSUSB also adds CCAA transfer Evan Oliver to the backcourt. Oliver was an All-Conference honoree for his 12.6-point per game contribution as a bench spark plug for Chico State. 

Dent-Smith Leads Championship-Chasing Toros 

Cal State Dominguez Hills split the regular-season CCAA championship with CSUSB a season ago, thanks in no small part to the league's Player of the Year, Jeremy Dent-Smith. 

Dent-Smith is back for 2024-25, and the NABC All-American just might be the best player in the nation this season. He led the Toros in scoring (17.6 points per game), assists (2.8), steals (1.5) and made 3-pointers (62). This dynamic, all-around playmaker is the engine driving a CSUDH team also returning Alex Garcia, a starting guard who chipped in 8.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in 2023-24. 

Wing DJ Guest is another versatile option returning from last season's starting five. Za-Ontay Boothman adds veteran depth to the Toros strong backcourt, while the frontcourt adds Adam Afifi, a proven difference-maker in the CCAA. Afifi earned All-Conference honors last season at Chico State with averages of 12.1 points and six rebounds per game. 

CCAA Men's Basketball Names to Know

Shane Bell, Cal State LA

An already weapon for Cal State LA on the perimeter, Shane Bell returns after garnering 1st Team All-CCAA honors in 2023-24. Bell shot almost 42 percent from 3-point range a season ago, contributing to his 12.3-point per game output. He also led the Golden Eagles in assists at a shade less than four a contest, and swiped more than a steal per game.

Corey Cofield, Cal State LA

Among the top returning forwards in the CCAA is Cal State LA veteran Corey Cofield. Cofield led the Golden Eagles in rebounding last season, was one of three Cal State LA scorers to put up more than 12 points per game, and contributed to the team's outstanding turnover-generating defense (18.6 per game) with more than a steal per. 

Jailen Daniel-Dalton, San Francisco State

The linchpin at San Francisco State, Jailen Daniel-Dalton led the Gators in scoring and rebounding last season, and was second on the team in assists and blocked shots. His well-rounded game will be the catalyst for SFSU's pursuit of breaking through as a surprise contender in 2024-25. 

Dominic Escobar, Cal State LA 

Rounding out the veteran corps of All-CCAA selections fueling Cal State LA's title hunt in 2024-25, Dominic Escobar is coming off a season shooting 42.5 percent from 3-point range. He also led the Golden Eagles in steals per game with 1.7. 

Jojo Murphy, Chico State

Jojo Murphy burst onto the CCAA scene in 2022-23, earning 1st Team All-Conference and Freshman of the Year honors with his 15.7 points per game. He was an honorable mention selection as a sophomore, averaging 10.8 points per game. Look for Murphy to be central to Chico State's push to challenge CSUSB, CSUDH and Cal State LA for the top of the league. 

CAA Women's Basketball 

Cal State San Marcos claimed the 2023-24 CCAA championship at 18-4, and finished 27-7 overall en route to the national semifinals. The Cougars took eventual national champion Minnesota State to the brink in a 70-68 Final Four showdown. 

CSUSM embarks on 2024-25 with an entirely new starting five, and a new head coach. CCAA Coach of the Year Renee Jimenez accepted the opening at UC Santa Barbara, leaving first-time head coach Jana Pearson taking over. Heading into the new season, things look wide-open in the CCAA. 

Which is the Team to Beat? 

With the defending champs facing so much turnover, the season tips off without there necessarily being a clear favorite. Of course, CSUSM is the standard bearer until proven otherwise, but it's a wholly new-looking lineup for the Cougars with 2023-24 CCAA Player of the Year Jordan Vasquez among the key contributors being replaced. 

Forward Camille Johnson is the lone Cougar returning who played any significant role, coming off the bench in 31-of-34 games. Cal State LA returns a pair of All-CCAA performers in 1st Team honoree Lily Buggs, who averaged team-highs of 13.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game; and honorable selection Gabriella Rones, who shot nearly 41 percent from 3-point range en route to 8.5 points per game. 

Veteran forward Asia Jordan and guard Nala Williams combine to give Cal State Dominguez Hills arguably the best inside-outside tandem in the CCAA. The duo combined to average 33 points per game a season ago, and Jordan snared 11.3 rebounds per game to average a double-double en route to 1st Team All-Conference honors. After reaching the 2023 Elite Eight, however, CSUDH regressed with the loss of Dawnyel Lair's electric all-around game. 

Cal Poly Pomona will look to stake a claim to the top of the CCAA, building around guard Kalaya Buggs. Buggs thrived at Cal Poly Pomona after transferring in from Div. I Coastal Carolina, averaging 14.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and more than four assists per game in 2023-24. Along with returning top scorer and Freshman of the Year Sydney Nelson, Cal Poly Pomona will be among the leaders chasing the CCAA crown. 

Meanwhile, Chico State — which finished in second place a season ago — welcomes back Jordan Allred and Makenzi Laporte. The two All-CCAA selections combined for almost 23 points and 10 rebounds per game in 2023-24. 

Dark-Horse Contenders 

A variety of CCAA teams that finished out of the NCAA Tournament picture in 2023-24 should be factors in the championship chase in 2024-25. CSUDH is a prime candidate for this spot with Jordan and Williams, but the Toros are not the only team that could have a breakout season. 

Cal State San Bernardino, which finished 12-10 in conference play a season ago, returns three of its four leading scorers: guard Jaida Jackson, and forwards Mia Dufresne and Jaushlynn Ruffin. Dufrense was also among the best rebounders and shot-blockers in the CAA at 7.4 and nearly two per game. 

Another dark horse to watch in the 2024-25 CCAA season...defending champion Cal State San Marcos. 

Yes, the Cougars are ostensibly the team to beat after their title run and appearance in the national semifinals. However, with so many new faces, it's an entirely different team starting from the top with the coach. However, the CSUSM roster features a variety of experienced transfers who could have major impacts. That includes Destiny Okonkwo, who joins coach Pearson coming over from Westmont. 

Okonkwo provides a presence on the interior, both defensively and on the glass. Stanislaus State transfer Lyric Richardson joins Okonkwo in the frontcourt and could be a breakout player to keep an eye on. 

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