You know, when we talk about building a winning culture in sports, it’s easy to get lost in abstract concepts like “grit” or “brotherhood.” But having followed collegiate athletics for years, and particularly observing programs like the Cal State Northridge Matadors men's basketball team, I’ve come to believe it’s something far more tangible. It’s a daily, deliberate practice, a mindset that has to be forged in the quiet gyms long before the roar of the crowd. It reminds me of a quote I recently came across from San Miguel coach Leo Austria. After a crucial win, he said his team played with a profound "sense of urgency," specifically because they didn’t want to face an 0-3 deficit before an overseas trip. That phrase, “sense of urgency,” isn’t just coach-speak. It’s the absolute bedrock of what a team like CSUN is trying to architect. It’s the difference between showing up and showing up ready to fight.

For the Matadors, building this doesn’t start in November; it starts in June. The culture is in the weight room at 6 AM when no one is watching, in the voluntary shooting sessions after a long day of classes. I’ve spoken to players from past seasons, and a common thread is the emphasis on accountability that’s drilled from day one. It’s player-led, which is crucial. Coaches can set the standard, but if the senior guard isn’t pulling a freshman aside for a missed defensive rotation, the message doesn’t stick. They create an environment where the biggest fear isn’t the coach’s wrath, but letting down the guy next to you. This internal accountability is what transforms a group of individuals into a unit. It’s what allows them to weather the inevitable storms of a season—a tough road loss, a key injury—without fracturing. They’ve had seasons, like the 2018-19 campaign where they finished 13-21, that could have broken many teams. But the culture of work they’d established meant they weren’t just playing out the string; they were building for the next fight.

Now, let’s tie that back to Leo Austria’s point about urgency. At CSUN, that urgency isn’t reserved for a must-win game or a conference tournament. It’s baked into every single possession of every single practice. Coach Trent Johnson and his staff, in my observation, are masters at framing context. They don’t just run a drill; they create a scenario. “Down by two, 30 seconds left, we need a stop.” That constant simulation of pressure makes the actual game feel familiar, not frantic. It creates a collective heartbeat for the team. I remember watching a game last season where they were down 8 with about four minutes to go against a top-tier Big West opponent. There was no panic. You could see it in their body language—a focused, almost calm intensity. They chipped away, forced two critical turnovers, and won on a gutsy drive in the final seconds. That’s trained urgency. That’s a team that has practiced not just what to do, but how to feel when the stakes are highest. It’s the difference between hoping to win and believing you’ve already done the work to earn it.

This culture also extends far beyond the hardwood. Academic support is non-negotiable. The team’s cumulative GPA, which I believe has hovered around a 3.0 for the past few academic years, is a point of pride. Engaging with the Northridge community through clinics and events isn’t an optional PR move; it’s part of their identity. This holistic approach builds resilient young men, not just basketball players. And resilience is the currency of a winning culture. When you know your teammate is also succeeding in the classroom and representing the community well, you trust him more in the trenches. You fight harder for him. This creates a powerful, self-sustaining cycle: success in one area fuels belief and work ethic in another.

In my view, the true test of a culture isn’t the championship years—it’s the rebuilding ones. Can you maintain that sense of purpose when the wins are harder to come by? The Matadors have shown they can. They’ve developed players who may not have been blue-chip recruits into all-conference performers. That’s a direct result of the environment. They’re not just building a team for a season; they’re building a program with a recognizable, hard-nosed identity. So, when you watch them play, and you see that defensive intensity for 40 minutes, that next-man-up mentality when foul trouble hits, remember it’s not an accident. It’s the product of a thousand small choices, a shared “sense of urgency” cultivated every single day. It’s a culture that says, “Our effort is non-negotiable, our standard is permanent, and we will fight for each other, regardless of the score or the standings.” And honestly, that’s a formula for success that transcends any sport.