This Week in Chicago State Athletics

This Week in Chicago State Athletics
Check out everything happening this week in the Chicago State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. 
 
You can follow the Cougars on social media at @ChiStateCougars on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and can keep up to date with all the athletics information and news at GoCSUCougars.com. 
 
Click here to access the 2021-22 Chicago State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics composite schedule.
 
COVID Protocols:
Face Coverings and Social Distancing will be implemented during athletically related activities to prevent transmission and prevent outbreaks based on current local guidelines.
 
PLEASE NOTE: Per City of Chicago and Cook County mandates, effective Jan 3, patrons to the Jones Convocation Center must show proof of vaccination in accordance with updated requirements. This is applicable to all patrons ages 5 and over. 
 
Tickets
There are no cash sales of tickets on site. It is strongly encouraged to purchase tickets online prior to arrival to the arena for entry. Please go to the ticketing page HERE, to see what is available and how to purchase.
 
 
January 10
Women's Basketball
at Seattle, 3 p.m., Redhawk Center, Seattle, Washington
The Chicago State women's basketball team is scheduled to face Seattle University on Monday, Jan. 8 at 3 p.m. at the Redhawk Center in Seattle. The game was originally scheduled to be played Thursday, Jan. 6 but was rescheduled due to COVID protocols. The Cougars are 1-10 overall and 0-2 in league play. Seattle U is 5-6 overall and Monday will be their first conference contest after games at New Mexico State and at home versus California Baptist were postponed.
 
 
January 13 
Women's Basketball
vs. UTRGV, 6 p.m., Jones Convocation Center, Chicago
The Chicago State women's basketball team is scheduled to host UTRGV on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Jones Convocation Center. The Vaqueros are 5-9 overall and 1-1 in conference play with a win at Grand Canyon and a loss at Stephen F. Austin. UTRGV enters the contest having lost their last game, at No. 9 Texas, and are 1-5 on the road this season.
 
Men's Basketball
at UTRGV, 7 p.m., UTRGV Fieldhouse, Edinburg, Texas
The Chicago State men's basketball team is scheduled to travel to Texas for a pair of games during the week, the first of which at UTRGV on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. The Cougars enter the contest having won their first Western Athletic Conference game since March 2018 (vs. UMKC, W 96-82) when they beat California Baptist 58-56 at home last Saturday. CSU will be seeking its first road conference win since Jan. 12, 2017 when the Cougars beat Utah Valley in Orem, 70-61. UTRGV has lost three in a row and are currently 5-10 overall and 0-3 in the WAC and will play at Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday (Jan. 11). Former Cougars standout Xavier Johnson plays for the Vaqueros and has played in every game to date with no starts, averaging 5.9 points and 1.0 rebounds per game.
 
 
January 14 
Men's Tennis
at Northwestern, 3:30 and 8 p.m., Combe Tennis Center, Evanston, Illinois
The Chicago State men's tennis team is scheduled to open their spring schedule on Friday, January 14 at the Combe Tennis Center in Evanston with a pair of matches against Northwestern, at 3:30 and 8 p.m. In addition to Friday's matches, the Cougars schedule features matches at Marquette (1/21), Illinois (1/22), Purdue (2/4), Michigan State (2/12) and Notre Dame (2/13) before Western Athletic Conference pod plays opens in March.

"This season's schedule will be challenging," head coach Jack Barton said. "With matches against Power Five teams and some of the best mid-majors in the region on the schedule, it should give us the challenge we need going into conference play and the tournament."

During the fall, for the first time in the history of the Chicago State men's tennis program, Cougars individuals advanced into the main draw of the singles bracket of the ITA Division I Midwest Regional. Pedro Alvarez became the first Cougars men's player to accomplish the feat, then, about an hour later, Jakov Suler advanced and history was made twice on the same day. Alvarez, a First Team all-WAC Singles No. 5 and Second Team all-WAC Doubles performer a season ago, won 17 consecutive singles matches before dropping a match during the fall season. In addition to Suler, Alvarez will be joined by Javier Sanchez Pradillo, who also earned Second Team all-WAC Doubles last year and Jakub Zamorski, who was a Second Team all-WAC singles performer a season ago as well.
 
