Similar to a cheerful television bar, the Big West Conference basketball season is where everybody knows your game.

After 133 nonconference match-ups, the nine Big West teams open league play. And with home-and-home series between the teams and a video library of information, there are few secrets.

“Each team has a feel for each other,” said Hawaii guard Drew Buggs, whose Rainbow Warriors open against Cal State Fullerton in the Stan Sheriff Center on Wednesday. “You know what to expect. And it’s a lot on the line. Everybody knows that. Everybody is playing for a conference championship and a (high) seeding in the Big West tournament. Each game is going to be a battle.”

The ’Bows return eight of their top 10 players from a year ago (the two they lost were top post players Mike Thomas and Gibson Johnson), but the league also has several familiar faces. Last season’s top two scorers — Fullerton’s Kyle Allman and UC Santa Barbara’s Max Heidegger — are back, and Cal State Northridge activated Lamine Diane, who is averaging 24.3 points and 11.1 rebounds as a second-year freshman.

“There are a lot of really dynamic players,” UH coach Eran Ganot said. “There’s a lot of parity in the league, a lot of good players returning. There are a lot of good, young players coming in. There are a lot of different styles. Just the grind of the league battles, and programs knowing each other so well, and the tendencies, make for an exciting time.”

A path to success has been to play well in the regular season round robin, then earn a favorable seeding in the Big West tournament. Only the tournament winner is assured an NCAA Tournament berth. Last year, Fullerton finished fourth during the regular season but went on to win the Big West tournament.

“I don’t want to say the stakes go up, because every game is important, but certainly when you’re fighting to win a (regular season) league title — and we’ve only won three in our history — you’re fighting for seeding,” Ganot said. “You’re fighting to play well going in the conference tournament. Each game counts the same in terms of standings. The combination of those things and travel and home-and-home atmospheres, I mean … isn’t it great?”

UC SANTA BARBARA GAUCHOS

>> Record: 11-3

>> Coach: Joe Pasternack

>> Story line: The Gauchos lost four of last season’s top five starters, and their best player (guard Max Heidegger) missed the first 11 games because of an ailment. But Heidegger is back, although his shot has not fully returned (27.8 percent shooting in three games). Three players who sat out last season after transferring — guards Devearl Ramsey (Nevada) and JaQuori McLaughlin (Oregon State) and wing Ar’mond Davis (Alabama) — have contributed to the Gaunchos leading Big West teams in scoring (77.8 points) and defense (64.3 points on 28.1 percent of 3-point attempts). Mali-born Amadou Sow (6.4 rebounds) and Robinson Idehen, who has a 7-foot-3 wingspan, are rim protectors and shooter annoyances.

>> Fun fact: The Gauchos were awakened in a Waikiki hotel last Jan. 13 with the missile alert that was sent in error.

UC IRVINE ANTEATERS

>> Record: 12-4

>> Coach: Russell Turner

>> Story line: The Anteaters won nine of their first 11 games before replacing forward John Edgar with Evan Leonard to create a three-guard lineup. Guard Max Hazzard averaged 8.45 points per game before the switch, and 19.3 thereafter. Jonathan Galloway, who was named the league’s top defensive player the previous two seasons, is receiving help on the boards. In the past five games, Elston Jones is averaging 9.2 rebounds.

>> Fun fact: Hazzard is the grandson of Walt Hazzard, the late UCLA standout and head coach; guard Spencer Rivers’ father is Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers, and Collin Welp’s father is Christian Welp, the University of Washington’s career scoring leader.

HAWAII RAINBOW WARRIORS

>> Record: 9-5

>> Coach: Eran Ganot

>> Story line: Of the 134 different lineups the ’Bows have used this season, the most successful involve guard Drew Buggs. The ’Bows are at plus-122 points this season, or plus 8.71 per game, when Buggs is on the court. Buggs can play 1 through 3, which frees Brocke Stepteau to alternate between the point and off guard, and opens the way for Eddie Stansberry, who is averaging 15.6 points since being elevated to starter.

>> Fun fact: Post player Zigmars Raimo has not attempted a 3 since Feb. 16, 2017, a span of 49 games and 337 shots.

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE MATADORS

>> Record: 6-10

>> Coach: Mark Gottfried

>> Story line: The jerseys should come with “Hello, my name is …” tags. The 15-player roster features seven freshmen, including forward Ron Artest III (son of former NBA player Metta World Peace), and junior college transfer Rodney “Rocket” Henderson. In 10 games off the bench, Henderson is averaging 12.4 points. Lamine Diane, who redshirted last season, is averaging 24.3 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Diane grew up in Senegal, where his father was a member of the national team, and attended Findlay Prep School, a Las Vegas powerhouse, for two years. Gottfried, who replaces Reggie Theus as head coach, guided three schools to 11 NCAA Tournament berths in 20 years.

