Pulling for Pullen: HoopsHD interviews Wyatt Thompson about Jacob Pullen

Posted on October 20, 2025 by Jon Teitel

Jacob Pullen scored 18 PTS in his college debut for Kansas State in 2007, and then continued scoring for the following 4 years. He set a career-high with 38 points against #1 Kansas on Valentine’s Day 2011, tied his career-high the following month with another 38 PTS in his final game against Wisconsin in the NCAA tourney, and his 2132 career PTS remain the most in school history. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Wyatt Thompson (the “Voice of the Wildcats”) about Pullen’s sensational scoring ability and his postseason heroics.

What made Pullen choose Kansas State? I assume that a lot of it was due to a pair of coaches (Bob Huggins/Frank Martin). Jake’s 1st year was in 2007 and when Frank took over for Hugs he did not miss a beat. We had heard that Jake was a fine player coming out of a fine program in Proviso East.

In the 2009 NIT he scored 32 PTS in a 4-PT OT win over Illinois State: what was your reaction to the ridiculous final play (when he inbounded the ball off a Redbirds player and made a layup as time expired)? I do recall that play: he was always a high-IQ player. I have been here 24 years, and we have had a lot of good teams here. We had had a lot of great guard duos as well and Jacob/Denis Clemente were 1 of the best. That NIT was the start of a good little run for us.

Take me through the 2010 NCAA tourney:
He scored 28 PTS in a 5-PT 2-OT win over Xavier: how were the Wildcats able to overcome the Musketeers’ amazing clutch shooting (Terrell Holloway made 3 FTs with 5 seconds left in regulation, then Jordan Crawford made a 35-footer with 4 seconds left in the 1st OT: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFa14Wzo5nI)? In my 49-year career that might be the best game I ever had the opportunity to cover. I recall that we tried fouling them on the floor at the end of regulation, but the refs did not call a foul until Holloway was shooting and he made all 3 shots to send it into OT. Xavier hung around with us because they were well-coached and every bit as tough as we were. It was 1 of those games with hardly any separation at all.

He scored 14 PTS and tied a school record with 6 STL in a 7-PT loss to Butler: what made him such a great defender? Just his strength: he had a unique body type because even though he was not the tallest kid his body was thick. Hugs/Frank were all about being rugged/tough: as the saying goes, “No blood, no foul”! He just had a feel for stealing the ball: most people know about his scoring record, but it was a hard adjustment for him at 1st. Once he figured out that he belonged he just blossomed into an incredible player who did so many things.

As a freshman he scored a season-high 20 PTS/10-10 FT in a 9-PT upset of 2nd-ranked Kansas, then scored a career-high 38 PTS in an upset of top-ranked Kansas on Valentine’s Day in 2011: where do those 2 upsets rank among the biggest in the history of the “Sunflower Showdown”? We started to dip around 1990 as KU started to take off, but it had been a heated rivalry. I would describe the upset during his freshman year as “stunning” because nobody in our conference was beating KU back then. I would say it was easily 1 of the top-15 moments in school history: it was monumental at the time. As far as his 38-PT game, it was 1 of the top-3 performances by a K-State player that I have ever seen. That is why he is as beloved as he is: as time goes on you develop even more appreciation for what he did. Beating KU was the ultimate thing even though they did everything they could to try to slow him down. He scored in so many ways: deep threes, twisting his way to the rim, etc.

In the 2011 NCAA tourney he scored 38 PTS/6-8 3PM in a 5-PT loss to Wisconsin (which set a record for most PTS by a Big 12 player in an NCAA tourney game): was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot he put up seemed to go in because he was “in the zone”? Yes. At that time Wisconsin was very big/strong/athletic, which you think would have been a problem for Jake, but they just could not slow him down. We did not lose due to his performance (13-22 FG): the Badgers were 1 of the most physical teams that I had ever seen.

