Big West Tourney Preview

At Anaheim Convention Center (Anaheim, Calif.)
FIRST ROUND
Wednesday, March 11
Game 1: No. 5 UC Irvine vs. No. 8 UC Davis, 9 p.m.
Game 2: No. 6 UC Riverside vs. No. 7 Cal State Fullerton, 11:30 p.m.

SECOND ROUND
Thursday, March 12
Game 3: No. 3 Pacific vs. lowest remaining seed, 9 p.m.
Game 4: No. 4 UC Santa Barbara vs. highest remaining seed, 11:30 p.m.

SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 13
Game 5: No. 1 Cal State Northridge vs. lowest remaining seed, 8:30 p.m.
Game 6: No. 2 Long Beach State vs. highest remaining seed, 11 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 14
Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, ESPN2, 11:59 p.m.


Team to watch: Pacific. The Tigers are usually the most consistent team in the conference. A few years ago they were the dominant team and look to regain that form. Always a dangerous team to play in the NCAA tournament, the Tigers have two first round victories in the last six years.

Player to watch: Josh Akognon. The 5'11 guard from Cal State Fullerton was conference player of the year and was ranked in the top ten nationally with a 23.5 scoring average per game. Akognon has a great stroke, leading the conference in three pointers and free throw percentage.

Upset watch: Cal State Fullerton. The reason is Akognon and junior forward Gerard Anderson. With these two players, the Titans can pull the upset on anyone and make a run at a conference tourney championship.

Tourney watch: The Big West will only the conference tourney champion into the field of 65. Cal State Northridge has the number seed, Pacific has the track record, but I think Long Beach State has enough in the tank to get through the tourney and advance.