One anonymous member of the media decided that the Hawaii basketball team was worthy of a first-place preseason vote even after the Rainbow Warriors lost basically every key player of their 2015-16 Big West championship team to offseason attrition.
Just about everyone else pegged the ’Bows at or near the bottom in 2016-17.
UH was picked to finish eighth of nine teams in the Big West media preseason poll released Wednesday, ahead of only Cal Poly. Long Beach State, which lost 64-60 to Hawaii in the Big West tournament title game in March, was picked by 19 of 23 voters to take the championship.
“My first impression was, ‘OK,’ ” said a nonchalant Eran Ganot, the second-year UH coach. “When you lose (all) of your top eight, obviously that’s not the normal recipe for success and so predictions aren’t going to be high. I just think it has no relevance on how we move forward.”
The Rainbow Warriors are in the process of constructing a brand-new starting five for a season in which they are ineligible, by NCAA decree, to reach the postseason.
No ’Bows were on the seven-player preseason all-conference team, but that was no surprise; none were forwarded to the league office by Ganot for nomination.
But he believes some of his 10 newcomers and handful of returnees could surprise people and play their way into Big West postseason awards — if the team’s standing warrants it.
“There are always some guys, either individual players or teams, that make certain moves that maybe weren’t (expected), and that’s what’s exciting about the reality of what actually happens,” Ganot said.
He was not surprised that LBSU, which got point guard Justin Bibbins and forward Gabe Levin on the preseason team, was tabbed as the title favorite. The 49ers also have talented Loyola Marymount transfer Evan Payne coming off a redshirt year.
The Beach was followed by UC Irvine, Cal State Northridge, and UC Santa Barbara in the top four. Irvine point guard Luke Nelson, CSUN scorer Kendall Smith and UCSB wing Gabe Vincent were anointed with all-conference expectations.
UC Davis, Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside preceded UH in fifth through seventh. Fullerton’s guard duo of Khalil Ahmad and Tre’ Coggins rounded out the preseason team.
Forward Gibson Johnson, one of UH’s 10 newcomers, was rooting for a ninth-place prediction before the poll’s release.
“I know we’re going to surprise some people,” Johnson said. “And I have no problem being the underdog.”
UH plays an exhibition against BYU-Hawaii on Nov. 3 and opens the regular season against SIU-Edwardsville on Nov. 11.
Big West preseason media poll
First-place votes in parentheses
1. Long Beach State (19) 203
2. UC Irvine (1) 158
3. CSUN (2) 155
4. UC Santa Barbara 147
5. UC Davis 88
6. Cal State Fullerton 83
7. UC Riverside 76
8. Hawaii (1) 73
9. Cal Poly 52.
Preseason all-conference team
Khalil Ahmad, Cal State Fullerton, G, So., Corona, Calif.
Justin Bibbins, Long Beach State, G, Jr., Carson, Calif.
Tre’ Coggins, Cal State Fullerton, G, Sr., San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
Gabe Levin, Long Beach State, F, Jr., Oak Park, Ill.
Luke Nelson, UC Irvine, G, Sr., Worthing, England
Kendall Smith, CSUN, G, Jr., Antioch, Calif.
Gabe Vincent, UC Santa Barbara, G, Jr., Stockton, Calif.
