The city of Chicago has always been a haven for basketball; just look at the six championships the Chicago Bulls won during the 1990s. But the Windy City isn’t just a pro sports town; it’s also home to several noteworthy college basketball programs, including the Chicago State Cougars. Cheap Chicago State basketball tickets are still easy to find because the Cougars are still new to the Division I level. But given the talent and passion for basketball within Chicago, that’s likely to change sooner rather than later. It might be just a matter of time until the Cougars become one of the top mid-major programs in the country. When that happens, last-minute Chicago State basketball tickets are going to start selling like hotcakes.

Looking for a Home

Chicago State has been playing basketball since 1966, although the Cougars have been largely nomadic during that time. They’ve been an independent program for much of their history, returning to that label in 2022. Chicago State has also spent a lot of time playing at the NAIA level, although the Cougars have been able to find success along the way. They had a great run during the early 1980s, culminating in a third-place finish in the NAIA Tournament in 1984. In fact, the 1984-85 season was Chicago State’s first at the Division I level, where they now find their home in the college basketball landscape.

On the Prowl

It’d be a stretch to say that the Cougars have found a lot of success at the Division I level. However, Chicago State did claim the Great West Conference title in 2013, putting the Cougars in the CIT postseason tournament. Joining the WAC the following season turned out to be a bad decision for Chicago State, as the Cougars endured a tough stretch before becoming independent again in 2022. But with a fresh start as an independent program, there’s no telling what the future holds for the Cougars, especially in a city that loves basketball as much as the city of Chicago.