Oct. 28, 2010
IRVINE, Calif. - A media panel selected the UC Davis men's basketball team to finish fourth in the Big West this season in the 2010-11 preseason poll, it was announced by the conference office Thursday. The fourth place vote marks the highest finish the Aggies have had in the annual preseason poll. Joe Harden was also one of six players voted to the Preseason Media All-Conference Team.
UC Santa Barbara is picked to win the Big West, after receiving 20 first-place votes from the 23-member voting panel for a total of 204 points. The Gauchos, which captured both the conference co-regular season and tournament championships in 2009-10, return all five starters from the team that finished 20-10 overall.
Long Beach State is second with two first place votes, followed by Pacific, who received the final first place vote. UC Davis is followed by Cal Poly and UC Irvine in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Cal State Fullerton is in seventh, with Cal State Northridge and UC Riverside rounding out the poll.
UC Davis reached the semifinals of the Big West Tournament last season and return all-conference second-team selection Joe Harden, along with senior Mark Payne. The Aggies received 126 points to finish fourth in the poll. Harden was the only senior named to the Preseason Media All-Conference Team.
UC Davis will host Menlo College on Wednesday, Nov. 4, in their first of two exhibition games. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at The Pavilion, and there is no charge for admission.
2010-11 Big West Men's Basketball Media Poll
1. UC Santa Barbara (20 first-place votes), 204 points
2. Long Beach State (2), 180
3. Pacific (1), 161
4. UC Davis, 126
5. Cal Poly, 96
6. UC Irvine, 93
7. Cal State Fullerton, 81
8. Cal State Northridge, 55
9. UC Riverside, 39
Preseason Media All-Conference Team
Joe Harden (UC Davis) G, Sr.
Orlando Johnson (UC Santa Barbara) G, Jr.
James Nunnally (UC Santa Barbara) F, Jr.
T.J. Robinson (Long Beach State) F, Jr.
Casper Ware (Long Beach State) G, Jr.
Eric Wise (UC Irvine) F, Jr.