The complete men's tennis schedule is available HERE.
 
 
January 15 
Women's Basketball
vs. Lamar, 1 p.m., Jones Convocation Center, Chicago
  Promotion: Blackout Game
The Chicago State women's basketball team is scheduled to host Lamar on Saturday, January 15 at 1 p.m. in a Blackout Game where fans are encouraged to wear black. Lamar is currently 5-5 and 0-1 in the WAC and are scheduled to play two away games before arriving in Chicago to face the Cougars, at New Mexico State Monday and at Sam Houston Thursday. The Cardinals are 0-4 on the road this season.
 
Men's Basketball
at Lamar, 3 p.m., Montagne Center, Beaumont, Texas
The Chicago State men's basketball team is scheduled to play the second of their two-game Texas road trip against Lamar at the Montagne Center in Beaumont, Texas on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 3 p.m. The Cardinals are currently 2-12 overall and 0-3 in the WAC with their two wins coming at home. Lamar is scheduled to play Sam Houston at home Thursday (Jan. 13) and have not played since Dec. 30, postponing a scheduled game at Stephen F. Austin and forfeiting games versus New Mexico State and Grand Canyon due to lack of player availability.
 
 
Looking Ahead… 
 Upcoming Home Events
Jan. 13 – Women's Basketball vs. UTRGV, Jones Convocation Center, 6 p.m.
Jan. 15 – Women's Basketball vs. Lamar, Jones Convocation Center, 1 p.m.
            Promotion: Blackout Game
Jan. 17 – Men's Tennis vs. UIC, H-F Racquet & Fitness Club, Homewood, IL
Jan. 25 – Women's Basketball vs. New Mexico State, Jones Convocation Center, 12 p.m.
Jan. 27 – Men's Basketball vs. Utah Valley, Jones Convocation Center, 7 p.m.
Jan. 28 – Women's Tennis vs. Eastern Illinois, H-F Racquet & Fitness Club, Homewood, IL
Jan. 28 – Men's Tennis vs. Eastern Illinois, H-F Racquet & Fitness Club, Homewood, IL
Jan. 29 – Men's Basketball vs. Dixie State, Jones Convocation Center, 2 p.m.
*all dates and times are subject to change
 
Check out the complete women's schedule here, while season tickets are available here.
The men's schedule release is here, and tickets here.
 
Men's and Women's Basketball Promotional Schedule
The Chicago State University Athletic Department released its 2021-22 promotional schedule for men's and women's basketball games at the Jones Convocation Center.
 
The complete schedule can be found HERE.
 
Join the Chicago State High Five Club
Cougars fans ages and 10 and under can join the men's and women's basketball teams on the court during introductions for a future game by signing up to be a member of the Chicago State High Five Club. 
 
Youth will create a high five tunnel before the Cougars run onto the court and will stand with the Cougars during team introductions and the National Anthem. 
 
For more information, check out GoCSUCougars.com or register HERE.
 
Get your Cougars gear!
The CSU athletics Sideline Store is a one-stop-shop where you can get ALL your Chicago State Cougars gear 24/7/365. Click here to access the online store and get your Cougars gear today.
 
Cougar Pride Fund
The Cougar Pride Fund, an annual giving component benefiting student-athlete scholarships and sport program operations, is in its second year and offers a variety of membership levels. As a foundational-level member of the Cougar Pride Fund, members will be witness to the unfolding of an era of growth within Chicago State University's athletic programs. In order to take our next step in developing competitive programs, supporting our student-athletes through cost of attendance and sport program operations is crucial.
 
More information on the Cougar Pride Fund can be found here.
 
Chicago State University Athletics Podcast
Chicago State University Athletics has its first official podcast. The Chi State Pod serves to tell the stories of Cougars past, present and future through open and honest longform interviews. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
 
The latest episode features Chicago State University head volleyball coach Tony Trifonov. Click here to listen.