The 2024–25 Big West Conference men's basketball season was for the Big West Conference in the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The basketball teams began with practices in October followed by the start of season in November 2024. Conference play began on December 5, 2024, and ended in March, after which the top 8 member teams participated in the 2025 Big West Conference men's basketball tournament at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada. Tournament champion UC San Diego received the conference's automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA tournament.
This is the first season in which the UC San Diego Tritons were eligible to participate in postseason play after fully completing their transition to NCAA Division I.
Each team played 20 conference games in round-robin format. The Big West conference also added a "Bold Week" in December 5–7, 2024, where two early conference games will be held. This decision was made in order for better experience and eliminating three-game weeks.
With a 85–67 win at UC Irvine on February 8, 2025, UC San Diego moved back to tie with the Anteaters at first place. On February 20, a loss by UC Irvine made the Tritons gain sole possession of first place standings, and on March 8, the Tritons won the regular season championship title outright with a win at UC Davis, their first ever outright championship. UC San Diego guard/forward Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones was named Big West Player of the Year and Triton head coach Eric Olen was named Big West Coach of the Year.
The Big West tournament was held from March 12 through March 15 at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada. UC San Diego defeated UC Irvine 75–61 to win the school's first Big West tournament championship.
UC San Diego received the conference's automatic NCAA tournament bid, while UC Irvine, UC Riverside and Cal State Northridge earned bids to the NIT, a conference record of most teams making the NIT. The Tritons were seeded 12th in the South region, where they lost to 5th seeded Michigan 65-68. The Highlanders and the Matadors also suffered first-round exits, while the Anteaters advanced all the way to the championship game, where they fell to Chattanooga 84–85 in overtime.
Head coaches Coaching changes Cal Poly Following the 2023–24 season, Cal Poly head coach John Smith left the Mustangs to be the special assistant to the head coach at the University of Washington. On March 26, 2024, the school hired Colorado Mesa head coach Mike DeGeorge as the team's new head coach.
Long Beach State Following the 2023–24 season, Long Beach State head coach Dan Monson was hired as the head coach at Eastern Washington. On April 2, the Beach hired San Diego State assistant coach Chris Acker as the team's new head coach.
Coaches TeamHead coachPrevious jobYears at schoolOverall recordBig West recordBig West titlesBig West tournament titlesNCAA TournamentsCal Poly1000Cal State Bakersfield14001Cal State FullertonDedrique Taylor12022Cal State Northridge2000Hawaii10111Long Beach State1000UC Davis14211UC Irvine15722UC Riverside5000UC San Diego12004UC Santa Barbara8222 Notes:
All records, appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only. Year at school includes 2024–25 season. Overall and Big West records are from time at current school only and are through the beginning of the season.
Preseason Preseason Big West poll The Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll was released on October 15, 2024.
TeamPoints 1.UC Irvine92 (8) 2.UC Santa Barbara85 (2) 3.UC San Diego77 4.UC Riverside75 (1) 5.UC Davis67 6.Cal State Northridge57 7.Hawai'i46 8.Long Beach State39 9.Cal State Bakersfield28 10.Cal State Fullerton22 11.Cal Poly11
Big West Preseason All-Big West Team
School Player Pos. Yr. Ht., Wt. HometownUC RiversideBarrington HargressGRS Sophomore6'0", 195Inglewood, CAUC IrvineJustin HohnGGraduate Student6'2", 185Sioux Falls, SDUC DavisTY JohnsonGSenior6'3", 190Chicago, ILCal State NorthridgeKeonte JonesFSenior6'6", 192Madison, WIUC Santa BarbaraStephan SwensonGGraduate Student6'2", 195Brussels, BelgiumUC San DiegoAniwaniwa Tait-JonesG/FSenior6'6", 200Wellington, New Zealand
Regular season National Rankings
+ Legend Improvement in ranking Drop in ranking Not ranked previous week RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll (Italics) Number of first place votes
Pre/Wk 1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 Wk15 Wk16 Wk17 Wk18 Wk19 Wk20 FinalCal Poly APC Cal State Bakersfield APC Cal State Fullerton APC Cal State Northridge APC Hawaii APC Long Beach State APC UC Davis APC UC Irvine APRVRVRVCRVRVRVRVRVRV UC Riverside APC UC San Diego APRVRVRVRVRVRVCRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVUC Santa Barbara APC
Final NET Rankings TeamNET Rankings 1.UC San Diego35 2.UC Irvine62 3.Cal State Northridge104 4.UC Santa Barbara140 5.UC Riverside142 6.Cal Poly180 7.Hawai'i223 8.UC Davis237 9.Cal State Bakersfield244 10.Long Beach State326 11.Cal State Fullerton348
Players of the Week Throughout the conference regular season, the Big West will name one player of the week each Monday.
