Why is UC San Diego called the Tritons? Nickname history, origin ahead of NCAA Tournament

If UC San Diego men's basketball can make a deep run in the 2025 men's NCAA Tournament, it will be a darling.

That might not be true for Michigan basketball fans, as No. 6-seed Michigan takes on the winner of the Big West regular season and conference tournament champions in the first round at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday. The game will tip off in Denver.

UC San Diego is making its first NCAA men's basketball tournament appearance in its first season of eligibility. The basketball program began in 1966 as a Division III program before moving to Division II in 2000. They leaped to Division I during the 2020-21 season. However, the transition made the program ineligible for the NCAA Tournament.

In its first year to be eligible for the big dance, UC San Diego went 28-4 and 18-2 in Big West Conference play. It finished as the No. 35 team in the NET rankings, further bolstering its case as a legit threat in the tournament.

While all of that already makes a compelling case for a Cinderella darling, the program's most intriguing part is likely its nickname: the Tritons. Here's what you need to know about why UC San Diego is nicknamed the Tritons and its history:

Why is UC San Diego called the Tritons?

According to the UC San Diego athletic website, the school was given the nickname due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its connections with the Scripps Institute of Oceanography. The nickname was officially given to the school in 1964, two years before the official basketball program started playing.

According to Greek mythology, Triton is the offspring of Poseidon and Amphitrite, and is considered the demigod of the season. He has the lower body of a fish and is known as a "mighty and fierce sea warrior," according to the school's website.

What is UC San Diego's mascot?

UC San Diego's mascot is a human mascot called "King Triton."

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The mascot was named the "best mascot" by USA TODAY's For the Win for the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: What is a Triton? UC San Diego basketball nickname, explained

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Why is UC San Diego called the Tritons? Nickname history, origin ahead of NCAA Tournament

Why is UC San Diego called the Tritons?

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