The No. 5 WashU men’s basketball fell to The University of Chicago 66-71 in the Bears’ first  University Athletic Association (UAA) game of the season. With the loss, the Bears are now 10-2 this season.

With the No. 15 women’s team’s 93-35 win, and the No. 2 men’s team’s 107-57 victory later that night, WashU played its final basketball games against its neighbor Fontbonne, which will close after the 2024-25 academic year. Fontbonne’s gym and facilities will soon adorn WashU red and green, when WashU absorbs Fontbonne’s land into its campus over the summer. 

The Bears left the weekend with a 6-0 record, bolstering their nationally-ranked pedigree. But they struggled in games for the first time this season, unable to put teams away, particularly against Rhodes. Whether or not this persists remains to be seen, but WashU’s identity seems to be taking form.

Coming into the 2024-25 season, the No. 4 WashU men’s basketball team had high expectations. They were coming off of a Sweet 16 appearance in last year’s NCAA tournament, and were ranked No. 4 overall in the nation. While they’ve only played three games, and it’s still early in the season, the Bears have, so far, looked the part of a national championship contender.

After finishing last season with an NCAA Division III Sweet 16 loss to Trine University, WashU opened the 2024-2025 season with a decisive 75-53 win at home against Rhodes College. 

Even as much of the roster remains intact, this year, expectations are different. As with any season, WashU wants to be that one team left standing. And this year, more than any year in the recent past, they have the pieces to do it.

Unfortunately for WashU, their magic ran out on Friday, March 8, when the Bears faced off against the No. 13 Trine University Thunder in the third round of the tournament. The Thunder dominated the whole way, ending the Bears season with an 86-65 loss.

After his game-winning shots, Oliff sat down with Student Life to discuss that high-pressure situation, his adjustment to college basketball, his experience as a Jewish college athlete, and his interests off the court.

Oliff stayed confident, like the Bears have all year in clutch situations, and sank both shots to give the Bears a 68-67 lead that they would not relinquish. After a failed full-court heave from Illinois College, the rambunctious WashU student section stormed the court as the Bears stamped their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen.

The Bears not only earned a spot in the tournament field, but obtained hosting privileges in the first and second rounds, one of just 16 teams to do so.