With conference play beginning in less than two weeks, the Big West Conference has done a pretty decent job in non-conference.

The Big West is the highest rated conference projected to have 1-bid into NCAA tournament. Only conf in top 12 not proj to have 2+ bids.

— Trent Schlom (@trentschlom) December 29, 2014

Two or three years ago, Joe Callero talked about wanting to help make the conference a two-bid conference. While this year may not be the year they break-through and get a second bid, they’re moving in the right direction.

As far as mid-majors go, the West is mostly strong. Mountain West is 9th, West Coast 11th, Big West 12th. The WAC has struggled (33rd).

— Trent Schlom (@trentschlom) December 29, 2014

I believe that, top to bottom, the conference is as competitive as it’s been in recent memory. I wanted to break-down Cal Poly’s eight remaining home games and give you the reason I will try to make it to all eight.

There are some senior players around the conference who seem like they’ve been there forever. Alex Harris at Cal State Fullerton, Stephan Hicks and Stephen Maxwell at CSUN, Alan Williams at UCSB, Mike Caffey at Long Beach State, and Will Davis II from UC Irvine all fit into this category.

They are all seniors who will be visiting Mott for the last time this season, and they’re all worth going to see.

Saturday, January 10 – UCSB

UCSB senior Alan Williams is the most dominant player in the Big West conference. By Owen Main

The UCSB game is always a fun one. Usually it comes later in the season, but this year, it’s the first conference home game of the year.

The Gauchos have been playing better recently. They took Oregon to overtime the other day and have a game against Oregon State coming up. They are definitely one of the top-3 teams in the conference.

Tables turned

In 2014, Cal Poly rode some hot shooting by Anthony Silvestri to Joe Callero’s first victory at the Thunderdome early in the conference season. In the Mustangs’ final home game of the year, UCSB trounced Cal Poly, winning by 16 points in a game that was never even that close.

A week later, the Mustangs started their improbable tournament run by returning the favor. They beat UCSB 69-38 that day at the Honda Center. They say anything goes in a good rivalry, and the Blue-Green basketball rivalry is as good as it’s ever been. To keep it good, one team can’t dominate.

UCSB was picked in the preseason media poll to finish second in the conference and they are one of three teams I think have the best shot to take the regular season title.

Big Al

If you’re looking for a Big West Player of the Year candidate, you might see him in this game. Alan Williams, a senior from Arizona, is poised to dominate in conference play. 56/25 Last season, Williams averaged 28 points and 12.5 rebounds in the two regular season games against Cal Poly.

As a freshman, Williams had to wait his turn behind Jaime Serna and Greg Somogyi. Even then, his talent, strength and ability to score in the post were all evident. Next season, Williams will definitely get a look by NBA teams. For now, he will have one more year to terrorize Big West post players. January 10th will be SLO fans’ final opportunity to see Big Al in Mott.

Thursday, January 22 – Cal State Fullerton

Second-year head coach Dedrique Taylor has used a wealth of transfers to rebuild the Titan program. By Owen Main

Under second-year head coach Dedrique Taylor, Cal State Fullerton is still in a transitional process. That said, they have managed a 6-7 record through today and seem to be playing well. They picked up a few wins at a tournament in South Carolina and recently beat Nevada in Reno by ten points.

Cal Poly lost to Nevada by 16 in their season-opening game.

Another common opponent this year has been Santa Clara. Both the Mustangs and Titans played at Santa Clara, with Cal Poly picking up the win and Fullerton losing by 17 early in the season. Clearly, Fullerton has improved as the season has gone on. Some fans might see this game as a gimme, but there aren’t any of those in the conference this year. Fullerton will win some games people don’t think they should this season. That’s the way this year’s going to go.

Transfers

One way Taylor has tried to build this team up quickly is with transfers. Currently, 13 of the 16 players on the roster have played college basketball somewhere else (at another four-year school or at a junior college).

Senior Alex Harris,leads the Titans with a 15.8 points per game average. Two newcomers have also contributed significantly thus far.

