Big Sky Title Comes With Price

With the proverbial bridge fast approaching, Cal State Northridge might be forced to simply cross it--despite a financial loss.

If Northridge fulfills predictions by winning the Big Sky Conference men’s basketball title, the Matadors likely will host the six-team Big Sky tournament March 8-10 at the 1,600-seat Matadome, Athletic Director Dick Dull said.

The result likely will be a financial loss for Northridge, which, as the host school, must guarantee $205,000 to be dispersed among the Big Sky’s other eight schools under the conference’s revenue-sharing plan. Northridge, in turn, would subsidize expenses through gate receipts.

But with the Matadome among the Big Sky’s smallest arenas, turning a profit is unlikely, Dull said. Ticket prices assuredly would have to exceed $50 for the school to even come close to breaking even.

Of course, Northridge (10-7), tied for second with Northern Arizona at 3-1, hasn’t clinched anything yet. But the Matadors, who play a home game tonight against Portland State, will be reluctant to surrender home-court advantage.

“We’re putting the numbers to it right now and we’re going to make a decision soon,” Dull said. “But right now, we’re looking at not operating at a profit. When you begin to rent arenas, then you lose the home-court advantage and render yourself equal to the other five teams.”

Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton said the conference will not intervene, provided Northridge raises the financial guarantee.

“It’s completely up to them,” Fullerton said.

Teams in contention must submit their postseason plan to the Big Sky by Feb. 12.

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Punter Ethan Beck of Northridge will play for the South team in the Hula Bowl on Sunday at Honolulu. Beck, from Bakersfield Highland High, averaged 39.6 yards a punt last season after averaging 43.4 yards as a junior to rank third in the nation.

Beck is only the second Northridge player to play in the Hula Bowl. Defensive back Donnell Day played for the North in 1998.

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Northridge will host its annual alumni baseball game Sunday, beginning with a home run contest at 11 a.m. and the game to follow at 1 p.m.

About 40 former players are expected to participate, including Robert Fick (1996), Eric Gillespie (1996) and Robert Crabtree (1996).

Northridge, which joins the Big West Conference this season, is scheduled to open the season Jan. 25 with the first of four games at home against Washington State. The Matadors were 23-33 last season, their third consecutive year as an independent.