For the first time in years, the Long Beach State men’s basketball team won’t be going into the season with the pressure of high expectations.
The 49ers were picked to finish fourth in the Big West Conference in the preseason media poll, the conference announced last week. LBSU received 164 points and five first-place votes from the 24 voters.
UC Irvine was chosen as the favorite to win the conference with 183 points and nine first-place votes. UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly rounded out the top three and received six and three first-place votes, respectively.
Also receiving a first-place vote was Cal State Northridge, which finished seventh overall.
With many teams losing key players to graduation, the Big West will have a new look to it this year. The 49ers lost three starters from their 2012 squad but returned starters Dan Jennings and Mike Caffey.
Caffey was named to the preseason all-conference team along with UCI forward Will Davis II, Cal Poly forward Chris Eversley, UC Davis guard Corey Hawkins, Hawaii forward Christian Standhardinger and UCSB center Alan Williams.
On the women’s side, the 49ers were picked to finish fourth, behind Cal Poly, Hawaii and CSUN.
Cal Poly was the overwhelming favorite to defend its championship, as it earned 177 points and 17 of 20 first-place votes. The Mustangs return 2012-13 Big West Player of the Year Molly Schlemer along with key players Ariana Elegado and Jonae Ervin.
The 49ers lost only one player from a year ago and will return all of their key players. One of those players, guard Alex Sanchez, was selected for the preseason all-conference team.
Joining Sanchez on the preseason all-conference team were Schlemer, UC Riverside guard Brittany Crain, UC Davis forward Sydnee Fipps, CSUN guard Ashlee Guay and Hawaii forward Kamilah Jackson.
The men’s basketball team will begin its season on Nov. 9 when it hosts Hawaii-Pacific in the homecoming game. The women’s team will start a day earlier, as it will head up to California for a game on Nov. 8.