Forward Moses Morgan, a 6′ 6″ senior, is playing his final collegiate season after transferring from DePaul. Morgan averages 11 points per game. Lanerryl Johnson, a junior transfer from Central Arizona Junior College, pairs with Harris in the back court nicely, averaging almost 12 points per game, while shooting 40 percent from three-point range.

Senior forward Steve McClellan (Louisiana-Monroe) averages seven-plus rebounds to go along with six points per game.

The high player turnover in recent years coupled with an experienced team makes Cal State Fullerton maybe the most volatile team in the conference. No situation is likely to phase them, so expect them to be in a lot of games. If they can continue to make strides over the next few weeks, they’ll be a formidable opponent for any Big West foe.

Alex Harris

Harris has been one of the steadiest guards in the league over the past few years. I really like to see guys who stick with a coaching change reap the benefits of staying the course for themselves. If Fullerton moves forward into the conference tournament or beyond, Harris’ leadership will play a huge role.

He leads the team in points and assists and is third in rebounding. It’s safe to say that as he goes, so go the Titans.

Saturday, January 24- UC Riverside

Taylor Johns is UC Riverside’s go-to guy. The senior will make his final trip to Mott this year. By Owen Main

Cal Poly split last year’s season series with UC Riverside. Games against the Highlanders always seem close, no matter how well Cal Poly or UCR are playing.

UC Riverside was picked to finish ninth in the Big West preseason poll this year. Their 6-5 record includes wins against Portland State and Cal State Bakersfield, which have managed wins this year against USC and Cal respectively.

Like the Mustangs, UCR will have a winning record coming into conference play.

Foreign Influence

This year’s Highlanders boast players from the likes of Mali, Sweeden, the Netherlands, and China. Freshman forward, Alex Larsson (Sweden) is the biggest contributor of the foreign players, averaging about five points and five rebounds.

Using Johns

Junior Taylor Johns is UC Riverside’s best player. A 6′ 7″ forward, Johns presumably played at Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep in San Francisco with Cal Poly’s Anthony Silvestri. Cal Poly did a decent job on Johns last season, but he is averaging 15.6 points per game this year. Junior guard Jaylen Bland is also averaging over 13 points to make for a nice inside-out combination.

I’ll reiterate for those of you who might be thinking to blow-off this weekend in conference play. There are no easy games this year in the Big West.

Taylor Johns throws down at UCLA. The Big West has a lot of really good players. http://t.co/ccCzV9zMd9

— fansmanship (@fansmanship) December 30, 2014

Thursday, February 5 – Hawai’i

Hawai’i head coach Gib Arnold was fired prior to this season, but the team has really played well during the preseason. By Owen Main

Hawai’i’s season started off in tumultuous fashion. First, their coach Gib Arnold, was fired just days before the season started. Then their best player, Isaac Fotu, left the team.

In my conversation with beat writer Brian McInnis before the season started, we debated whether Hawai’i would actually end up as the ninth (last) place team in the conference. 

Out of the ashes…

Instead of putting their collective heads down, Hawai’i has played really well this preseason. Head coach Benjy Taylor has done a splendid job in leading the Rainbow Warriors to a 10-4 record. Early in the season, they beat Pittsburgh. Last week, they beat both Nebraska and Colorado and finished in third place in their tournament, the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.

It also doesn’t hurt that they hired one of my favorite UCLA shooters of the past, Brandon Lloyd, to fill an assistant coaching position.

Valdes and Nevels leading the way

Two guards — sophomore Aaron Valdes and senior Garrett Nevels — have led the charge so far for Hawai’i. The two are leading the team in scoring, with Valdes shooting 38 percent from three-point range. Guards dominate this roster, especially with the loss of Fotu. Only three of 14 players on their roster are listed as something other than a guard.

With so much solid perimeter play, Hawai’i is going to beat some good teams by a fairly wide margin in conference play. Their home-court advantage is unlike anything in the Big West.

If they can get a few breaks, maybe this year’s Hawai’i team is the one that overachieves in the conference tournament instead of making early exits as they have been the past few years.

