The Saint Joseph’s Hawks will take on the California Golden Bears in a postseason tournament game. This event is part of the NIT Tournament and will be held at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, CA. The game is scheduled for Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 9:00 PM ET and will air on ESPNU.
Saint Joseph’s Hawks come into this game with a regular season record of 22-11. In their conference, the Atlantic 10, they finished with a 14-6 record. Last postseason, they played against UAB and lost 65-69.
The California Golden Bears have a regular season record of 21-11. They ended their conference play in the Atlantic Coast with a 9-10 record. Both teams are looking to advance in this tournament game.
California Preview
The California Golden Bears are part of the Atlantic Coast Conference. In the 2026 regular season, they had an overall record of 21-11. Their conference record was 9-10. This shows they performed better in non-conference games.
Offensively, the team scored 77.9 points per game, ranking them 147th. They attempted 58.5 field goals per game with a 44.3% success rate. Their three-point shooting was strong, with 9.0 made per game and a 36.1% success rate, placing them 79th.
Defensively, the Golden Bears had 5.9 steals per game, ranking 398th. They also had 3.1 blocks per game, which ranked them 498th. They committed 18.8 fouls per game, which was higher than many teams.
In the postseason, the team improved significantly. They scored 91.0 points per game, ranking 7th. Their field goal percentage increased to 56.1%, and their three-point percentage was 53.6%, the best in the postseason. They also improved in assists, with 21.0 per game, ranking 6th.
Saint Joseph’s Preview
Saint Joseph’s Hawks play in the Atlantic 10 Conference. In the 2026 regular season, they had a record of 22 wins and 11 losses. Their conference record was 14 wins and 6 losses. In the 2025 postseason, they lost to UAB with a score of 69-65.
During the 2026 regular season, the Hawks scored an average of 73.3 points per game. They had 65.6 possessions per game and attempted 59.8 field goals per game. Their field goal percentage was 43.0, and they made 8.3 three-pointers per game. The team had 38.8 rebounds and 15.6 assists per game.
In the 2026 postseason, the Hawks scored 69.0 points per game. They had 65.5 possessions per game and attempted 58.0 field goals per game. Their field goal percentage was 39.7, and they made 7.0 three-pointers per game. The team had 41.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists per game.
Key players included Jaiden Glover-Toscano, who averaged 15.8 points per game, and Derek Simpson, who averaged 13.5 points per game. Justice Ajogbor contributed with 6.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. In the postseason, Austin Williford played 34 minutes and scored 13 points in their game against UAB.
Statistical Breakdown for California vs Saint Joseph’s
The game between the California Golden Bears and Saint Joseph’s Hawks will focus on shooting and defense. California’s postseason shooting has been strong, with a field goal percentage of 56.1% and a three-point percentage of 53.6%. Saint Joseph’s will rely on their rebounding, averaging 41.0 per game in the postseason. Both teams need to manage fouls, as California averages 18.8 fouls per game and Saint Joseph’s 14.0. The outcome may depend on which team can maintain their strengths while minimizing weaknesses.
- California Golden Bears Points Per Game (Postseason): 91.0
- California Golden Bears Field Goal Percentage (Postseason): 56.1%
- California Golden Bears Three-Point Percentage (Postseason): 53.6%
- Saint Joseph’s Hawks Rebounds Per Game (Postseason): 41.0
- California Golden Bears Fouls Per Game: 18.8
- Saint Joseph’s Hawks Fouls Per Game: 14.0
Betting Insights
In this game, bettors will find valuable insights from the past season’s trends. Saint Joseph’s Hawks showed strong performance straight up, especially as favorites. Meanwhile, the California Golden Bears had a solid record against the spread. Both teams have interesting over/under trends that could impact betting decisions. Below are the top five trends to consider.
- Saint Joseph’s Hawks are 9-1 (90.0%) on the over in their last 10 games.
- California Golden Bears are 3-0 (100.0%) against the spread in their last 3 games.
- Saint Joseph’s Hawks are 7-3 (70.0%) against the spread in their last 10 games.
- California Golden Bears are 4-1 (80.0%) against the spread in their last 5 games.
- Saint Joseph’s Hawks are 5-0 (100.0%) on the over in their last 5 games.
Free Betting Prediction for California vs Saint Joseph’s
The California Golden Bears have shown strong postseason performance, especially in shooting. Their field goal and three-point percentages are impressive. This offensive power gives them an edge in scoring. The Bears’ ability to score over 90 points per game in the postseason is a key factor in their favor.
Saint Joseph’s Hawks will rely on their rebounding strength. They average 41.0 rebounds per game in the postseason. This could help them control the pace and limit California’s scoring chances. However, their shooting percentages have been lower, which might affect their ability to keep up with California’s scoring.
Considering the trends and statistics, California’s strong shooting and home advantage make them likely to win. The Bears’ ability to cover the spread in recent games also supports this prediction. Saint Joseph’s will need to improve their shooting to compete effectively.
- Our Free Prediction: California -5.5