DatePlayer of the WeekSchoolNovember 11, 2024TY JohnsonUC DavisNovember 18, 2024Tanner ChristensenHawai'iNovember 25, 2024Tyler McGhieUC San DiegoDecember 2, 2024Owen KoonceCal PolyDecember 9, 2024Devin AskewLong Beach StateDecember 16, 2024Kam MartinLong Beach State（2）December 23, 2024Tyler McGhie (2)UC San Diego (2)December 30, 2024Barrington HargressUC RiversideJanuary 6, 2025Marcus Adams Jr.Cal State NorthridgeJanuary 13, 2025Bent LeuchtenUC IrvineJanuary 20, 2025TY Johnson (2)UC Davis (2)January 27, 2025Aniwaniwa Tait-JonesUC San Diego (3)February 3, 2025Scotty WashingtonCal State Northridge (2)February 10, 2025Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones (2)UC San Diego (4)February 17, 2025Scotty Washington (2）Cal State Northridge (3)February 24, 2025Marcus Adams Jr. (2）Cal State Northridge (4)March 3, 2025Jemel JonesCal State BakersfieldMarch 10, 2025Barrington Hargress (2)UC Riverside (2)
Early season tournaments Of the 11 Big West Teams, 6 participated in early season tournaments. UC San Diego won the Boardwalk Battle Title with a 80–45 win over Toledo, UC Irvine claimed the Western Slam champions winning Towson 67-60, and with a 76–66 victory over Pacific, Hawaii captured the Outrigger Rainbow Classic title.
Team Tournament FinishCal State BakersfieldHollywood Suites ClassicT-3rdCal State NorthridgeStew Morrill Classic2ndHawai'iOutrigger Rainbow Classic1stDiamond Head Classic3rdLong Beach StateBall Dawgs Classic4thUC IrvineWestern Slam1stUC San DiegoBoardwalk Battle1st
Conference matrix The table below summarizes the head-to-head results between teams in conference regular-season play. The home team's score is shown in boldface type.
Cal PolyCal State BakersfieldCal State FullertonCal State NorthridgeHawai'iLong Beach StateUC DavisUC IrvineUC RiversideUC San DiegoUC Santa Barbaravs. Cal Poly – 81–9072–98 83–9861–100 102–91 89–85 69–7869–83 77-66 65-54 98–89OT101–71 95-68 81-67 75-7296-77vs. Cal State Bakersfield90–8198–72 – 68-71 54-91 65–80 87–88OT 64–7566–71 82-66 73-64 83-7969-64 81-60 73-54 78-66 81-75vs. Cal State Fullerton98–83100–61 71–6891–54 – 95–6582–63 95–8682–57 63-53 65-49 82-62 76-51 75-68 64-59 90-51100-55 83-7685-56vs. Cal State Northridge91–102 85–89 65–95 63–82 – 60–83 73–82 76–86 80–81 61–7362–65 68-6494-79 79-54 77-71 71-78 77-103 vs. Hawai'i 86–95 57–82 83–6082–73 – 71-55 66-49 74-6383-44 64-6176-72vs. Long Beach State78-69 83-69 80-65 88-87OT 86-76 81-80 – 80-75OT 70-60 76-6087-66 80-5470-63 85-54 58-56vs. UC Davis66–77 54–65 75-64 71-66 53–63 49–65 73-61 65-62 – 73-66 88-59 85-60 68-57 60–7160–64vs. UC Irvine71–101 66–82 64–73 62–82 51–76 55-71 49-66 75–80OT60–70 66–73 59–88 – 60–6289–97vs. UC Riverside 79-83 64-69 68–75 59–64 64–68 79–94 60–7666–87 – vs. UC San Diego68–95 67–81 60–81 54–73 51–90 55–100 54–79 71–77 63-74 44-83 54–8063–70 60–85 57–68 – 84-76 63-77 vs. UC Santa Barbara72-75 77-96 66–78 75–81 75–83 56–86 78–71103–77 61-64 72-76 54–85 56–58 71-60 64-60 62-60 97-88 84-7677-63 – Record 8–12 8–12 1–19 14–6 7–13 3–17 9–11 17–3 14–6 18–2 11–9
Records against other conferences 2024-25 records against non-conference opponents. Does not include exhibition matchups but includes postseason matchups. Power 5 ConferencesRecordACC1–6Big East0–0Big Ten0–6Big 120–3SEC0–0Power 5 Total1–15Other NCAA Division I ConferencesRecordAmerica East0–0American4–2A-101–2ASUN0–1Big Sky14–4Big South0–0CAA2–0C-USA2–3Horizon League2–0Ivy League0–0MAAC0–0MAC2–0MEAC1–0MVC2–1Mountain West6–6NEC2–0OVC0–0Patriot League0–0SoCon0–2Southland2–0SWAC3–0Summit6–1Sun Belt1–0WAC5–4WCC10–13Other Division I Total65-39NCAA Division I Total66-64NCAA Non Division I Total20-0Grand Total86-64
Postseason Big West tournament
The 2025 Big West Conference Basketball Tournament was held at the Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada, from March 12–15, 2025.
