For all of the posts in this series, visit the 2017-18 Non-Conference Scheduling Hub.

Ranking The Teams

Last season, the Big West was KenPom’s 29th-ranked conference, with six teams sinking to the bottom 100. As a result, two-thirds of league members now rank outside of the top 200 of the four-year program ranking, while the league itself ranks 20th nationally. UC Irvine and Hawai’i sit near the cut lines of the top 100 and 150, respectively.

Ranking The Schedules

Big West teams either scheduled well—with four ranking in the top 100 across all four categories—or poorly—as the other five reside, with limited exception, in the bottom half of Division I. Not surprisingly, Long Beach State, which has earned plenty of attention for its non-conference slates in Dan Monson’s 10 seasons in charge, leads the way. However, defending Big West Tournament champ UC Davis brings up the rear in 2017. The Aggies and Cal State Northridge find themselves in the bottom 50 nationally in all four tables below.

*Denotes team will participate in a bracketed tournament. Reminder: Known Score = known matchups only; Average Score = known games+average of potential bracketed matchups; Maximum Score = known games+games against best potential bracketed matchups; Minimum Score = known games+games against worst potential bracketed matchups

Who Over- And Under-Scheduled?

Only the conference’s last two NCAA reps, UC Davis and Hawai’i, under-scheduled heading into this season. The other seven squads overdid things by margins ranging from small (UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine) to medium (UC Riverside) to large (Cal State Fullerton).

Thanks to both Hawai’i and Cal State Fullerton hosting ESPN Events-owned tournaments, the Big West has two home quarterfinals against Power 7 teams on its collective schedule already, with the potential of two further contests if things break right for the Rainbow Warriors and Titans. On the flip side, Long Beach State, who hosts Stanford to account for the third guaranteed power conference home game, might play UCF in the the Knights’ backyard over Thanksgiving weekend.

Note that Hawai’i accounts for nearly one-fourth of the Big West’s scheduled home games, as the league joins the Big Sky and MEAC in a three-way tie for 17th in the mid-major home game rankings (out of 25 conferences). Like the America East, the Big West will play 20 Power 7 road games, which ranks 15th among the group, while the conference’s 18 non-D1 games puts it squarely in the middle of the mid-major pack.

There are no real surprises here, as the five other Division I conferences that occupy the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones dominate Big West slates, with some of the country’s easternmost loops absent entirely. It would be nice to see more Big West vs. Mountain West and WAC games, however, if only to potentially cut down on non-D1 contests.

Hawai’i’s Diamond Head Classic quarterfinal against Miami is the Big West’s only Top 50 home game this season. Not surprisingly, all but 27 known non-conference matchups come against teams from outside the top 100, but at least a mere 24 come against teams in the bottom 101.

The fact two Big West teams host exempt events this season reduces the number of neutral-site opportunities available to them.

Team-By-Team Breakdown

Teams are listed in order of their Average Schedule Strength National Ranking. Numbers in parentheses are opponent’s Team Score Ranking. Logos via SportsLogos.net.

15. Long Beach State 49ers

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 3 wins (Pepperdine, Oregon State (N), Colorado State) and 1 loss (Eastern Michigan)

The 49ers 2017-18 non-conference slate isn’t quite as rigorous as 2016-17’s version, which led to a nine-game losing streak early in the season and a 5-11 mark heading into Big West play. But games at West Virginia, Arizona, and Michigan State, a rare visit from Stanford, and an intriguing AdvoCare Invitational trip mean Dan Monson’s team will again be adequately tested before conference play tips off.

72. Cal State Fullerton Titans

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 2 wins (Portland, Bethesda) and 0 losses

A new four-year cycle for the Wooden Legacy couldn’t have come at a better time for the Titans, a team poised to build on 2016-17’s 17-win campaign. If Fullerton can knock off Georgia in the quarterfinals, matchups with San Diego State, Saint Mary’s, Harvard, and Saint Joseph’s—NCAA hopefuls all—could follow. On the other hand, Dedrique Taylor’s squad is already scheduled to play the Gaels in Moraga, with other key road games taking the Titans to USC and California. Fullerton will also face WAC sleeper Utah Valley in a home-and-home series.