>> Fun fact: Guard Alex Sokol’s late father, Steve Sokol, was once dubbed the “World’s Fittest Man” after accomplishing these feats: 30,000 jumping jacks in under eight hours, 5,428 crunches in an hour, and cycling from San Francisco to Los Angeles in two days without ever sitting on the bike seat.

LONG BEACH STATE 49ERS

>> Record: 6-10

>> Coach: Dan Monson

>> Story line: The 49ers earned a forward-thinking reputation in recent years. But with the departure of forward Gabe Levin and sub-.500 seasons in four of six years, the 49ers have experimented with different lineups. A three-player backcourt had moderate success before 6-6 Ron Freeman, who began his career at Kansas State, missed four games. Guard Deishuan Booker is the leading scorer (14.2 points per game), and 6-7, 260-pound Temidayo Yussuf (7.2 rebounds per game) provides a low-post obstacle.

>> Fun fact: Monson is banking on a turnaround. The five-year extension he signed last spring features a $70,080 cut in base salary that can be made up — or exceeded — if he meets incentives.

UC RIVERSIDE HIGHLANDERS

>> Record: 6-10

>> Coach: David Patrick

>> Story line: Patrick, who was born in Bermuda and reared in Australia, is hopeful of matching his past program-building success. As an LSU assistant, he recruited four future NBA players, including Ben Simmons. For now, the long-shot Highlanders are relying on long shots. They have launched a league-high 387 shots from behind the arc. Ajani Kennedy tops the Big West with 56.3 percent accuracy on 3s. Of Dragan Elkaz’s 111 shots, 85.1 percent have been 3-point attempts. Point guard Dikymbe Martin is the lone double-digit scorer (15.9 points on 49.2-percent shooting).

>> Fun fact: UCR is the only Big West program to have never qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

CAL POLY MUSTANGS

>> Record: 4-9

>> Coach: Joe Callero

>> Story line: After five losing seasons in a row, the Mustangs are off to another sluggish start. Their victories have been against Menlo, South Carolina Upstate, Bethune-Cookman and Holy Names. Point guard Donovan Fields, who has attempted 78 more shots than any other Mustang, is averaging 15.8 points per game. Forward Mark Crowe added 25 pounds to his 6-5 frame and now weighs 205. He also gained a shooting touch, connecting on 51.6 percent of his 3s. Tuukka Jaakkola, a 6-10 Finnish finisher, and a match-up zone have helped the Mustangs’ improved defense.

>> Fun fact: The attendees at the next Cal Poly reunion might include “Weird Al” Yankovic and Aaron Peckham, owner and creator of the Urban Dictionary.

CAL STATE FULLERTON TITANS

>> Record: 4-10

>> Coach: Dedrique Taylor

>> Story line: Two of the league’s top returning guards are in the Titans’ backcourt: Kyle Allman (18.5 points per game) and Khalil Ahmad (18.2). They have combined for 47.7 percent of the Titans’ points. Allman, who is naturally right-handed, was taught himself to dribble and shoot with his left hand as a youth. Austen Awosika is a post-up guard and weak-side defender who provides support for forward Jackson Rowe (7.2 boards per game).

>> Fun fact: Allman owns more than 70 pairs of basketball shoes.

UC DAVIS AGGIES

>> Record: 4-10

>> Coach: Jim Les

>> Story line: Point guard TJ Shorts wears jersey 0, which is exactly how many scholarship offers he received as a prep senior. After two years at a junior college, the 5-9, 160-pound Shorts dominated last season, particularly after Chima Moneke was ruled out for the final third. Shorts was named both the league’s top player and its top newcomer. This season, Shorts is averaging team highs in scoring (14.2), rebounding (4.9) and assists (3.8). Division I transfers AJ John (Pepperdine), Stefan Gonzalez (Saint Mary’s), Matt Neufeld (Saint Louis) and Colin Russell (Portland) have provided some help. Siler Schneider is averaging 10.9 points, but his 3-point accuracy has dropped each year, from 38.1 percent to 34.1 to 32.1 to 27.8.

>> Fun fact: Timothy Neocartes Shorts earned the nickname “TJ” because his sister could not pronounce “Timothy.”