Fansmanship Big West Tournament Preview

The Big West Tournament is here and, while others may get more glamour or publicity, the Big West’s match-ups will be exciting and are sure to bring some March Madness to the Honda Center. In the spirit of true fansmanship, you might find a homer pick or two in here, but nothing is outside the realm of possibility in this tournament. Here are the brackets for the games, all of which will be played at the Honda Center:

ROUND 1 – Thursday, March 14

Pacific (2) vs. UC Santa Barbara (7), 12:00 PM

Season Series split 1-1

Pacific has been one of the most consistent teams in the conference. They have played solid team basketball all year and have only one player — senior guard Lorenzo McCloud — who averages double-figures in scoring on the season. This makes Pacific tough to plan for, but it also makes winning the tournament tough for the Tigers, who are trying to send head coach Bob Thomason out with a bang in his 25th and final season at the helm. For UCSB, it’s all about Alan Williams. To the extent that Williams can control the inside and find open shooters when he is double-teamed, UCSB can stay in this one. Williams, a sophomore from Arizona and an All-Big West First Team selection this year averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds per game this year. Pacific will play their game and, while I’m sure Williams will find open shooters, they won’t be named Boswell. If UCSB’s guards like Michael Bryson and Nate Garth can make 3-pointers, this game will be close, but I can’t see Pacific going one-and-done in their head coach’s last year. Look for their experience to wear on UCSB, who will definitely have a much more friendly seed in next year’s tournament. Winner: PACIFIC

Chris Eversley is one of the players to watch in the Big West Tournament

Cal Poly (3) vs. UC Davis (6), 2:30 PM

Season Series split 1-1

For all the consistency the Mustangs showed during conference play and for how much better it still seems they’re getting, people might still think they overachieved in earning a third seed in the tournament. Without a tournament title, they may not be viewed as a true contender until they prove they can make it back to the championship game, where they haven’t been since the Derek Stockalper– led team lost to Long Beach State 94-83 in the 2007 final. To win Thursday’s game, and the tournament, Cal Poly will have to shoot very well and play their trademark grinding defense that has established them as the conference’s best defensive team. UC Davis has also never won a Big West Tournament since joining the conference in 2007. The addition of Corey Hawkins (son of 13-year NBA veteran Hersey Hawkins) has bolstered the Aggies this year. If Hawkins and sharpshooter Ryan Sypkens have great shooting games, they can open-up the inside for big-man and fellow all-conference selection J.T. Adenrele. Both of these teams have a lack of experience at key positions, but Cal Poly has shown more consistency this year and, in the first round, that should put the third-seeded Mustangs over the top. Winner: CAL POLY

Long Beach State (1) vs. Cal State Fullerton (8), 6:00 PM

Season Series – Long Beach State 2-0

Long Beach State is Long Beach State. They are athletic, long, and imposing. At times, they can play suffocating defense. For the past few seasons, they’ve had cold-blooded leaders like Casper Ware with the ability and persona to be a conference tournament hero. The question for this year’s 49er team is whether Big West Player of the Year James Ennis and first-team all-conference selection Mike Caffey have a tournament hero in them. Fullerton has had a weird season. Picked to compete in the regular season, the Titans were never quite able to put everything together. With a rash of injuries and a tough road trip, Fullerton dropped to the number-8 seed on the final day of conference play. For them to have a chance, guard Kwame Vaughn will have to probably score 30 points and everyone else from Fullerton will have to play great. In the end, Long Beach always seems as comfortable in Anaheim as they do at home. Their defensive intensity always kicks-up a notch in the postseason too. While Fullerton might keep it close for a while, look for the 49ers to pull-away late and punch their ticket to Friday. Winner: LONG BEACH STATE

UC Irvine (4) vs. Hawai’i (5) 8:30 PM

Season Series split 1-1

The nightcap of this year’s first round is, on paper, set to be the best game. Both teams won at home during the regular season by four and six points. Hawai’i, led by all-Big West first team selection Christian Standhardinger, fell to the fifth seed after holding one of the top-3 spots in the standings for most of the year. UC Irvine has the outside-shooting edge, so this game will be about how effectively Adam Folker and Will Davis can hold down Hawai’i’s big front line of Isaac Fotu, Standhardinger, and Vander Joaquim. This matchup is not a great one for Irvine and I see Hawai’i’s inside presence proving too much in the first round for UC Irvine in the only “upset” of the first round. Winner: HAWAI’I

Round 2 – Friday, March 15

I won’t go into excruciating detail here, but I see Hawai’i making a run in this tournament. They play in a big arena regularly, so their shooting won’t be negatively affected and Long Beach State is vulnerable. Hawai’i is the only team that can give Long Beach State problems physically, and I see them pulling the second round upset. The Cal Poly- Pacific matchup would also be an interesting one. The Mustangs lost to UOP early in conference play in Stockton, but didn’t seem to have a TON of trouble with the Tigers when they played them at home later in the year. Pacific travels farther to get to the tournament and Cal Poly has been playing really well coming in, so I’m going to pick another mini-upset here with the Mustangs winning a tight one. Chris Eversley, who CBSSports.com’s Gary Parrish picked as one of the top-three players to watch for in the tournament, could be the difference here.

Final – Saturday, March 16

Cal Poly vs. Hawai’i. I can’t believe I picked Long Beach State to not make the finals. I can’t believe I picked Cal Poly to make the finals. But I did. UCSB and Long Beach State have each made the final every year for the past three years. I’m not going to pick a winner here. If I end up being right by Saturday, I’ll pick a winner on that day.

What do you think about my predictions? Who is your pick? Respond below.