The top-seeded Cal Lutheran Kingsmen will compete in its 11th SCIAC tournament in program history and its fourth straight. The Kingsmen will enjoy the bye and await the winner of Whittier and Pomona-Pitzer on Wednesday to determine who they play in the semifinal. 

The Kingsmen
Led by Head Coach Russell White, the reigning SCIAC Coach of the Year and already the fourth-winningest coach in program history, the Kingsmen captured their second-straight regular season conference title, their sixth overall. They finished the season 21-4, going 14-2 in SCIAC play, besting every team in the conference at least once. Cal Lu's league record of 29-3 over the past two seasons is the best two-year record in the SCIAC since at least 2006-07, which is as far back as the SCIAC website goes. They would go 12-1 in Gilbert Arena, losing just their home opener. Cal Lu was, by all metrics, a top scoring team in the conference, ranking third in points-per-game and second in margin-of-victory, as well as first in three-pointers made, three-point percentage, and free-throw percentage. 

The Field
Whittier
Despite possessing just a 17-8 record overall, a 10-6 in-conference record propelled the Poets into the first round of the tournament. Cal Lutheran handled the Poets in the regular season, winning both games by an average of 12.5 points. Led by senior Aamari Smith, whose 28.4 points-per-game lead the nation, Whittier placed second in the conference in scoring. Smith registered seven of the top 14 highest single-game scoring performances in the SCIAC this season. 

Pomona-Pitzer
The second first-round team, the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens, finished with a record of 15-10 overall and 9-7 in conference. Both contests were probably closer than the Kingsmen would've liked, with their bout in Claremont decided by just two points after being down double digits early, but it was a season-sweep nonetheless. Pomona-Pitzer was one of the top defensive teams in the SCIAC, leading in total defensive rebounds and second in opponent field-goal percentage, all while trailing only Cal Lu in team three-point percentage. 

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
CMS finished the year 18-7 overall and 11-4 in conference. They finished the year winning four of their last five, with their lone loss in that stretch coming to the Kingsmen. The Stags played the Kingsmen tough, losing both games by a combined seven points, so they aren't to be slept on. The most watched team in the conference by attendance was the most well-rounded team in the conference, slotting in first in field-goal percentage, opponent field-goal percentage, combined opponent rebounds, and assist-to-turnover ratio, and second in assists and steals, while allowing just 66.7 points a game, the best in the SCIAC. 

Redlands
The Redlands Bulldogs proved to be the Kingsmen's biggest match this season, and could very well be the only thing standing between them and a tournament crown. They finished the season 22-3 and 14-2 in conference, ending the season on an 11-game winning streak. They were a Devon Lewis buzzer-beater away from besting the Kingsmen in Gilbert Arena, before Redlands would get their revenge back at home, the last loss of the Kingsmen's season. The tiebreak would ultimately come down to the two squads' records against 3-seed CMS, whom Cal Lu swept while Redlands split. The Bulldogs have a strong case for the best offense in the conference, leading in points-per-game and margin-of-victory. They also lead the conference in total rebounds, turnover margin, blocks, and steals. 

TOURNAMENT BRACKET AND SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Feb. 26
#4 Whittier vs. #5 Pomona-Pitzer, 7 p.m. 
Friday, Feb. 28
#1 Cal Lutheran vs. Whittier/Pomona-Pitzer
#2 Redlands vs. #3 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

Tickets are $10 online (including fees) or $10 on-site. SCIAC students, faculty and staff with institutional ID and children under 12 are free.