Big West Basketball Coaches Select Division Favorites

Pacific and New Mexico State are the Big West Conference men’s basketball coaches’ preseason favorites to win their divisions.

Pacific, which returns four starters, got seven first-place votes to finish first in the Western Division. Long Beach State, the defending conference champion, received five votes. In the Eastern Division, New Mexico State got seven first-place votes to Utah State’s five.

The conference is divided into divisions beginning this season. The poll results were announced Wednesday.

UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton tied for last place in the Western Division.

In Big West women’s basketball, UC Santa Barbara, the defending conference champion, was a unanimous choice to win the Western Division. In the Eastern Division, Nevada received seven first-place votes and New Mexico State four.

Long Beach State was picked third, Irvine fourth and Fullerton fifth in the Western Division.

Men’s coaches’ poll, Western Division: Pacific (7 first-place votes) 67; Long Beach State (5) 64; UC Santa Barbara 41; Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 38; UC Irvine 21; Cal State Fullerton 21. Eastern Division: New Mexico State (7) 62; Utah State (5) 61; Nevada 49; Idaho 33; Boise State 31; North Texas 16.

Women’s coaches poll, Western Division: UC Santa Barbara (11) 66; Pacific 50; Long Beach State 38; UC Irvine 37; Cal State Fullerton 20; Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 19. Eastern Division: Nevada (7) 47; New Mexico State (4) 43; Boise State 31; North Texas 25; Idaho 19.