CBB Review hands out awards for each conference tournament in 2024. Up next: The Big West Conference Tournament.
The Big West Tournament has quickly become one of the best stories in March. Long Beach State ended up taking the crown, beating UC Davis in the final. What is crazy is the story behind their coach Dan Monson. Coach Monson was fired before the conference tournaments, but agreed to coach the team throughout the tournament, with no expectations of winning it.
Instead, Long Beach State won three games in three days, and LBSU will be playing in the NCAA Tourmanent for the first time since 2012.
CBB Review Big West Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Aboubcar Traore, Long Beach State
You can easily share this trophy with Tshonis and both Traores, but Aboubacar Traore’s performance on the boards elevated him to the next level. In the first game, he went for 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. This was the first triple double in a Big West Tournament game ever. He followed this up with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. In the final, a “quieter” 7 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists. Traore averaged a near triple double throughout the entire tournament, and was a key reason why LBSU is dancing.
CBB Review All-Big West Tournament First Team
- G: Marcus Tsohonis, Long Beach State – 3 GP (19.6 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 57.1 3P%)
- G: Elijah Pepper, UC Davis – 2 GP (23.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.0 APG)
- G: Ty Johnson, UC Davis – 2 GP (21.0 PPG, 4.5 APG, 4.5 RPG, 3.0 SPG)
- F: Aboubacar Traore, Long Beach State – 3 GP (13.0 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 8.7 APG, 1 triple-double)
- F: Lassina Traore, Long Beach State – 3 GP (18.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 72.7 FG%)
Long Beach State’s NCAA Tournament Prediction
Round of 64
When you look at mid major teams’ resumes that made the tournament, most got blown out by Power 6 teams, and got their current records by beating up on conference opponents and lower level mid major opponents. Not Long Beach State. LBSU has wins over DePaul, Michigan, and USC. Yes, these aren’t exactly the best opponents, in fact, some of the worst, but still shows they can play up to their opponent. They also lost to San Diego State on the road by just 12 and beat Big Sky champion Montana State by 6.
That being said, Arizona is really a different beast. They have size, athleticism, and can quickly run any team out of the gym. LBSU will have to rely heavily on their Big 3. If all three can play the way we saw during the Big West Conference Tournament, things can get interesting. We saw Arizona lose to a 15 seed last year, and Dan Monson and Long Beach State are hoping they can make it two years in a row.