Thursday, February 12 – Cal State Northridge

Reggie Theus has coached in college and in the pros. His intensity level on the sideline is riveting. It’s one of the reasons playing CSUN is never an easy task. By Owen Main

Cal State Northridge is sure to be one of the most intense teams to come to Mott this season. Their coach, Reggie Theus, exudes intensity and focus. Theus made an early-impact last year when he led the Matadors to the Big West Tournament final, where they lost to Cal Poly.

The Matadors are led by two of the most decorated players in the recent history of the conference in Stephan Hicks (17.6 ppg) and Stephen Maxwell (15.0 ppg).

Saddled with high expectations this season, CSUN hasn’t really had any signature non-conference wins. The Matadors have played three ranked teams though, including two top-10’s, and they will surely be playing at a lot higher level in the middle of the conference season when they arrive in SLO.

Rematch

This is a rematch of last year’s championship game, which was one for the ages. Reggie Theus won’t let his team think about coming into Mott complacent. The Mustangs also beat the Matadors at Mott last year as part of their 3-0 conference start.

More than the dynamic duo

CSUN is led by their dynamic duo in Hicks and Maxwell, but the emerging play of Tre Hale-Edmurson made them a really complete team in last year’s tournament. The 6’9″ junior with good athleticism, shooting range, and rebounding skill should make another big step this season in putting CSUN into the class of Long Beach State, UC Irvine, or UCSB.

Saturday, February 14 – Long Beach State

If Mike Caffey weren’t on the Long Beach State roster, Tyler Lamb would be my sleeper pick to win conference player of the year. By Owen Main

Long Beach State is ALWAYS one of my favorite Big West teams to watch. Dan Monson is really, really intersting to watch in terms of the types of players he recruits, how he motivates his players, and his x’s and o’s.

Monson’s teams have had a little drought in the conference since the likes of Casper Ware and T.J. Robinson left a few years ago, but I think this year’s 49ers are as deadly as ever.

The best backcourt in the conference

Mike Caffey and Tyler Lamb are the best backcourt in the Big West. Caffey is a player of the year candidate who averages 17.6 points and almost 4 assists per game. Lamb, a former highly-touted UCLA recruit, averages 10 points and 4.5 rebounds. Lamb is a matchup nightmare who has the ability to score 20-plus in any game and has been a polished offensive player for years.

The 49ers were picked to finish third this year — behind UC Irvine and UCSB. I think any of those teams could make a run in conference play and earn the 1-seed in the conference tournament.

Trends in college basketball say guard play is crucial. The last time Long Beach State has a senior point guard, Casper Ware was running the show and was the conference’s MVP. Caffey could be primed to follow in Ware’s footsteps.

Mike Caffey scored 23 at No. 9 Texas tonight. Mike Caffey is pretty good in case you haven't heard. ICYMI: http://t.co/2SpExMyfHN

— Abbey Mastracco (@AbbeyMastracco) December 21, 2014

Never count out the 49ers

Long Beach State being picked third is like picking the Patriots not to win the AFC East. Even when there are glaring weaknesses, you just don’t feel good about the pick.

The 49ers have to figure out some things in the front court, but look for senior forward David Samuels to provide some stability up-front. He doesn’t have to be great, but he does need to play well enough against opposing big-men to give Caffey and Lamb a chance.

The one nightmare matchup for Long Beach State seems to be UC Irvine. But, I suppose, UC Irvine is going to be a nightmare matchup for everyone in this conference.

Thursday, February 26 – UC Irvine

Mamadou Ndiaye is the tallest player in the country and he leads UC Irvine in scoring. By Owen Main

For the second consecutive season, UC Irvine was picked as the preseason favorite to win the conference. Russell Turner has done a wonderful job of building-up the program since he arrived. To put it simply, the Anteaters are stacked.

Will Davis II, now a senior, has been a physical beast since he joined UCI three seasons ago. His dunk at the end of a game against Long Beach State in the Honda Center two years ago is in my top-3 I’ve seen since I started covering the Big West. His game has expanded over the past two years, as he’s had to spread the floor while playing with a 7′ 6″ center — sophomore Mamadou Ndiaye.

