Imagine racking up the high score in a video game, and then the reset button is pushed.
UC Irvine has won 27 basketball games, amassed one of the nation’s best road records (13-2) and won the Big West’s regular-season title by finishing five games ahead of second-place UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Fullerton. But when the Big West tournament begins on Thursday, UCI will have the same shot as opening-round opponent UC Riverside (6-23 overall, 4-12 in league). The Big West’s tournament winner, not the regular-season champion, receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s a new season now,” Cal State Northridge coach Mark Gottfried said. “Everybody’s starting off 0-0.”
In the previous eight years, the Big West tournament has produced eight different champions. The regular-season winner has won the tournament only twice during that period — Long Beach State in 2012 and Hawaii in 2016. Last year, fourth-seeded Fullerton won the tournament. In 2014, seventh-seeded Cal Poly represented the Big West in the NCAA Tournament.
“We are excited, like everybody, to get a new season going,” Long Beach State coach Dan Monson said.
With the regular season cleansed, Big West teams are embracing their chance at an NCAA ticket.
“When you get to this time of year, you have to have a short memory,” UC Davis coach Jim Les said. “Whether you were successful in your last outing or two, or whether you didn’t have success, none of that matters heading into Thursday.”
Because of overall struggles against nonconference opponents, the Big West has been limited to one berth historically in the NCAA Tournament. The nine Big West teams combined for a 58-82 nonconference record. Only Irvine (12-4), Santa Barbara (11-3) and Hawaii (9-5) were plus .500 outside of the league. Monson noted Long Beach played games against five Pac-12 teams, but “we didn’t win any of them.”
When asked if Irvine’s accomplishments would merit an at-large berth if the Anteaters fail to earn the automatic bid, coach Russell Turner said: “There’s an argument that could be made for us. I know that. I do think it’s a little bit of a shame the powers-that-be within the NCAA have tilted the selection process toward the Power Five teams because, I think, the mid-majors and the Cinderella stories are what make the (NCAA) Tournament so special. I hope in time that will be evaluated and alleviated. We’re where we’re at at UC Irvine, and we know it. Just like every team in the league, if we want to go to the NCAA Tournament, we need to win the Big West tournament.”
NO. 1 UC IRVINE
>> Records: 15-1 BWC, 27-5
>> Thursday’s opponent: UC Riverside, 3 p.m.
>> The skinny: The Anteaters have balance (nine players averaging at least 5.8 points), depth (nine different starters), an active interior game, and the gears to play at different tempos. Post player Jonathan Galloway was named the league’s top defender for the third consecutive year after averaging 8.4 rebounds, but he also is productive in extending possessions (94 offensive boards) and connecting on short-range shots (60 percent accuracy). Galloway, Tommy Rutherford, Elston Jones and Collin Welp (pro-rated 11.1 rebounds per 40 minutes) rotate at the two post spots. The Anteaters have as many options in the backcourt and wings, with Max Hazzard (grandson of UCLA legend Walt Hazzard) offering a deep threat (61.9 percent of his shots are 3s).
NO. 2 UC SANTA BARBARA
>> Records: 10-6 BWC, 21-9
>> Thursday’s opponent: CSUN, 9 a.m.
>> The skinny: The Gauchos lost four starters from a year ago, and their best playmaker, Max Heidegger, missed most of the nonconference schedule because of concussion-related symptoms. Heidegger’s re-immersion into the lineup was gradual. But three transfers — wing Ar’Mond Davis (Alabama) and guards JaQuori McLaughlin (Oregon State) and Devearl Ramsey (Nevada) — and 6-9 freshman Amadou Sow (13.4 points, 6.3 rebounds in league games) have led the way. “I’ve coached a lot of great freshmen — NBA lottery picks at Arizona — and Amadou is as consistent a freshman that I’ve coached,” UCSB coach Joe Pasternack said. “He honors the process. He loves the game.”
NO. 3 CAL STATE FULLERTON
>> Records: 10-6 BWC, 14-16
>> Thursday’s opponent: UC Davis, 11:30 a.m.
>> The skinny: The “Triple A” backcourt has fueled the Titans. Kyle Allman and Khalil Ahmad are each averaging 17.8 points, accounting for 49.1 percent of the Titans’ scoring. Allman has slightly better range (37.0 percent on 3s), Ahmad likes to attack the rim (50.2 percent on 2-pointers). Austen Awosika (3.9 assists) is the facilitator when the Titans go into spread-and-attack mode. About twice a game, Jackson Rowe (8.0 rebounds) will sneak behind the 3-point arc to shoot. As the defending tournament champ, coach Dedrique Taylor has invoked Grimm parables. “The age-old adage of being the hunter versus the huntee,” Taylor said. “It’s a different mind-set.”