He remains the all-time leading scorer/3-PT shooter in school history: did you realize at the time how prolific a player he was, and do you think that anyone will ever break his records? Nobody thought that he would break Mike Evans’ scoring record. From the beginning I felt that his ability would make him a quality scorer in the Big 12. He could draw fouls, make FTs, and could make shots from deeper range than I thought. His records might be broken since we keep getting talented scorers (like PJ Haggerty), but it would be tough to find a good player who stays here for 4-5 years. Jake almost averaged double-digits for 4 years in a row, which is very hard to do. He scored 700+ PTS as a sophomore so after that you knew that he would have a shot at the record as a senior.

He was a 2-time All-American and won the 2011 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award for the nation’s best senior who is 6’ or shorter: what did it mean to him to win such outstanding honors? I remember asking him about it: if you ask him now, he would probably be as proud of that Naismith Award as anything. When he 1st got here, I do not know if he liked it all that much because it was like boot camp, but it laid the foundation for him to become tougher/stronger. That is why he blossomed: you just could not break him down. He could score on you even if you were 5’10” or 6’5″.

When people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? I get emotional talking about this because I have been here a long time. I have seen 9 of the top-10 scorers (Bob Boozer was a little before my time), and when I look at those names, I know that he belongs. Guys like Evans/Rolando Blackmon had nice long NBA careers, and Steve Henson was an Olympic-level decathlete, but Jake will be known forever as 1 of the top guys who ever played here. He was the 1st 1 to get down on his knees on Senior Day and kiss the midcourt logo: he left here a Wildcat. The only reason they have not retired his # yet is that he has been playing pro basketball overseas for the past 15 years and they want him to be present when they do so!

Posted in News and Notes | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Pulling for Pullen: HoopsHD interviews Wyatt Thompson about Jacob Pullen

Sun Belt Media Day Recap and Response

Posted on October 20, 2025 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE For All of our Preseason Coverage, Including Interviews, Podcasts, and Conference Previews

SUN BELT MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:

  1. James Madison
  2. Arkansas State
  3. South Alabama
  4. Troy
  5. Old Dominion
  6. Marshall
  7. Appalachian State
  8. Texas State
  9. Louisiana
  10. Georgia Southern
  11. Georgia State
  12. Southern Miss
  13. Coastal Carolina
  14. UL Monroe

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-SBC 1ST TEAM:

-Robert Davis Jr. – JR, G – Old Dominion (Preseason Player of the Year)
-Bradley Douglas – SR, G – James Madison
-Thomas Dowd – JR, F – Troy
-Tyren Moore – SR, G – Georgia Southern
-Jalen Speer – SR, G – Marshall

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-SBC 2ND TEAM:

-Eren Banks – JR, G – Appalachian State
-Mark Drone – SR, G – Texas State
-Jelani Hamilton – SO, G – Georgia State
-Chandler Jackson – JR, G – Arkansas State
-RaSheed Jones – JR, G – Coastal Carolina

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-SBC 3RD TEAM:

-Jordan Battle – SR, G – Old Dominion
-John Broom – SO, G – South Alabama
-Kaden Gumbs – JR, G – Texas State
-Matt Van Komen – SR, C – Marshall
-Nakavieon White – SR, F – Georgia Southern

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:

Before the season even started last year this conference got our attention with their super-extended-ladder format to the conference tournament. The difference between finishing 4th and 6th was SUBSTANTIAL given how many rounds you could bye into the conference tournament. Once conference play started, it was a logjam all season long, which made every game feel incredibly meaningful and exciting! As crazy as we thought the format was, it actually made the regular season a ton of fun!

-James Madison was last year’s 1st-place team and is again the favorite this year despite having just one starter back. In fact they lost their top-five scorers, so they appear to be starting over. Cliff Davis had a pretty solid season for UTRGV last year, Justin McBride saw some quality minutes at Nevada last season, and Gabe Newhof was a standout player in NAIA last year, so the Dukes have some pieces.

