2024 Preview
Superlatives:
Best Overall Team: UC Irvine
Best Overall Player: Ty Johnson, UC Davis
Best Shooter: Justin Hohn, UC Irvine
Best Defenseman: Ty Johnson, UC Davis
Sleeper Team (Conference): Bakersfield
Sleeper Team (March): UC Irvine
UC DAvis guard ty johnson; UC Davis Athletics
1. California Irvine Anteaters
2023 Record: 24-10
The Anteaters have been the standard across the conference for the last half decade, finishing with with 20-plus wins in five of the last six full seasons. The return of key contributor and shooter Justin Hohn is a huge get for coach Russell Turner, surrounding the offensive centerpiece with Devin Tillis and big man Bent Leucthen to form a dangerous offensive attack. Plug in secondary scorer Andre Henry and the Anteaters have far and away the most potent offense in the Big West — now, can the defense stiffen up?
2. Cal State Northridge Matadors
2023 Record: 19-15
Second year head coach Andy Newman has injected life into one of the conference’s infamously poor programs as the Matadors finished 19-15 a year after winning just seven games. The two headed backcourt monster of Keonte Jones and Jordan Brinson is one of the conference’s best, and the established frontcourt of Dearon Tucker and transfer Judson Martindale will provide an influx of rebounds — particularly on offense. The Matadors were one of the worst teams from behind the arc in the Big West last season and will look to improve with returning shooting prowess.
3. California Santa Barbara Gauchos
2023 Record: 16-15
One of the conference’s most successful coaches in recent history pilots a consistent Gauchos team coming off a down year in 2023. The transfer of star Stetson guard Stephen Swenson was a huge get for Joe Pasternack, as well as the plug and play ability of Stanford wing Max Murrell make the Gauchos one of the most star studded teams in the Big West heading into 2024. Depth is a question, and two point defense plagued the Gauchos in a below .500 conference finish last season.
4. California Davis Aggies
2023 Record: 20-13
The conference’s top returning scorer in Ty Johnson is playing for storied head coach Jim Les, which bodes well for the Aggies heading into 2024. Johnson averaged nearly 18 points a night as a junior and will now have the opportunity to play with a matured center in Central Arkansas big Carl Daughtery Jr. on the blocks. The multi-faced offensive attack is amongst the Big West’s best, and with Johnson effectively locking down the perimeter on defense, another run to the conference championship game is possible.
5. California Riverside Highlanders
2023 Record: 16-18
Using the portal to mix talented transfers with a strong returning backcourt nucleus was the aim for coach Mike Magpayo this off season. Surrounding Barrington Hargress and Isaiah Moses in the backcourt with pieces such as Joel Armotrading and Ben Gritscti up front. Riverside was one of the worst shooting teams in the Big West last season and will need to improve given its plenty of second chance points opportunities.
6. California San Diego Tritons
2023 Record: 21-12
There are a litany of returning starters from last season to power the Tritons through the loss of USC transfer Bryce Pope, including Tyler McGhie, Hayden Gray and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones. The Tritons manufactured the best three point shooting offense in the conference last season and the high powered attack focused primarily on slowing the tempo and controlling the glass. Expect the same attack from coach Eric Olen in year five.
7. California Bakersfield Roadrunners
2023 Record: 17-15
Four starters are back for the Roadrunners and coach Rod Barnes, which gives Bakersfield one of the most experienced rosters in the conference. That same roster, however, ranked 9th in the Big West in overall offense and top-scorer Kaleb Higgins is gone. There are returning pieces such as Marvin McGhee III and Tom Mark, who were prominent rebounders last season. The Roadrunners desperately need to improve on overall shooting to find any success in 2024.
8. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
2023 Record: 20-14
In a log-jammed middle of the Big West, the Rainbow Warriors suffered from a lack of returning production as coach Eran Ganot looks to return to the NCAA Tournament. An impactful transfer in Tanner Christensen should hold down some of the interior scoring and rebounding, but the Rainbow Warriors will be without a presence on the outside with the departure of Noel Coleman. Hawaii was one of the best defensive teams in the conference last season and will look to improve its offensive efficiency heading into 2024.
9. Long Beach State Beach
2023 Record: 21-15
The conference’s champion from last season lost almost every aspect of the roster from a R64 loss to Arizona, with the departure of the coaching staff as well as all five starters. A bevy of transfers headlines an overall inexperienced — and often injured — group heading into 2024, the most notable of which being former Cal Golden Bear Devin Askew. The Beach must establish chemistry early in order to compete with the conference’s top dogs such as CSUN (returns four starters).
10. Cal Poly Mustangs
2023 Record: 4-28
The Mustangs have failed to reach 10 wins each of the last seven seasons, which forced a coaching change ahead of 2024. With a new staff, the Mustangs also welcome a new roster chock full of transfers. With three departed scorers, including one of the country’s best in Kobe Sanders, Cal Poly will look to Jarred Hyder to continue his hot streak from last season and aid one of the worst shooting offenses in the country from a year ago.
11. Cal State Fullerton Titans
2023 Record: 14-18
There are vast, gaping holes to fill for the Titans, who lost two prominent scorers from last season and will look to rebound from a post-Tournament hangover with a group of raw, inexperienced transfers and underclassmen. Donovan Oday is the team’s leading returning scorer, who averaged just north of seven points per night. There is a lack of size in the frontcourt and a lack of scoring prowess in the backcourt — a recipe for disaster.