CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 16. Up next: The Big West Tournament.
The Big West is enjoying one of its best seasons in history, highlighted by the team teams at the top, UC San Diego and UC Irvine. Both teams finished with over 27 wins, posing the question as to whether we’ll see a two bid Big West in the NCAA Tournament. UC San Diego finished the regular season higher in Kenpom than several tournament probables including Arkansas, New Mexico, and Memphis.
It wasn’t just a two team race though; UC Riverside and CSUN both had strong seasons as well, finishing 14-6 in conference play. There are so many talented teams, and if this bracket goes chalk, both semifinal games will feel like NCAA Tournament games.
Long Beach State won the tournament last year, capturing the attention of the media because the sitting coach was fired earlier in the season but agreed to play out the rest of the season, which, to their surprise, included an NCAA Tournament appearance.
They, as well as UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Fullerton, have won the last four tournaments, but all three are in the bottom four this year. The bottom three all miss the tournament, which this year was Fullerton, Long Beach State, and Hawaii. This means we’ll most likely see a different champion.
This is UC San Diego’s first season that is eligible for the NCAA Tournament following the transition rule to Division 1. Can’t think of a better way to celebrate than a spot in the big dance.
2025 Big West Conference Awards
Player of the Year: Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, UC San Diego
Freshman of the Year: Jurian Dixon, UC Irvine
Transfer of the Year: Jemel Jones, Cal State Bakersfield
Coach of the Year: Eric Olen, UC San Diego
First Team:
- G: Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, UC San Diego (19.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.3 SPG)
- G: Tyler McGhie, UC San Diego (16.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG)
- G: Barrington Hargress, UC Santa Barbara (20.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.1 SPG)
- G: Ty Johnson, UC Davis (21.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.3 SPG)
- F: Bent Leuchten, UC Irvine (15.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.3 BPG)
Second Team:
- G: Hayden Gray, UC San Diego (10.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 3.4 APG, 3.3 SPG)
- G: Jemel Jones, Cal State Bakersfield (19.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.8 SPG)
- G: Myles Che, UC Irvine (12.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.7 SPG)
- F: Devin Tillis, UC Irvine (13.1 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.6 SPG)
- F: Marcus Adams Jr., CSUN (16.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.0 SPG)
2025 Big West Tournament Simulation
First Round – Wed., Mar. 12
5. UC Santa Barbara (19-12, 11-9) vs. 8. Cal State Bakersfield (14-18, 8-12) – 6:00 p.m. PT on ESPN+
UC Santa Barbara swept Bakersfield this season, in large part due to Stephan Swenson. He scored 22 points, grabbed six rebounds, and added seven assists in their most recent win. Expect him to do so again and lead his team to the next round.
Ariel’s pick: 5. UC Santa Barbara
6. UC Davis (15-16, 9-11) vs. 7. Cal Poly (14-18, 8-12) – 8:30 p.m. PT on ESPN+
In the five seasons John Smith was the coach at Cal Poly, they won nine conference games. That’s right, they went 9-77. This year alone, they’ve won eight games. Mike DeGeorge is doing incredible things over there, and they are, without a doubt, a team to watch for in the future.
These two teams are heading in different directions. UC Davis has lost six straight, while Cal Poly rattled off three straight wins. Everything resets when the tournament starts, though, and Ty Johnson will lead this team to the win.
Ariel’s pick: 6. UC Davis
Quarterfinals – Thu., Mar. 13
4. CSUN (22-9, 14-6) vs. 5. UC Santa Barbara– 6:00 p.m. PT on ESPN+
As we said earlier, there’s a sizable gap between the top four and everyone else. CSUN beat this team 103-77 on March 1st and 78-71 on January 30th. Scotty Washington scored 20+ in both games and will be the leader in this game as well.
Ariel’s pick: 4. CSUN
3. UC Riverside (21-11, 14-6) vs. 6. UC Davis – 8:30 p.m. PT on ESPN+
This is an elite guard matchup. Barrington Hargress and Ty Johnson both finished top eight in the country in points per game, and this could be one of those games that you tune in late in the second half, and both guys have 30. This will come down to the last possession, as the previous two games did, but trust the more efficient scorer here in Hargress.
Ariel’s pick: 3. UC Riverside
Semifinals – Fri., Mar. 14
1. UC San Diego (28-4, 18-2) vs. 4. CSUN– 6:00 p.m. PT on ESPN+
UC San Diego and CSUN played a pretty tough battle in late February, which UCSD was able to win by six. This team has won 13 straight and don’t look to stop anytime soon. CSUN was impressive away from home this season, so don’t be surprised if this game is still close in the final minutes.
Ariel’s pick: 1. UC San Diego
2. UC Irvine (27-5, 17-3) vs. 3. UC Riverside– 8:30 p.m. PT on ESPN2
Finally, a game on national television, and what a game to choose. UC Irvine has lost as the one seed in the semis back-to-back years, so they smartly chose to be the two seed this year to break the streak
UCR comes into this one on a four-game winning streak, UC Irvine on a five. These two teams haven’t played each other since January 23, which ended in an exciting overtime win for Riverside.
The question is, who can stop Bent Leuchten? The answer might be no one. His presence down low will open things up for the rest of the team and get UC Irvine back to the final for the first time since winning it in 2019.
Ariel’s pick: 2. UC Irvine
Finals – Sat., Mar. 15
1. UC San Diego vs. 2. UC Irvine– 6:30 p.m. PT on ESPN2
Here we go. Will UC Irvine take this one, forcing the committee to consider a two-bid Big West, or will UC San Diego take care of business and sweep the titles?
UC San Diego went to UC Irvine in early February in a game that would more or less determine the title winner. UC San Diego won by 18, and it never really felt that close. Tait-Jones is the most complete player in this conference, and they have the depth to support him. They play well on both sides of the ball and force turnovers.
If you’re a five seed, you’re praying UC Irvine wins this game, but they’re dangerous as well. Whatever happens, the winner of this league has second-weekend potential, and UC San Diego might be even further.
Ariel’s pick: 1. UC San Diego