-Arkansas State had a fantastic season last year with 25 total wins, a tie for 1st place in the league, and some pretty big wins along the way. Unfortunately they are starting completely over with all five starters being gone from a year ago. They have a smattering of guys that transferred in after seeing limited minutes at bigger programs, and Matt Hayman had a really good year at Stephen F. Austin last year, so they do have a few pieces to work with.

-South Alabama has just one starter back and has turned to some standout players at D-2 and NAIA to try and rebuild their roster. They have some guys that appear to have potential, but the question is how well will they perform at the D-1 level?

-I have long been a fan of Scott Cross as a coach, and Troy had their 4th straight 20+ win season last year as they finished in a tie for 1st place. Unfortunately, like a lot of other teams, most of their key players from a year ago are gone. Thomas Dowd returns, who was very strong in the frontcourt a year ago. They will look to some guys who saw limited minutes off the bench last year to step into bigger roles and be bigger contributors this year, along with some pretty impressive-looking freshmen who have future potential.

-Old Dominion was underwhelming for most of last season, particularly in the latter part of the season where they lost seven straight before barely winning their season finale prior to the conference tournament. Having said that, there is reason to be optimistic this year. Robert Davis Jr. returns to the roster, who is arguably the best player in the conference. Two other key starters also return, and they went into the transfer portal to pick up KC Shaw (who put up big numbers for Maryland Eastern Shore last season), LJ Thomas (who was a prominent player for Austin Peay), and Jordan Battle (who is a fantastic outside shooter from Coastal Carolina). Old Dominion is looking MUCH improved!! So much so that they are my pick to win the league this year despite the lack of preseason love.

-Marshall finished just one game out of 1st place last year! But was ultimately 5th in the conference standings after all the tiebreakers, which gives you an idea of just how crazy this league was. Only one starter is back from that team, and while Jalen Speer is a very solid player, there are not too many others on the roster with solid D-1 experience, so it could be a rebuilding year for the Herd.

-Appalachian State won just 17 games last year, so the season wasn’t so HOT HOT HOT. And, with just one starter back, it may not be so HOT HOT HOT this year either. Eren Banks comes in from Georgia Southern, and Kasen Jennings put up some pretty good numbers at South Florida, and they have some standout players from lower divisions. I can see them finishing in the top half of the conference, but I do not see them competing for 1st place.

-Texas State, like everyone else, is having to replace most of their key players. Jalen Bolden comes in from UL Monroe after putting up some big numbers for them a year ago, and he is certainly a guy that knows this conference. Other than him it is a transfer-heavy team that consists mostly of guys with limited D-1 experience.

-Louisiana had a pretty poor season overall last year, but they were starting to look a little better down the stretch. Only three players are returning, but two of them were starters. It is a transfer-heavy team consisting largely of guys from bigger programs who saw limited minutes and appear to be seeking more playing time.

-Georgia Southern is having to replace their entire starting lineup, and while Nakavieon White gave them some quality minutes off the bench last year and should be a key player this year, they appear to be lacking in proven D-1 experience.

-It has been a rough few years for Georgia State, and after just 14 wins in each of the last two seasons it may be another rough year for the Panthers this year. Two starters do return, and Jelani Hamilton transferring in from Iowa State is a huge addition to the roster. They have added a few JUCO players who may be able to contribute as well. I do not think the Panthers will have a strong season, but I do think they will do a little better than where they have been picked in the preseason.

-Southern Miss won just 11 games last year and is faced with having to rebuild their roster this year. They have turned to some guys who put up big numbers in JUCO and NAIA, and we may see some improvement this year, but with so little D-1 experience it is hard to imagine them finishing in the top half of the standings.

-Coastal Carolina’s days of being a top-level under the radar program now seem like a lifetime ago. They have been really bad the last three years, and all signs point to them being bad again this year. Rasheed Jones gave them some quality numbers last year, and AJ Dancler was a good pickup from Le Moyne, but they are lacking in proven D-1 experience. This is a program that, at least to me, seems like it should be performing at a much higher level than they have been in recent years, but it does not seem like they will be turning things around this year.

