UC San Diego's basketball program began in 1964, and the Tritons made the historic transition from Division II to Division I in 2020. UCSD was one of the most successful D-II programs in the nation before joining the Big West Conference.
The Tritons name was chosen in reference to Triton, the Greek god of the sea, fitting for a campus perched on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla.
Winning the 2025 Big West Tournament in a 30-win season and earning the program's first Division I NCAA Tournament appearance as a No. 12 seed in its first year of eligibility, a landmark moment for the oceanside university.
UC San Diego is consistently ranked among the top public universities in the nation and is one of the newest Division I basketball programs, having spent decades as a D-II powerhouse.
The UC San Diego Tritons compete in the Big West and hold an all-time record of 104–74 (.584 winning percentage) across 6 recorded seasons dating back to 2020-21.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 23-11 | 12-8 (Big West) | Clint Allard | |
| 2024-25 | 30-5 | 18-2 (Big West) | Eric Olen | |
| 2023-24 | 21-12 | 15-5 (Big West) | Eric Olen | |
| 2022-23 | 10-20 | 5-13 (Big West) | Eric Olen | |
| 2021-22 | 13-16 | 7-11 (Big West) | Eric Olen | |
| 2020-21 | 7-10 | 4-10 (Big West) | Eric Olen |
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| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
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Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
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