Like UCSD, Southern got on a roll after a slow start, going 15-3 in conference play before winning the SWAC Tournament. Also like UCSD, Southern is balanced. The leading scorer and floor leader is 5-foot-9 senior guard Aniya Gourdine, who averages 11.9 points and 4.7 rebounds a game.

UC San Diego's Sumayah Sugapong (3) celebrates with teammates Gracie Gallegos, front left, and Sabrina Ma, center right, at the end of an NCAA college basketball game against UC Davis in the championship of the Big West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Henderson, Nev. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill) AP

The UCSD Tritons take on the Southern Jaguars in the First Four round of the NCAA Tournament. The teams square off Wednesday for the first time this season.

Pregame analysis and predictions of the Northern Colorado Bears vs. UC Irvine Anteaters NCAAM game to be played on March 19, 2025 on ESPN.

The Detroit News writers predict the outcome of Thursday’s NCAA Tournament game between Michigan and UC-San Diego.

UC San Diego won the regular season and the postseason conference tournament in the Big West. It is their first year of NCAA Tournament eligibility. Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones leads the Tritons in scoring averaging nearly 20 points per game (19.5).