IRVINE, Calif. – The Big West has announced this season's Preseason Coaches' Poll and All-Big West Team today. For UC Santa Bphillarbara Men's Basketball, they have been voted to finish second in the conference. Along with that, Aidan Mahaney and Jason Fontenet II have been selected to the All-Big West Preseason Team.
 
The Gauchos are coming off their eighth straight winning season and their sixth 20-win campaign after finishing 21-13 last season. Not only that, but the Gauchos broke three program records along the way as they scored the most points in a single season (2,527), made the most three-pointers in a single season (340) and dished out the most assists in a single season (508).
 
Mahaney, who enters his first season with the Gauchos, now adds Preseason All-Big West selection to his resume. The senior joins UC Santa Barbara after spending last season with back-to-back National Champions, UConn. Before he arrived in Storrs, the Lafayette, California native was a 2023-24 Lou Henson All-American and earned First and Second Team NABC All-District selections at St. Mary's during his two years in Moraga.
 
Junior Jason Fontenet II enters his third season in Blue and Gold after a breakout sophomore campaign. The Phoenix, Arizona native started all 34 games for the Gauchos, averaging 9.9 points per game, nearly doubling his scoring total from the season before. He scored in double figures 18 times, including a stretch where he scored in double digits in eight of 10 games.
 
Fans can get their first glimpse of the 2025-26 Men's Basketball team on Tuesday, Nov. 4 when the team opens up against San Francisco State in The Thunderdome. Season tickets are available and can be purchased online, in person or by phone at (805) 893-8272 or by emailing athletics-tickets@ucsb.edu. Single-game tickets are also now on sale and can be purchased by visiting ucsbgauchos.com/tickets.
 
You can catch Coach Pasternack and Aidan on The Big West Preview show in coordination with The Field of 68 tomorrow, starting at 11 a.m. on The Field of 68's YouTube Channel.

The Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank / Institution	Points (First Place Votes)
1. UC Irvine	98 (8)
2. UC Santa Barbara	93 (3)
3. Hawai'i	76
4. UC San Diego	69
5. CSUN	63
6. UC Davis	58
7. Cal Poly	54
8. Long Beach State	31
9. UC Riverside	26
10. Cal State Bakersfield	20
11. Cal State Fullerton	17

The Big West Preseason Coaches' Team

Student-Athlete	Year	Position	Institution
Jurian Dixon	R-So.	Guard	UC Irvine
Mahmoud Fofana	Sr.	Forward	CSUN
Jason Fontenet II	Jr.	Guard	UC Santa Barbara
Andre Henry	Gr.	Guard	UC Irvine
Aidan Mahaney	Sr.	Guard	UC Santa Barbara
Gytis Nemeikša	Sr.	Forward	Hawai'i