So UCI did not get a bid to the big dance, which was no real surprise. I'll be hoping that UC San Diego can show the nation how good the Big West is. Starts with a tough opponent in Michigan on Thursday. Early on the Wolverines are a 2.5 point favorite. At least the game is out west, in Denver.

If this discussion is all about whether Jim Les should be retained, I think it is too easy to focus the whole issue on him as opposed to he overall future of the program. Thus I think many of the comments here are misguided following the frustration of a disappointing season. We all knew that last several Big West games were going to be tough and not likely to result in more than two wins, given the nature of the opposition. Next year the Big West will probably be even tougher with UCSD and UCI having their usual strong teams and Cal Poly coming on. My final thought here is that Jim Les is a good coach and the MWC will not be a huge step up for UC Davis. Best to not change horses in the middle of the stream.

Yes, I thought the same thing, but the Tritons just have too much talent, plus their defense is under-rated, I think. The final score of 75-61 is not indicative of how close the game really was. I very much doubt that UC Irvine will be in the NCAAs.

Pretty good game between the Tritons and Anteaters. Score at the half 33-31, UCI.

It would seem that UC San Diego will get into the NCAAs win or lose tomorrow, so just because I want to see two Big West teams in the tournament, I'll be rooting for UCI. In toady's game on ESPN2 I noted that the commentators mentioned that the Big West is one of the best mid major conferences (it's average net ranking places it as tenth.) in the country, so two bids would seem appropriate.

It does appear that the Aggies have been mired in mediocrity the last 6 years, but I just want to point out that two of those years were afflicted by COVID and the 2021-22 Big West season was especially bad for UC Davis eight league games were cancelled whereas some other Big West teams lost only 2 games and none lost more then the Ags. Taking those two years out, Coach Les' league record for the four years was 40-31.

Another factor to consider in looking at the future Mountain West is that with the MWC losing their best teams (this year's average net rank for those five is 92.2) and some weaker teams moving in, the MWCs average net ranking from this year (excluding UCD) is 206.3. That sure does not sound all that formidable.

The Anteaters big men just wore down Cal Poly and won 96-78 to set up the finals match we all expected.

Cal Poly is giving UCI all it can handle at the half, up 39-38 despite Owen Koonce only scoring 2 points. Mustangs have hit 7 of 16 treys.

The game is on ESPN2 now, after a delay for the Big 12 game.

UCSD 69, UCSB 51. I think this cements the Tritons for a ticket to the Big Dance even if they lose tomorrow.

At the half: UCSB 27, UCSD 26

Note that the game between CalPoly and UCI is one ESPN2 at 8:30 PDT.

I recall some comments made during one of the later games in which Bob Williams (I think) said that there was some disadvantage to the bye teams in that they had to sit around while the teams playing in earlier games stayed relatively sharp. But then he noted that playing three games in three days brought i a fatigue factor that counter-balanced that effect. Today's games might show which of these is the more important factor, especially given the big difference in talent between the top ntow seeds and the 5th and 7th seeds.

What I'm getting is that the better Big West teams have been able to put more money into basketball because unlike us Hawai`i and Ca Poly, they don't have football?

Looks like Cal Poly is going to move on. They way the Mustangs are playing, I won't be surprised if they beat UC Irvine tomorrow. I tend to dislike teams that beat the ones I root for, but in college tournaments, I tend to root for them because it shows that the team I like lost to a pretty good school.

Cal Poly 45, UCR 36 at the half. I'm not surprised.

UCSB 78, CSUN 72. Is this discussion site superfluous?

Gauchos win, 78-72. Sorry Dr. Mike

UCSB 35, CSUN 28 at the half.

We have often bemoaned the lack of big men on Aggie squads over the years, but Coach Les seems to like the 6'6" to 6'9" power forward types who are quick and athletic such as Josh Fox, Chima Moneke and Christian Anigwe. They were good defenders, rebounders and scorers. While Niko was good at two of those three, he had little offense and the lack of any other good scorers besides TY this past season amplified that problem. I don't see anyone on the current roster who can fill that role, so maybe one of the new recruits or a transfer can do that. A big question is whether that strategy will work in the MWC. \