Big West Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2019-20 season

By Connor Hope | Nov 5, 2019

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: Evan Leonard #14 of the UC Irvine Anteaters celebrates a three-point shot with Max Hazzard #2 in the second half against the Kansas State Wildcats during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 22, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /

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HOUSTON, TX – APRIL 04: A detail picture of the net before the National Championship Game of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament between the Butler Bulldogs and the Connecticut Huskies at Reliant Stadium on April 4, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

4) Hawaii Rainbow Warriors

When I look at the returning core of Drew Buggs, Eddy Stansberry and Zigmars Raimo for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, I can’t help but believe in them. This roster may not be the most exciting team in the conference, but there is a ton of new talent that Head Coach Eran Ganot can utilize when competing in February and March.

It took all I had not to move Hawaii into the top three on this list, but they lack something the remaining three teams have, and that is an x-factor that I trust to get them through close games. While Buggs, Stansberry and Raimo are quality Big West basketball players, none of them gives me confidence that Hawaii will win the tight ones.

In the end, Hawaii is a team that I have confidence will finish in the top four of the Big West, but I am not sure they have the same ceiling as the remaining three teams. Consistency will need to be the primary objective for this roster, as they will look to hold steady against the up and downplay other teams may experience.

3) Cal State Northridge

If Hawaii’s projections are based on their consistency and depth, CSUN’s number three spot relies entirely on their two stars. Terell Gomez and Lamine Diane are legitimate mid-major stars, who can go off for 20 points on any given night.

Gomez and Diane may be the stars on this roster, but it is Darius Brown that is my most anticipated player this season. The Matadors’ primary point guard is expected to make some big strides as he enters his second season, and he could join Rodney Henderson as the second option scorers. It is what he does outside of scoring that may be most important to the team because he is excellent on the boards and on defense despite his relative lack of size.

In the end, however, the Matadors’ successes and failures ride on the shoulders of their two elite players. If Brown and Diane can take over like the did last season, with an improved supporting cast, there could be a three-way race for the Big West title.