77. UC Irvine Anteaters

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 1 win (South Dakota State) and 4 losses (Utah State, @Saint Mary’s, @Nevada, @New Mexico State)

Like their rivals from Davis, the Anteaters will be favored in the visitors’ bracket of a Las Vegas event, though the semifinal game against Rider might turn out to be more of a test than what’s to follow on Black Friday. UC Irvine’s limited home slate features two 2017 NCAA teams in New Mexico State and Nevada, while a full 40% of the road games feature teams that danced. Even with the two non-D1 games, this is a schedule worthy of a team expected to challenge for postseason honors.

83. Cal Poly Mustangs

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 0 wins and 4 losses (@Pepperdine, @Fresno State, @California, @Princeton)

While the Mustangs managed to defeat three D1 squads during their 2016 non-conference seasons, none of them return to this season’s schedule. So Cal Poly will attempt to build on that number, and 2016-17’s total of 11 victories, against a brutal slate that features three power conference road trips, an excursion to the final Great Alaska Shootout, and contests against two of the top mid-major programs in the land—Princeton and UT Arlington.

183. UC Santa Barbara Gauchos

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 0 wins and 3 losses (Omaha, @USC, @San Diego)

UCSB saw a 13-game decline between Bob Williams’s penultimate and final seasons in charge, and new coach Joe Pasternack will attempt to pick up the pieces, starting with a sneakily difficult slate of 13 non-league games. While the Gauchos will have to travel for all four of their Legends Classic games, at least the visitors’ bracket is set for nearby Pepperdine. USC joins Texas A&M as ranking as the toughest road trips, while the Summit double act of North Dakota State and Omaha are likely to be the two best teams to visit the Thunderdome.

207. UC Riverside Highlanders

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 1 win (Grand Canyon) and 2 losses (Montana, Utah Valley)

After two straight 14-win seasons, the Highlanders slipped back in 2017, winning just eight, with a surprising win over Grand Canyon being the Highlanders’ only Division I victory outside of league play. While the ‘Lopes are back on the schedule (and UCR has to head to Phoenix to play them), most of last season’s opponents didn’t return. However, that doesn’t mean things will be any easier—especially with a visit from Valparaiso and trips to Michigan and Cal on the agenda.

270. Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 2 wins (Hawai’i-Hilo, Arkansas-Pine Bluff) and 2 losses (Troy, Utah)

Evan Ganot’s team was unable to build upon 2016 NCAA Tournament win over Cal thanks to sanctions, including a postseason ban, that were overturned just before March Madness. A home schedule featuring a loaded Diamond Head Classic, a visit from Mountain West favorite Nevada, and eight winnable contests should get the Rainbow Warriors ready for a charge at earning a second bid in three years.

326. Cal State Northridge Matadors

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 2 wins (Idaho State, Morgan State) and 1 loss (Loyola Marymount)

After winning 17 games in his first season in charge, Reggie Theus has only averaged 10 in seasons two through four. That number could rise in 2017-18, thanks in no small part to a more manageable non-conference schedule than 2016’s gauntlet that saw the Matadors win just three D1 games. For starters, the Cancun Challenge won’t quite be as challenging of a tournament as last season’s Wooden Legacy, while Pac-12 road games against UCLA and Stanford have been replaced by one against rebuilding California.

CSUN faces five Big Sky opponents alone, including a home-and-home with Idaho State, though that number could rise to six if the Matadors meet Montana State in Mexico.

327. UC Davis Aggies

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 4 wins (Holy Names, Sacramento State (N), William Jessup, Utah Valley) and 0 losses

The defending Big West Tournament champions’ schedule features not one, but two home-and-home non-league series—with Northern Colorado and Pacific. It also includes trips to the two teams likely to finish at the bottom of the Pac-12 and a pair of winnable Las Vegas Classic visitors’ bracket games. This is a slate that could very well set the Aggies up for a title defense.

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