Surrounding Davis and Ndiaye are a corps of guards who can take over a game on both ends of the floor. Sophomore, Luke Nelson (Worthing, England), torched Cal Poly for 15 points in Mott last season. Junior guard Alex Young is third on the team in scoring and second in assists.

Will Davis II’s nasty dunk on Long Beach State from a few years ago. #InDaFace. By Will Parris

Ndiaye getting better

“I wanted to see the big guy,” a Cal Poly freshman fan told me last season, when explaining that Cal Poly’s “blackout” didn’t bring him to the game. Rather, a 7-foot, six-inch freshman coming to town was the reason he attended.

Ndiaye gave Cal Poly a different look, and he gave Chris Eversley a dunk of the year opportunity, but UCI took the game.

This year, Ndiaye, in only 19 minutes, leads the Anteaters in scoring at over 12 points per game. His free throw shooting has improved and he is no longer a liability on the offensive end. Ndiaye isn’t blocking quite as many shots, but his effect on the entire offensive game plan of other teams can’t be denied.

Still learning the finer points of the game of basketball, Ndiaye has been described as a really great kid. He is a difference-maker on and off the court.

Balance

If all the weapons weren’t enough, this team is incredibly balanced, Nobody scores even 13 points per game, four players average double-figures, and six players average more than six points per game.

Is Ndiaye hurt? No worry. Senior John Ryan is 6′ 10″ and more than capable as a backup. There just aren’t any holes on this team’s roster.

That said, the one that that derailed UCI in their Big West Tournament loss to Cal Poly is the thing that makes them great. They do not have one clear go-to guy. Every team doesn’t necessarily have to have one, but it is helpful.

In his sophomore season, I think a pick and roll between Luke Nelson and Davis II sounds like a pretty good late-game play to me.

Saturday, February 28 – UC Davis

UC Davis has played a spoiler role for Cal Poly in recent seasons. They beat a stale Cal Poly team in the middle of conference play last year at Mott while the Mustangs were in the midst of a four-game conference losing streak.

Coach Jim Les’ team is much-improved this year. They started the season 6-0 and currently stand at 9-2. They’ve played just one “FBS” conference team, losing recently to Washington State in a close game, but they should have a high level of confidence going into league play.

Hawkins as good as they come

Corey Hawkins is the best pure scorer in the conference. The senior, who transferred to UC Davis from Arizona State, scores in just about every way imaginable. His shooting touch shows shades of his father, Hersey, and his game drips of professional class. Hawkins alone would be a reason to come see UC Davis play.

This season, Hawkins is averaging 20.9 points and 5 rebounds per game. He is definitely a top-5 player in the conference and I would have zero surprise if he ended up winning the conference’s MVP award, especially if UC Davis makes it into the top half of the conference standings.

Ernie Kent said last night that UC Davis' Corey Hawkins, formerly of ASU, is "as good as we'll see in the (Pac-12)."

— Jacob Thorpe (@JacobThorpeSR) December 29, 2014

Adenrele is back

I mentioned my top-3 dunks I’ve seen covering the Big West. One of them is the Eversley dunk on Ndiaye. The second is Will Davis II’s nasty dunk on Long Beach State. J.T. Adenrele has the third.

Two years ago, I had to leave Mott Athletics Center to take a phone call at halftime. Upon my return, the second half had just begun and I saw a man amongst boys who attacked the rim with ferocity I hadn’t seen in-person since Shaq Diesel.

OK, I’m probably talking in some hyperbole here, but the impact of Adenrele this season cannot be overlooked.

Depth

Josh Ritchart, averaging 12.5 points per game for the Aggies this season, was headed to an all-Big West selection last year before he got hurt nine games into last season. He is back as well, and he and Adenrele really make for a solid front line.

Also back is Tyler Les, the head coach’s son. The senior point guard redshirted last season and has been coming off the bench to provide some shooting and leadership for the second unit. Josh Fox, a 6′ 6″ forward, transferred in this season from the City College of San Francisco. Fox, who spent his freshman season at UC Riverside, has only started one game and is still the team’s third-leading scorer, averaging 10 points.

