Big West Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2018-19

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LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 13: Head coach Joe Callero of the Cal Poly Mustangs yells to his players during a game against the UNLV Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center on November 13, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UNLV won 74-72. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

One theme that will become clear on this list is that the bottom teams from the 2017-18 Big West season lose a lot of their production, and the Cal Poly Mustangs are no different. After a season that saw them finish one game above the last place Matadores, Coach Joe Callero’s squad loses three key contributors in Victor Joseph, Luke Meikle and Josh Martin.

The key to the immediate future will be the play of senior guard Donovan Fields. Fields, who led the team in assists and steals, can score in a variety of ways and always finds ways to involve his teammates. The key this year, will be to elevate the returning role players and incoming recruits to be able to compete with the top of the conference.

The toughest challenge for Coach Callero will be replacing Martin and Meikle in the front court. While the two incoming recruits could provide some depth to the thin frontcourt, Hank Hollingsworth and Karlis Garoza will need to step up in a big way, allowing Jake Niziol to play more minutes at the wing, a position where should put up good numbers.

While Cal Poly does not lose nearly as much production as CSUN, there is not clear replacements heading into the season. This team will rely heavily on its backcourt to keep them in games, unless a player can establish himself as a force down low.