Vander Joaquim at once wants to prove folks around the Big West Conference right and wrong.

The Hawaii senior center was named to the six-person All-BWC preseason team announced Thursday.

Despite that, his Rainbow Warriors were tabbed by the media to finish fourth in their debut in the league, behind defending champion Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine. LBSU got 13 of 21 first-place votes.

UH went 16-16 last season and finished in a tie for fifth place (6-8) in its final tour of the Western Athletic Conference.

Joaquim, and some of the time Hauns Brereton, are the only returning starters from that team. There are nine new players on the roster — seven of them freshmen — and three others who redshirted last season.

"I think we can do better … than fourth place," Joaquim said.

"I understand (our placement) because we have a lot of new guys on the team. They have a reason to pick us fourth. I think when we’re out there competing every day, we’ll try to do much better than what they picked us."

UC Santa Barbara, Pacific, Cal Poly, Cal State Northridge, UC Davis and UC Riverside trailed UH in the voting.

UH coach Gib Arnold took the prognostication in stride.

"LBSU and Fullerton appear to have the most talent on the roster," he said. "UC Irvine and Pacific are both returning their entire starting five. We obviously are the youngest team in the Big West with eight freshmen and have to develop our young guys to compete with the upper half of the conference. We do have one proven player in Vander and I am pleased he was voted preseason All-Big West."

The tri-captain Joaquim called his preseason recognition "a good feeling for me and even for the team, being recognized in some way. I just have to keep working hard. To get to the next level, that’s my goal."

Joaquim, a first-team All-WAC player after averaging 14.3 points and 9.5 rebounds as a junior, is nearing a return from the torn right MCL injury that has sidelined him for all of the team’s full practices this preseason.

The Angolan said he would likely not play in the exhibition vs. Hawaii Pacific next Friday, but he remains optimistic for the Nov. 9 regular-season opener vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore.

"Everything’s good. I’m pretty much doing everything right now (on the side)," Joaquim said. "I’m not feeling any pain any more. … I’m doing some non-contact stuff. Hopefully by the end of next week, I’ll be out there playing."

UH scrimmaged BYU-Hawaii on Thursday afternoon in a session closed to both the media and the public. The ‘Bows depart this afternoon to Molokai for a weekend bonding retreat.