The Aggies’ dynamic depth and ability to change lineups will make them difficult to game-plan for. Being that it’s the last home game of the season for Cal Poly, this matchup will probably have Big West Tournament seeding scenarios all over it. The way this season has set-up, the winner might be able to avoid one of the top-3 teams in the first round.

What about Cal Poly?

So, what about the Mustangs. I wrote this about them earlier this week. Things seemed kind of bleak early in the year. Taylor Sutlive and Zach Gordon were lost for the season and David Nwaba was coming off of wrist surgery.

David Nwaba is fast becoming one of the best players in the Big West Conference. By Owen Main

Sutlive’s shooting has been missed as has Gordon’s defense, but somehow Cal Poly has found a way to be decent thus far. A lot of it has been related to Nwaba’s ability to take his game to the next level while his wrist healed. With only one game remaining before conference play, they’ve ensured at least a .500 record going into conference play, something a lot of fans paying attention might not have bet on a few weeks ago.

I could still see Cal Poly finishing anywhere between 3rd and 9th in the Big West’s regular season. There are just so many talented teams in the conference that nothing would surprise me. That said, don’t under-rate a four game run in March and its potential impact on a team’s confidence moving forward.

Have you seen David Nwaba's (@calpolymbb) dunk against Northeastern last Wednesday yet? Boomshakalaka!… http://t.co/7lZtfABtmh #calpoly

— SLO News (@slonews) December 22, 2014

This season will be a fun one at Mott Athletics Center both because of the excitement of last season and because of the top-to-bottom quality of the teams Cal Poly will be playing.

I want to hear which game sounds the most fun to you. Comment below.

In the 2013 Big West Tournament, the Pacific Tigers and coach Bob Thomason went out with a bang, winning the conference tournament in the program’s final season in the conference and Thomason’s 25th and final season coaching at Pacific.

The 2013-14 year promises to be an exciting one with new faces seeking to make an impact and several stars returning on teams that will compete.

Last season, four Big West teams went undefeated in conference play at home (Cal Poly, Long Beach State, UC Irvine, and Pacific). It’s no surprise that the media picked the three remaining teams of this group to finish in the top-four this season.

As has been the case for the past few years, many teams will be contenders for the conference tournament title at the end of the year. Here is a team by team breakdown, in the order I believe the teams will finish the regular season.

Mike Caffey will be the catalyst for the defending regular season champs. By Will Parris

1. Long Beach State

Despite winning an astounding 43 Big West regular season games over the past three years, Long Beach State has won the Big West Tournament only once during that time. Junior guard Mike Caffey returns to lead a group that lost last season’s conference player of the year, James Ennis.

This year’s 49ers team only has two seniors, but they aren’t young — eight juniors are featured on this year’s roster. With Caffey at guard and with the addition of UCLA transfer Tyler Lamb on the wing, coach Monson will have his team at or near the top of the conference going into the Big West Tournament at the Honda Center in March.

Why? Because, it seems, he always does.

2. UC Santa Barbara

UCSB had a down season last year, as is apt to happen when a conference Player of the Year candidate goes down with injuries during conference play. Junior Alan Williams is a beast for UCSB. Williams averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds last season, becoming the first Gaucho in 23 years to average a double-double. If he can stay healthy, UCSB can never be counted out.

If you thought they were young last year, the Gauchos sport 11 players on their roster who are listed as freshmen or sophomores. Seven are sophomores, including Michael Bryson, whose production and efficiency may determine whether Williams is consistently double-teamed. Kyle Boswell, one of only two seniors on the roster, will also have to make teams pay for double-teaming Williams. UCSB is a young team with a coach who knows how to get the most out of his players and parts that make sense. They will be a contender.

Cal Poly’s Chris Eversley is a returning All-Big West first team selection. By Owen Main

3. Cal Poly

Cal Poly head coach Joe Callero has a thing about consistency and defense. Last season, the Mustangs beat UCLA in the Bruins’ first game at the new Pauley Pavilion on the way to a third-place finish in the Big West’s regular season with a 12-6 conference record.