-UL Monroe won just 7 total games a year ago, and is tasked with replacing all five starters, which may not be the worst thing in the world. They have been one of the weaker programs in the SBC in recent years, and no one seems to be expecting much of them this year.

Posted in Conference Preview, News and Notes | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Sun Belt Media Day Recap and Response

America East Media Day Recap and Response

Posted on October 20, 2025 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE For All of our Preseason Coverage, Including Interviews, Podcasts, and Conference Previews

AMERICA EAST MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:

  1. Vermont
  2. Maine
  3. UAlbany
  4. UMass Lowell
  5. Binghamton
  6. Bryant
  7. UMBC
  8. NJIT
  9. New Hampshire

MEDIA DAY PREASEASON ALL-AMERICA EAST TEAM:

-Quincy Allen – SR, G – Bryant
-TJ Hurley – SR, G – Vermont
-Demetrius Lilley – SR, C – Binghamton
-Amir Lindsey – SO, G – UAlbany
-TJ Long – SR, G – Vermont
-Josh Odunowo – SR, G – UMBC

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:

-Vermont has been the dominant program in this conference for the past several years, and while they slipped to 2nd last year and did not win the conference tournament, expectations are still high for the Catamounts this year. Very high, in fact. They have the best backcourt in the conference with TJ Hurley and TJ Long, who both put up big time numbers last year. Hurley in particular is a fantastic shooter. While they do have to replace their frontcourt, they have a couple of solid transfers coming in in Ben Johnson (Bellarmine) and Ben Michaels (Buffalo). This is a team that will likely run away with the league and could give someone fits in the Round of 64.

After Vermont, there is a MAJOR drop off!!!

-You have no idea how happy it makes me to see Maine this high in the preseason poll!! Well, if you followed us last year, I guess maybe you do. Maine was one of the worst programs in all of D-1, but their recent turnaround has been remarkable and the expectations are high again this year. Now having said that, I am not quite sure why the expectations for this year’s team are so high. Four starters are gone from last year’s 20-win team that made it to the AEast championship game, and there doesn’t seem to be anyone all that proven on this year’s roster. Ace Flagg’s brother had a pretty good season at Duke last year, and he is a solid signee for the Black Bears, but I think they are in rebuilding mode.

-UAlbany is tasked with replacing four of their starters after a so-so season last year. The 17 games they won were the most they had won in a while, but with so many new guys on the roster it is hard to say whether that will translate into success for this year. They have a smattering of guys who transferred in after seeing limited minutes at bigger programs, so this is their chance to play a bigger role. Amir Lindsey received preseason honors after having a pretty solid year as a freshman last year, so he is someone they will be relying on.

-Like a lot of teams, UMass Lowell’s roster has turned over. All five starters from a year ago are gone and they have turned to the portal to try and replace them. This year’s team does not seem to have a ton of experience, so there are more questions than answers about them.

-It has been a while since Binghamton managed a winning season, and like seemingly everyone else in this league they are faced with a roster overhaul and a lack of experience at the D-1 level. Bryson Wilson put up some decent numbers and minutes at Buffalo, and he may be the Bearcats’ most experienced player.

-Bryant had a fantastic season last year! They were the 1st-place team! They won the conference tournament! They won 23 total games and made the NCAA Tournament! And this year…well…all those key players are gone and they are pretty much starting over. Jamion Christian takes over as head coach and he seems to have a roster that lacks experience. It may be a long season as they look to rebuild.

-It is fair to say that UMBC did not have a good year last year, and were particularly bad down the stretch. But, they do have two returning starters, and they are both pretty good. Josh Odunowo is a solid guard who earned preseason all-conference honors. Devin Ceaser comes in from Old Dominion and should be able to contribute right away, and Jah’likai King put up some big numbers at New Haven (who was D-2 last year), so they have some pieces. I think they can finish higher than this. Like…a lot higher than this. Maybe even as high as 2nd.

