The SoCal Challenge is an eight-team college basketball tournament held during Monday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving (United States), Thanksgiving week of the NCAA Division I men's basketball season, with the inaugural tournament taking place in 2021. Following games held at campus sites, teams are placed into either the Sand Division or the Surf Division and compete for the tournament title in their division. Semifinal and final games are held at JSerra Catholic High School, The Pavilion at JSerra in San Juan Capistrano, California. Each of the games played on campus in the days leading up to the main event involves one team from each division. The event is hosted by the Big West Conference.

Brackets

2023

The 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, 2023 tournament featured one Southern California team: Cal State Bakersfield from the host Big West Conference as well as California from the Pac-12 Conference. On-campus games were hosted by the team listed second below. Following the on-campus games, teams were placed into either the Sand Division or the Surf Division without regard to the outcome of those games. Division semifinal winners met in the finals. Following the tournament, the SoCal Showcase matched California and San Diego State.

On-campus games

''Game recaps:''

Sand Division

''Game recaps:'' KiAndre Gaddy of Tarleton State was named most valuable player for the Sand Division.

Surf Division

''Game recaps:'' Malevy Leons of Bradley was named most valuable player for the Surf Division.

Showcase

''Game recap:'' * – Denotes overtime period

2022

The 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, 2022 tournament featured two Southern California teams: Cal State Northridge from the host Big West Conference and California Baptist, as well as Minnesota from the Big Ten Conference. On-campus games were hosted by the team listed second below. Following the on-campus games, teams were placed into either the Sand Division or the Surf Division without regard to the outcome of those games. Division semifinal winners met in the finals. A four-game boys' high school basketball showcase event was held at the tournament site two days before the main tournament began.

On-campus games

''Game recaps:''

Sand Division

''Game recaps:'' Jaden House of High Point was named most valuable player for the Sand Division.

Surf Division

''Game recaps:'' * – Denotes overtime period Keshon Gilbert of UNLV was named most valuable player for the Surf Division.

2021

The 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, inaugural tournament featured Cal Poly from the host Big West Conference, three other schools located in California and TCU from the Big 12 Conference. On-campus games were hosted by the team listed second below. Following the on-campus games, teams were placed into either the Sand Division or the Surf Division without regard to the outcome of those games. Division semifinal winners met in the finals. A women's beach volleyball event was held two weekends before the men's basketball tournament began.

On-campus games

''Game recaps:'' * – Denotes overtime period

Sand Division

''Game recaps:'' * – Denotes overtime period Fardaws Aimaq of Utah Valley was named most valuable player for the Sand Division.

Surf Division

''Game recaps:'' Orlando Robinson of Fresno State was named most valuable player for the Surf Division.

References

External links

SoCal Challenge
{{Thanksgiving College basketball competitions College men's basketball competitions in the United States Recurring sporting events established in 2021 2021 establishments in California Basketball in California