IRVINE, Calif.  – The Big West announced its men's basketball preseason poll with the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors picked to finish third by the coaches. It is the third time in the last four years that UH has been picked in the top three of the preseason poll. 

Perennial Big West contender UC Irvine (98 points) is this year's favorite garnering eight of 11 first-place votes by the league coaches. UC Santa Barbara (93) gained the other three first-place votes as the predicted runner-up. Hawai'i earned 76 points to be slotted at the number three spot as the Rainbow Warriors embark on their 14th and final season in the BIg West.  Defending conference champions UC San Diego is right behind UH with 69 points. 

Meanwhile, Gytis Nemeikša garnered a spot on the six-player all-Big West preseason team. The senior from Kaunas, Lithuania, was the team's leading scorer last year at 12.3 ppg while adding 5.6 rpg. Nemeiksa is part of a 13-player UH roster this year that includes four returnees and nine newcomers. 

UH hosts the first of two free exhibition games this Saturday, Oct. 18 versus Pomona-Pitzer at Bankoh Arena. The 'Bows will also take on Chaminade on Sunday, Oct. 26 before opening the 2025-26 regular season on the road at Oregon on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

2025-26 Big West Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
Rk Team                        Points (1st place)
1    UC Irvine                 98 (8)
2    UCSB                       93 (3)
3    Hawai'i                    76
4    UCSD                       69
5    CSUN                       63
6    UC Davis                 58
7    Cal Poly                   54
8    Long Beach St       31
9    UC Riverside          26
10  CSU Bakersfield   20
11  Cal State Fullerton 17

2025-26 Big West Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Team
Player                    Year   Position    Team
Jurian Dixon            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