-NJIT has three starters back, which makes them among the more experienced teams in the conference. The problem is they only won six total games a year ago and were dead last in the standings, so despite the experience the expectations are not high. What they do appear to have are some outstanding outside shooters. I know they need more than that, but at least they have something. They may be able to do a little bit better than next-to-last this year.

-New Hampshire won just eight games a year ago and appears to be in for another long season this year. Just one starter is back and they will be relying on players without a whole lot of proven D-1 level experience.

Posted in Conference Preview, News and Notes | Tagged , , | Comments Off on America East Media Day Recap and Response

Atlantic Sun Media Day Recap and Response

Posted on October 18, 2025 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE For All of our Preseason Coverage, Including Interviews, Podcasts, and Conference Previews

ATLANTIC SUN MEDIA DAY PRESEASON COACHES POLL:

  1. Queens
  2. North Alabama
  3. Eastern Kentucky
  4. FGCU
  5. Austin Peay
  6. Jacksonville
  7. Lipscomb
  8. Central Arkansas
  9. Stetson
  10. Bellarmine
  11. North Florida
  12. West Georgia

ATLANTIC SUN MEDIA DAY PRESEASON MEDIA POLL:

  1. North Alabama
  2. Eastern Kentucky
  3. Queens
  4. FGCU
  5. Lipscomb
  6. Jacksonville
  7. Austin Peay
  8. Stetson
  9. North Florida
  10. Bellarmine
  11. Central Arkansas
  12. West Georgia

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-ASUN TEAM:

-Chris Ashby – Queens
-Corneilous Williams – North Alabama
-Tate McCubbin – Austin Peay
-Camren Hunter – Central Arkansas
-Montavious Myrick – Eastern Kentucky
-Chris Arias – Jacksonville
-Charlie Williams – Lipscomb
-Donte Bacchus – North Alabama
-Jamie Phillips Jr. – Stetson
-Shelton Williams-Dryden – West Georgia

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:

-North Alabama was a fantastic story last year. For a program that had struggled ever since transitioning up to D-1 and had no real basketball history or culture, they absolutely exploded last year and won 24 total games. They were packing their arena, tied for 1st place in the conference, nearly made the NCAA Tournament, and then earned an NIT bid. This year they are in a bit of a reset mode as they are tasked with replacing four starters, but the expectations are still high. Kedar Bodie was a standout player at the JUCO level last year and is someone who could make an immediate impact. Dallas Howell and Corneilous Williams also saw key minutes, so they should be able to be big-time contributors this year as well.

-Eastern Kentucky had a stretch late in the year where they won eight straight games, but for most of the year they struggled more than what you would expect. Turner Buttry and Jackson Holt both return and make up an experienced and talented backcourt. Both are also very solid outside shooters. Juan Cranford Jr. transfers in from Saint Francis where he put up some pretty impressive numbers, so he should be a contributor as well. Amarr Knox is another solid transfer who averaged over 14ppg on an Alabama State team that made the NCAA Tournament last year. All in all, I really like this EKU roster and think they can win the league this year.

-Queens has been a super-fun program to follow since they began transitioning up to D-1. They won 20 games last year and have high expectations for this season. Chris Ashby returns for his final year of eligibility after averaging just under 13ppg last year and is a very solid outside shooter. Yoav Berman had a solid year is a freshman and is also a superb outside shooter: he should be able to contribute in a big way this season. As always, Queens should be a lot of fun to watch this year.

-FGCU was a modest 18-15 last year, but started to catch fire down the stretch, winning five of their last six before losing in the conference tournament. Unfortunately just one starter returns from that team and the roster seems to be lacking in guys with a whole lot of proven D-1 experience. The expectations are still reasonably high, but it could be a long year for the Eagles.

-Kevin Carroll takes over the coaching duties at Lipscomb. They had a great season last year where they won 25 games, which included winning the conference tournament and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The problem is that so much of that team is gone that it is like an entirely new team this year. Their roster is lacking in D-1 experience and it could be a long season for them.

