The air in the gym has a different weight to it this week. You can feel it—a tangible shift from the routine grind of practice to something sharper, more focused. As someone who’s covered collegiate sports for over a decade, I’ve learned to recognize this particular vibe. It’s the quiet hum of urgency, a collective understanding that the margin for error has just vanished. And watching the Cal State Northridge Matadors men's basketball team prepare, I’m reminded that this intangible feeling is often the bedrock of a turnaround. The journey toward a winning season for the Cal State Northridge Matadors Men's Basketball team isn't just about X's and O's; it's about cultivating that very sense of purpose before the first official tip-off.

Let’s be real, last season was a tough watch for Matadors fans. A 7-22 overall record and a 3-15 conference slate is the kind of stat line you want to burn. But here’s the thing I’ve always believed: rock bottom provides the clearest foundation to build upon. New leadership, a roster with several impactful transfers, and a summer of brutal conditioning have set the stage. The pieces seem more athletic, the ball movement in scrimmages looks crisper. Yet, potential is the most dangerous word in sports. It’s a promise, not a result. The real test is forging that potential into consistent performance, and that’s where mindset becomes everything.

This brings me to a point I think is profoundly relevant, drawn from an observation far from the Big West Conference. Recently, San Miguel Beermen coach Leo Austria dissected his team’s critical playoff performance, noting they played with a "sense of urgency," specifically because they "didn’t want to go down 0-3 before they head to Dubai." That phrase stuck with me. It’s a perfect, pressure-cooked example of a team internalizing stakes that extend beyond the immediate game. They weren’t just playing to win a game; they were playing to avoid a disastrous narrative, to carry momentum across continents. That’s the level of contextual motivation championship teams harness. For CSUN, the "Dubai" might not be a literal flight, but it’s their looming non-conference gauntlet, the opening night of conference play, or that pivotal mid-season tournament. The key is instilling that every single practice, every film session, and every preseason scrimmage matters because of what’s ahead. Playing like you’re already down 0-2, even when you’re 0-0. That’s the defensive intensity and offensive decisiveness I’ll be looking for in their early games.

So, what are the tangible strategies? First, defense has to be non-negotiable. In the 2022-23 season, CSUN allowed opponents to shoot a staggering 47.8% from the field. You simply cannot win giving up baskets that easily. The new roster has the length and, anecdotally from practice, the footspeed to be disruptive. They need to embrace a gritty, communicative identity on that end of the floor. It’s not glamorous, but winning rarely is at this stage. Second, they must solve the point guard puzzle. Last year’s assist-to-turnover ratio was a problematic 0.9. Ball security and creating easy looks in transition are paramount. I’m hearing good things about the new floor general’s poise, but the proof is in the 40 minutes of live action against a pressing defense. Finally, they need a go-to scorer in the clutch. When a game is within 5 points in the final four minutes—a scenario they faced 14 times last year, winning only 3—someone has to demand the ball and deliver. Is it the explosive wing or the seasoned post transfer? Someone has to audition for and own that role from day one.

From my vantage point, the most encouraging sign isn’t a single player’s jump shot; it’s the body language. There’s less hanging of heads after a missed assignment, more immediate huddles. Coach Andy Newman is preaching accountability, and the early returns suggest the team is buying in. I prefer teams that look like they enjoy the struggle, and there are flashes of that here. They’ll need it, because the schedule isn’t forgiving. A strong showing, say, winning 8 of their 13 non-conference games, would be a massive confidence booster heading into Big West play, where I realistically see them fighting for a spot in the 5-7 range in the standings. That’s progress. That’s a foundation.

In the end, the blueprint for the Cal State Northridge Matadors Men's Basketball team this season is written more in attitude than in any playbook. It’s about adopting that "sense of urgency" Austria described, not when their backs are against the wall, but now, in the quiet gym of November, to ensure they never are. The wins and losses will tally themselves. My interest lies in seeing if this group can master the art of playing every minute like it determines the trajectory of their entire journey. If they can, this won’t just be a better season; it’ll be a fascinating one to watch unfold.