Senior Chris Eversley was an All-Big West first team selection last year, averaging 15 points and 7 rebounds per game. Other returners include two senior guards — sharpshooter Kyle Odister and point guard Jamal Johnson, Junior guard Maliik Love comes back from an injury that caused him to miss all of last season and sophomore center Brian Bennett (6′ 9″) will try to build on a solid freshman campaign during which he was one of only two Mustangs who started all 32 games.

Cal Poly also got much more athletic on the wing with junior college transfers. Sophomore David Nwaba and junior Michael Bolden provide length and athleticism to guard a variety of players and assist Eversley and Bennett on the glass. In his fifth season at Cal Poly, this might be Callero’s most athletic and physically talented group. Whether they can maintain their signature defense and make long shots late in the shot clock will determine whether they stay knocking on the door of a conference championship or break it down.

UC Irvine’s Will Davis II might be the most explosive finisher in the Big West this season. By Will Parris

4. UC Irvine

The media’s choice to finish first in the conference, UC Irvine might be the most interesting team in the Big West. Head coach Russell Turner, who came into the job with NBA experience, is now in his fourth year. The Anteaters were last year’s conference tournament runner-up and are poised to make another run..

Irvine’s size will be the first thing you notice — seven players on the roster are listed at 6′ 7” or greater, including freshman Mamadou Ndiaye, who is 7′ 6″. Junior forward Will Davis II is one of my favorite players to watch in the Big West. He had the best dunk I saw all of last season in the Anteaters’ semifinal win over Long Beach State in the Big West Tournament.

This team only has one senior and five upper-classmen, losing notable seniors Adam Folker, Michael Wilder and Daman Starring last year. They won’t have any problem defending in the paint, but how well guards and wing players perform will be the difference between a very good team and a potentially dominant one. However they finish in the regular season, this will be a dangerous team in the tournament, when the pace of play can slow down and half-court defense can have more of an impact.

5. Hawai’i

The Hawai’i trip is one that Big West coaches probably circle on their calendar — and not because they are thinking about snorkeling. The trip to Hawai’i can be a tough travel assignment, especailly if there is only a one-day break between another game either before or after the plane ride. This season, Cal Poly drew the long straw in conference scheduling, with the game at Hawai’i the only one of that particular week.

Christian Standhardinger and Isaac Fotu are active, skilled 6′ 8″ forwards who will patrol the paint at the Stan Sheriff Center. With seven players over 6′ 7″, coach Gib Arnold may be the only coach who can try to match UC Irvine’s height. Brandon Spearman and Brandon Jawato are the returning guards who scored the most last season.

While all other programs in the Big West have to go to Hawai’i once, the Rainbow Warriors have to make the trip at least four times during conference play and again for the conference tournament. Because of the travel, I’m picking them fifth in the regular season. In their second year in the conference, though, they aren’t a bad preseason dark horse pick in the conference tournament.

6. Cal State Northridge

The Cal State Northridge program has had its share of controversy since they won the conference tournament in 2009. Last year, the school named alumnus and former basketball player Dr. Brandon Martin the new athletic director. Martin fired Bobby Braswell, his former coach, and made a splash hiring former New Mexico State and Sacramento Kings head coach Reggie Theus. Theus has a lot of work to do with a team that went 14-17 overall (5-13 in Big West Conference play) a year ago.

Despite the disappointing finish to last season, Theus’ talent cupboard isn’t totally dry. Stephen Maxwell, a 6′ 7″ forward, averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds per game last season.  Josh Greene and Stephan Hicks also proved they can score, averaging 15 and 16 points per game respectively in 2012-13.

Theus will absolutely have an instant effect, but there will be ups and downs while the team adjusts to a new coach and a new style. Look for the Matadors to improve as conference play progresses and finish strong.

7. UC Davis

Jim Les seems like a coach who knows what he wants. In his third season, Les (a former NBA sharpshooter) brings back an experienced and talented team. Last season, they finished 9-9 in conference and earned the 6-seed in the conference tournament.

