The Big West Conference is not the most nationally relevant league, but the conference tournament will certainly be competitive. What can be expected during the next three days in Anaheim?
One of the final conference tournaments of championship week, the Big West Tournament is wide open for anyone to win. With multiple teams holding first place at one point in the season, the winner will be determined by whichever team can build the most momentum.
Eight of the nine teams in the conference will descend on the Honda Center to determine who will be dancing in the NCAA Tournament. Cal State Northridge will not be playing, as the last place team does not qualify to participate in the Big West Tournament.
Of the eight teams participating, six are seen as potential tournament champions, with both UC Riverside and Cal Poly seen as heavy underdogs with 4-12 records in the regular season.
UC Davis finished the season at the top of the standings, despite losing Chima Moneke, but their hole in the frontcourt opens the door for the other five schools to take the crown. UC Santa Barbara may have the strongest offensive core in the conference but a 3-3 finish to the regular season dropped them into second.
UC Irvine and CSU Fullerton both have young talented teams that may be a year away from being favorites in the league. Long Beach State has been slightly underwhelming, but part of that is due to the injury of Bryan Alberts which threw him into a funk he is just now shaking. Hawaii holds win over every team in the conference, making them the biggest dark horse in the conference.
Let’s take a look at the Big West Tournament’s key players, teams to watch, and the projected winner.