Hawaii’s fire and ice in the frontcourt was feared and respected in equal measure around the Big West.

Rainbow Warriors forwards Christian Standhardinger and Isaac Fotu were named to the All-Big West Conference first team on Monday morning.

It was the first time UH received two all-conference first-team players in the same season, including the Rainbow Warriors’ tenure in the WAC dating back to 1979-80.

The nine Big West coaches comprised the voters. They could not vote for their own players.

UH did not receive recognition on the second team, honorable mention list or any specialty awards. But having two first-teamers seemed to render the rest just about moot.

"I’m so pleased for those two, they’ve been great all season," UH coach Gib Arnold said. "Tough matchup down there. That’s what we’ve gone to when we’ve needed buckets, and we’ve needed ’em all year. They’ve delivered.

"I couldn’t be more proud of those two and I’m glad the coaches felt that way. I definitely felt that way."

Both players are 6-foot-8 and play in the post, but their styles are a study in contrast. The hyperactive Standhardinger scored on hustle plays and reckless face-up drives, while the measured Fotu was a handful with a wide variety of moves with his back to the basket on the low block.

Fourth-seeded UH (20-10, 9-7) opens up the Big West tournament on Thursday against No. 5 Cal State Northridge (15-17, 7-9) at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The ‘Bows depart Tuesday afternoon for the mainland.

If UH is to win three games in three days for its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2001-02, Fotu and Standhardinger will likely have to lead the way.

"This year we’ve really clicked," Fotu said. "We just play so well together and I just feed off his energy. He’s always 100 percent energy so I just think we’re working very well together and hopefully we can keep that going going into the tournament."

"I think sometimes he doesn’t take his medication," Fotu added with a laugh. "He’s crazy sometimes. I’m pretty chill and he’s crazy so I think it balances it out."

For Standhardinger, a senior, the honor was a repeat award from last season. He became just the second Rainbow to take first-team honors in consecutive seasons, joining Predrag Savovic (2000-01, 2001-02). The forward was fourth in the Big West in both scoring (17.7) and rebounding (8.4), and finished with 11 double-doubles.

For the sophomore Fotu, last season’s Big West Co-Freshman of the Year, it was his first career first- or second-team honor. He averaged 15.2 points and 6.1 rebounds while ranking among the national leaders in field-goal percentage at 59.7.

Standhardinger has lauded his frontcourt teammate all season and saw no reason to stop Monday.

"Obviously, I’m very happy about (the recognition) but the funny thing about this year is, I’m really happy that Fotu made it," he said. "I think he’s a heck of a player. He’s very talented and it’s well-deserved.

"Obviously I’m happy for myself that I made it and I couldn’t have done it without my teammates."

UC Santa Barbara center Alan Williams was named the Big West Player of the Year and UC Irvine’s Russell Turner the Big West Coach of the Year.

Besides Williams, Standhardinger and Fotu, the other first-teamers were Cal State Northridge’s Stephen Maxwell, Long Beach State’s Mike Caffey and UC Irvine’s Chris McNealy.