NO. 4 HAWAII
>> Records: 9-7 BWC, 18-12
>> Thursday’s opponent: Long Beach State, 5:30 p.m.
>> The skinny: The Rainbow Warriors have found balance with the four-out offense, with 42.9 percent of their shots launched from 3-point range (they’re converting at 35.9 percent). Jack Purchase and Eddie Stansberry have become the program’s most prolific outside-shooting duo, combining to hit 150 3-pointers this season. By spreading the offense and setting up ball screens, the lane’s on-ramps have widened for Drew Buggs’ drive-and-kicks or Brocke Stepteau’s floaters. Stepteau has converted a program-record 34 free throws in a row. Zigmars Raimo is not a line threat — 54 percent on free throws, no 3-point attempts in the past 60 games — but he is a creative scorer (11.4 points on 54 percent shooting) and deceptive thief (team-high 38 steals).
NO. 5 LONG BEACH STATE
>> Records: 8-8 BWC, 14-18
>> Thursday’s opponent: Hawaii
>> The skinny: With a .500 record and fifth-place finish, the 49ers were exactly in the middle of the nine-team conference in the regular season. They have faltered (losing six in a row, including twice to UH) and prospered (closing the regular season with five consecutive victories). The 49ers are the only Big West team to beat Irvine. Deishuan Booker, a 6-foot-3 senior, has lit it up since admittedly turning “a switch” in January. He is averaging 23.3 points against Big West opponents after scoring 14.2 in non-league games. Booker can slide between both guard spots, shoot with either hand, and draw fouls. In Big West games, Booker averages 10.3 free throws, converting at 92.7 percent.
NO. 6 UC DAVIS
>> Records: 7-9 BWC, 11-19
>> Thursday’s opponent: Cal State Fullerton
>> The skinny: The Aggies were on a roll, winning five in a row, before losing their top scorer (14.7), rebounder (4.8) and distributor (4.2) to a leg ailment. TJ Shorts, a 5-9 guard who leads in those categories, has returned, but the Aggies still slumped to a 1-5 finish to the regular season. “It starts with (Shorts) being healthy,” coach Jim Les said. “I think he’s getting closer to 100 percent. … I think a 100 percent TJ Shorts is effective for us because he makes us go on both ends of the floor.” At 6-7, Garrison Goode can play all five positions, including center when the Aggies play small ball. Two weeks ago, he blocked five Fullerton shots. “He doesn’t just guard his guy, a lot of times he guards a man and a half or two guys,” Les said of Goode.
NO. 7 CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE
>> Records: 7-9 BWC, 13-19
>> Thursday’s opponent: UC Santa Barbara
>> The skinny: The Matadors have scored the most (76.5 points per game) and relinquished the most (79.3). They have five seniors, but two second-year players — freshman forward Lamine Diane and sophomore guard Terrell Gomez — are the on-court leaders. Diane, who redshirted in 2017-18, leads the Big West with averages of 24.8 points and 11.1 rebounds. Gomez, who is averaging 19.2 points, makes 3.5 treys per game. Coach Mark Gottfried has been seeking complementary production — Rodney “Rocket” Henderson? Darius Brown II? — but he would settle for better defense. “A little bit of an Achilles for us,” Gottfried said.
NO. 8 UC RIVERSIDE
>> Records: 4-12 BWC, 6-23
>> Thursday’s opponent: UC Irvine
>> The skinny: To ease the responsibilities of being a director and lead actor, Dikymbe Martin accepted a reassignment from point to off guard. Off the ball, Martin escapes double teams, enabling him to maintain his scoring pace (15.2 points) while still serving as a distributor (3.0 assists in league play). “He’s accepted it,” coach David Patrick said. “Not only has it helped his game, it’s helped our game.” For the matchup against towering UC Irvine, the Highlanders will bring the slingshots. “We shoot the 3 well,” Patrick said of the league-leading 37.9 percent accuracy on 3s.
TOP-SEED ADVANTAGE?
The No. 1 seed in the Big West tournament has emerged with the title twice in the past eight years.
YEAR TOP SEED CHAMPION
2018 UC Davis No. 4 CS Fullerton
2017 UC Irvine No. 2 UC Davis
2016 Hawaii No. 1 Hawaii
2015 UC Davis No. 2 UC Irvine
2014 UC Irvine No. 7 Cal Poly
2013 Long Beach State No. 2 Pacific
2012 Long Beach State No. 1 Long Beach State
2011 Long Beach State No. 5 UC Santa Barbara
