CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 17. Up next: The Big West Tournament.
First things first, justice for UC San Diego. The Tritons went 15-5 in conference play, second in the Big West, yet can’t play due to the transition rule. Really unfair to everyone involved.
Anyway, back to the Big West Tournament. UC Irvine enters as the one seed after going 17-3 in conference play and winning by two games. UCSB, last year’s winner and the favorite to win in the preseason sits at 9-11. Can they make a run? With Cal Poly also not being in the tournament after going 0-20, there’s no free wins, meaning we could be due for some exciting games.
2024 Big West Awards
Player of the Year: Elijah Pepper, UC Davis
Freshman of the Year: Barrington Hargress, UC Riverside
Transfer of the Year: DJ Brewton, CSU Fullerton
Coach of the Year: Eric Olen, UC San Diego
First Team:
- G: Justin Hohn, UC Irvine (12.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 44.9 FG%, 38.0 3P%)
- G: Bryce Pope, UC San Diego (18.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 SPG)
- G: Elijah Pepper, UC Davis (20.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 41.8 FG%, 37.5 3P%, 92.3 FT%)
- G: Ajay Mitchell, UC Santa Barbara (19.4 PPG, 3.9 APG, 3.9 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 50.5 FG%, 38.9 3P%)
- F: De’Sean Allen-Eikens, Cal State Northridge (18.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 49.0 FG%)
Second Team:
- G: Ty Johnson, UC Davis (17.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 44.8 FG%)
- G: Marcus Tshonis, Long Beach State (17.6 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.4 SPG)
- G: Dionte Bostick, Cal State Northridge (15.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.5 SPG, 44 FG%, 35.0 3P%)
- G: Kaleb Higgins, Cal State Bakersfield (17.3 PPG, 3.6 APG, 2.8 RPG, 1.1 SPG)
- F: Aboubacar Traore, Long Beach State (11.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 54.4 FG%)
Big West Tournament Simulation
First Round – Wed., Mar. 13
5. UC Riverside (15-17, 10-10) vs. 8. Cal State Bakersfield (13-18, 8-12) – 9 p.m. on ESPN+
Cal State Bakersfield actually outplayed them in the regular season, losing by 2 on the road and winning by 24 at home. I expect Cal State to come out again and shock UC Riverside in this one.
Ariel’s pick: 8. Cal State BakersfieldÂ
6. UC Santa Barbara (16-14, 9-11) vs. 7. Cal State Northridge (18-14, 9-11) – 11:30 p.m on ESPN+
UC Santa Barbara was the favorite to win the conference, and certainly has the talent still, so a 9-11 finish is a huge surprise. The talent is still there, and it will be enough to get past CSUN.
Ariel’s pick: 6. UC Santa Barbara
Quarterfinals – Thu., Mar. 14
3. Hawaii (19-13, 11-9) vs. 6. UC Santa Barbara – 9 p.m. on ESPN+
UCSB swept the season series, and Hawaii wasn’t great away from home this year, winning just four games. Expect this Cinderella run to continue for UC Santa Barbara
Ariel’s pick: 6. UC Santa Barbara
4. Long Beach State (18-14, 10-10) vs. 8 Cal State Bakersfield – 11:30 p.m on ESPN+
Can Cal State Bakersfield pull off another upset? They did beat Long Beach State in overtime this year, so they’ve shown they can. However, this Long Beach State team beat Depaul, Michigan, and USC this season, so don’t expect Cal State Bakersfield to be the team to end the season.
Ariel’s pick: 4. Long Beach State
Semifinals – Thu., Mar. 15
1. UC Irvine (24-8, 17-3) vs. 4. Long Beach State – 9 p.m on ESPNU
UC Irvine is the clear favorite here, but that hasn’t stopped many other conference favorites from being upset early. However, these two teams played in March, and UC Irvine won by 21. While it should be closer this time around, expect UC Irvine to take it.
Ariel’s pick: 1. UC Irvine
2. UC Davis (19-12, 14-6) vs. 6. UC Santa Barbara – 11:30 p.m on ESPN2
Can the Cinderella run continue? We’ll get to see the best two players in the conference, Elijah Pepper and Ajay Mitchell face off. UC Davis won both times, but March is all about being hot at the right time. UC Santa Barbara would be riding the momentum of two conference wins, and that will be enough to send a 6 seed to the final. It’s called March Madness for a reason!
Ariel’s pick: 6. UC Santa Barbara
Finals – Fri., Mar. 16
1. UC Irvine vs. 6. UC Santa Barbara – 9:30 p.m on ESPNU
Here we go. The preseason regular champions vs the actual regular season champions. Can UC Santa Barbara win their 4th game in 4 days and defend their conference tournament title, or will UC Irvine double down on awards this year? UC Irvine won the two matchups by 15 and 12 in February, but it’s March baby.
UC Santa Barbara will jump out to a double-digit lead in the second half, but UC Irvine will claw back and take the lead late. From there, UC Irvine will ice the game and go dancing for the first time since 2019.
Ariel’s pick: 1. UC Irvine
[…] Big West Tournament has quickly become one of the best stories in March. Long Beach State ended up taking the crown, […]