First round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Championship
NCAA tournament
Seed Region School First Four First round Second round Sweet 16 Elite Eight Final Four Championship 12 South UC San Diego Bye L 65–68 vs. Michigan W–L (%):Total:
First round
National Invitation tournament
Seed Bracket School 1st round 2nd round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship 1 Irvine UC Irvine W 82–72 vs. Northern Colorado W 66-61 vs. Jacksonville State W 81-77OT vs. UAB W 69-67 vs. North Texas L 84-85OT vs. Chattanooga N/A San Francisco Cal State NorthridgeL 70–87 vs. Stanford N/A Irvine UC RiversideL 62–101 vs. Santa Clara W–L (%): Total:
First round
Second round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Championship
Awards and honors All-Big West Teams and Awards The Big West Conference announced its 2024-25 Men's Basketball All-Big West Teams and Awards on March 11, 2025.
Individual Awards Honor Recipient School Coach of the Year Eric OlenUC San Diego Player of the Year Aniwaniwa Tait-JonesUC San Diego Newcomer of the Year Jemel JonesCal State Bakersfield Freshman of the Year Jurian DixonUC Irvine Best Defensive Player Hayden GrayUC San Diego Best Hustle Player Chris HowellUC San Diego Best Sixth Player Justin RochelinUC San Diego
All-Big West First Team Player Pos. Yr. Ht., Wt. Hometown SchoolBarrington HargressGRS Sophomore6'0", 195Inglewood, CAUC RiversideTY JohnsonGSenior6'3", 190Chicago, ILUC DavisKeonte JonesFSenior6'6", 192Madison, WICal State NorthridgeBent LeuchtenCSenior7'1", 265Karlsfeld, GermanyUC IrvineTyler McGhieG/FSenior6'5", 195Denton, TXUC San DiegoAniwaniwa Tait-JonesG/FSenior6'6", 200Wellington, New ZealandUC San Diego
All-Big West Second Team Player Pos. Yr. Ht., Wt. Hometown SchoolMarcus Adams Jr.FSophomore6'8", 195Torrance, CACal State NorthridgeHayden GrayGSenior6'4", 190San Diego, CAUC San DiegoJemel JonesGJunior6'4", N/AChicago, ILCal State BakersfieldStephan SwensonGGraduate Student6'2", 195Brussels, BelgiumUC Santa BarbaraDevin TillisFRS Senior6'7", 225Los Angeles, CAUC Irvine
Honorable Mention Player Pos. Yr. Ht., Wt. Hometown SchoolCole AndersonGSenior6'4", 195Fresno, CAUC Santa BarbaraDevin AskewGSenior6'5, 195Sacramento, CALong Beach StateMyles CheGSophomore6'2", 190Los Angeles, CAUC IrvineTanner ChristensenCGraduate Student6'10", 265Spokane Valley, WaHawai'iJustin HohnGGraduate Student6'2", 190Los Angeles, CAUC IrvineOwen KoonceG/FGraduate Student6'5", 195Lafayette, COCal PolyKenny PohtoFSenior6'11", 240Stockholm, SwedenUC Santa BarbaraIsaiah MosesGRS Junior6'1", N/AAnchorage, AKUC RiversideScotty WashingtonG/FJunior6'4", 180Del Amo, CACal State Northridge
NABC All-Pacific District Teams and Awards On March 18, 2025, NABC announced the 2024-25 NABC Division I All-District Teams and District Coaches of the Year.
Coach of the Year Honor Recipient School Pacific District Coach of the Year Eric OlenUC San Diego
NABC All-Pacific District First Team Player Pos. Yr. Ht., Wt. Hometown SchoolAniwaniwa Tait-JonesG/FSenior6'6", 200Wellington, New ZealandUC San DiegoBent LeuchtenCSenior7'1", 265Karlsfeld, GermanyUC Irvine