2025-26 Big West Men's Basketball Preseason Poll and Team
2025-26 Big West Men's Basketball Schedule

The UC Irvine men’s basketball team is predicted to win The Big West, according to a poll of the league’s 11 head coaches before the start of the season. The coaches also voted for a six-member Big West Preseason Team.

The Anteaters garnered eight of the 11 first-place votes for a total of 98 points. Last season, UC Irvine went 32-7 overall and finished second in The Big West regular season standings with a 17-3 conference record. The Anteaters qualified for the NIT and won four games in the national tournament before falling in the title match to Chattanooga in overtime.

UC Irvine is expected to be led by two Preseason Team selections in redshirt sophomore guard Jurian Dixon and graduate guard Andre Henry. Dixon is the reigning Big West Freshman of the Year after averaging 8.8 points per game as a rookie, including career-high 23-point performance at UC Santa Barbara. Henry played in nine games last season before suffering a season-ending injury. In 2023-24, Henry was The Big West Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Big West Honorable Mention, starting in all 34 games, averaging 10.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

UC Santa Barbara is predicted to finish second, receiving the remaining three first-place votes for a total of 93 points. Last year, the Gauchos went 21-13 overall and 11-9 in conference play. Newcomer Aidan Mahaney along with third-year guard Jason Fontenet II were selected to the preseason team.

Mahaney is a transfer from UConn and averaged 4.6 points and 1.3 assists per game. Before UConn, the senior was a standout at Saint Mary's for two seasons with a list of accolades including Lou Henson All-American, NABC First Team All-District, First Team All-WCC, WCC All-Tournament Team, WCC All-Freshman Team. Fontenet II started all 34 games and averaged 9.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.7 steals for the Gauchos last season.

Hawai‘i was third with 76 points. Last season, the Rainbow Warriors went 15-16 overall and did not qualify for The Big West Championship with a 7-13 league record. Gytis Nemeikša represents Hawai‘i on the preseason team. Nemeikša logged 12.3 points, on 48.8 percent shooting from the floor, 5.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.

Defending Big West champion UC San Diego is predicted to finish fourth with 69 points. The Tritons went 30-5 overall and 18-2 in conference play in 2024-25. CSUN rounds out the top-five with 63 points and Matador senior forward Mahmoud Fofana fills the final spot on the preseason team. In 2024-25, Fofana played in 33 games with 32 starts, averaging 8.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.2 steals per contest.

UC Davis (58), Cal Poly (54), Long Beach State (31), UC Riverside (26), Cal State Bakersfield (20) and Cal State Fullerton (17) conclude the rest of the poll.

Big West hoops fans that are craving more analysis can tune into the 2025-26 Big West Men’s Basketball Preview, presented by Credit Union 1, on Friday, October 17 from 11-2 p.m. PT. The show will air live on X and the Field of 68 YouTube channel. Jeff Goodman, Richie Schueler and Rob Dauster will have interviews with all 11 head coaches as well as select player interviews and a discussion of the Big West Preseason Coaches’ Poll and Preseason All-Conference Team. 

The 2025-26 season begins with eight teams in action on Monday, Nov. 3 and three playing on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Conference play in The Big West will begin with Bold Week, Dec. 4-6, and resumes on New Year’s Day. The 2026 Big West Men's Basketball Championship, presented by Credit Union 1returns for the fifth-consecutive year to Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nev., March 11-14.