Corey Hawkins (20.3 ppg and 40% 3-point shooting in 2012-13) and Ryan Sypkens (14.1 ppg and 46% 3-point shooting in 2012-13) will be the most offensively potent pair of wings in the conference. Sypkens shot better last season from three-point range than two-point range and is probably the most dangerous shooter in the conference. J.T. Adenrele, the team’s best post player, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason and will be lost for the year.

This is a team with lots of very good individual players and in his third season, look for coach Les’ team to start to gel into something closer and closer to Les’ vision. The team is set on the wing, but their point guard play and ability to play consistent defense will be the difference between UC Davis taking the step into the realm of contender in the conference.

8. Cal State Fullerton

Cal State Fullerton is a team that is rebuilding. Dedrique Taylor is in his first season at the helm for the Titans and he will have some work to do.

Fullerton’s guard play can be good at times, which will be well-suited to an uptempo style that Taylor wants to play.  This team has nine players who are either freshmen or seniors. Look for Fullerton to knock-off a few of the teams above them during conference play, but they are my pick to finish eighth.

9. UC Riverside

UC Riverside finished last in the conference last season and were once again picked to finish in last place by the media in 2013-14. Two seasons ago, the program was suspended from postseason play because of failure to meet the Academic Progress Rate (APR) requirements set-forth by the NCAA.

The Highlanders start the season led by Interim Head Coach Dennis Cutts. Cutts took over for former head coach Jim Woolridge, who moved into the position of Athletic Director in the offseason. While they’ll win at least some conference games, the loss of a head coach with Woolridge’s pedigree will not help this season.

________________________________________

Until someone other than UCSB or Long Beach State wins the regular season title, I’ll continue to pick them at the top. Admittedly, college basketball is cyclical, so there are always opportunities for other teams. I think any of the top five or six teams on my list are great candidates to be the conference tournament winners in March and I could even see Corey Hawkins and Ryan Sypkens of UC Davis doing something really special in the tournament.

The Big West is a conference will be competitive this season. I don’t think anyone will “run away and hide” like Long Beach State has managed to do over the past few years.

There are three first-year head coaches and only Bob Williams (UCSB, 16th season), Dan Monson (Long Beach State, 7th season) and Joe Callero (Cal Poly, 5th season) have been at their current schools for more than four years. What that means — I’m not sure.

What do you think? Which team is your  favorite to win the Big West this season?

It was one of the grossest halves you’ll ever see. In classic Cal Poly fashion, the Mustangs led 20-19 at halftime, keeping Davis out of their rhythm.

Drake U’u, Mustache and all, sparked Cal Poly’s second-half run. By Will Parris

But Cal Poly didn’t have much of a rhythm either, and here’s the important part. The Mustangs’ all-Big West first team selection, forward Chris Eversley, looked uncomfortable. Just as Cal Poly worked to take Corey Hawkins out of the game, UC Davis did a great job on Eversley. Off-balance drives and bricked jump shots from both Hawkins and Eversley led to only four total points between the two of them. Someone else was going to have to step up.

Cal Poly’s point guards filled the bill. Drake U’u came out firing in the second half, scoring four quick points and setting the tempo for what ended up being a Cal Poly blowout victory. U’u finished the game with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, while only committing one turnover. Not to be out-done, back-up point guard Jamal Johnson provided a spark also in the second half. Johnson kept-up U’u’s aggressiveness netting 7 points, 4 assists, and zero turnovers. It was the kind of leadership that head coach Joe Callero demands from his point guards.

Eversley never really got himself into a rhythm and other Mustangs stepped-up too. Zach Gordon came off the bench to score 4 points and grab 3 rebounds. Reese Morgan had a 4-point play. Brian Bennett was his usual solid self, scoring 8 points and pulling down 9 rebounds.

The important thing for Joe Callero’s team is that they move-on to play tomorrow. On a day when their top scorer and rebounder only managed to shoot 3-11 from the field for 7 points and 6 rebounds, Cal Poly will feel fortunate to be moving on.

Photos by Will Parris

[scrollGallery id=100]

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.