-Jacksonville is another team that is having to completely rebuild after experiencing some success a season ago. Chris Arias had a solid freshman season and is a fantastic outside shooter. Given how much players tend to improve between their freshman and sophomore years he will likely be the player they depend on the most this year, but he certainly cannot do it all alone: some of the returners who saw limited minutes will have to step up this year.

-Austin Peay had an unremarkable season last year, but they were showing signs of life down the stretch and I kind of like them this year. If nothing else I think they will be very much improved with three starters returning including Tate McCubbin, who was a double-figure scorer last year and earned preseason honors this year. They have also added a few guys who put up solid numbers in JUCO or D-2 last year.

-A couple years ago Stetson won 22 games and was a great story given how they had been able to build themselves up. Last year, they won just eight games, and with the roster turning over again it is looking like it could be another long year for the Hatters. Jamie Phillips Jr. is the lone returning starter and while they have a couple of impressive-looking freshmen and JUCO players joining the roster, it remains to be seen if they can step into D-1 and contribute right away.

-After two solid years in their first two years of transitioning, Bellarmine has completely fallen apart. They won just five total games a season ago, and Doug Davenport takes over for his father (long-time successful head coach Scott Davenport). He has his work cut out for him. Jack Karasinski is a solid player and shooter, but he will need some help. A lot of guys who do not have a lot of D-1 experience will have to step up.

-North Florida is having to replace their entire starting lineup. While I do not expect them to be very good this year, I am expecting them to be a little better than next-to-last. Alex Vargo put up big numbers in JUCO last year and should be a player they can rely on this season. Devin Hines put up decent numbers at Lafayette a year ago and as a grad transfer gives them some experience. They have at least a couple of pieces and should be able to win a few games.

-West Georgia is in their second transitional year, and that is never an easy place to be. They won just six games a year ago, and while three starters are back everyone is pretty much expecting them to struggle again this year.

Posted in Conference Preview, News and Notes | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Atlantic Sun Media Day Recap and Response

Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Utah State coach Jerrod Calhoun

Posted on October 17, 2025 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE For All of our Preseason Coverage, Including Interviews, Podcasts, and Conference Previews

We are less than 3 weeks away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with Utah State coach Jerrod Calhoun, who talked about his birthday plans and his expectations for this season.

You played basketball at Cleveland State for Rollie Massimino and were a student assistant at Cincinnati under Bob Huggins: what was the most important thing you learned from either of those 2 Hall of Famers? I learned a lot of lessons from both. Rollie was incredible at having the players spend a ton of time around his wife/children: he created an unbelievable family atmosphere. He also gave his assistants great ownership of the program. Bob was the best practice coach that I had ever seen: those 3-hour practices were so beneficial that we always thought when we showed up for a game that we would win the fight.

You won the 2005 NAIA title as an assistant at Walsh University in 2005, made the Final 4 as an assistant to Huggins at West Virginia in 2010, and were D-2 national runner-up at Fairmount State in 2017: what is the secret to winning games in March? Role identity is very critical: 1 through 15 must understand their roles. You must be connected both on and off the court and be playing for a bigger purpose than yourself. You must also be balanced: rotating/finishing on defense and creating advantages on offense. Every game is so close that it often comes down to the final possession.

In 2023 as head coach at Youngstown State you tied a school record with 24 wins and were named Horizon League COY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? I think the Horizon is 1 of the most underrated leagues in the country. Greg Kampe is still a great coach at Oakland, and we also have guys like Jon Coffman/Darrin Horn. That award is due to a great effort on the part of the players/assistants, so it was very neat.

You were hired as head coach at Utah State last year and won 26 games in your 1st season: how were you able to come in and be so successful in Year #1? We identified some very good players and have 1 of the best home atmospheres in all of college basketball due to our student section (“The Herd”). We were #20 in offensive efficiency due to our unselfishness and our ability to create advantages. We had outstanding chemistry due to our belief in “we over me” and putting the team 1st.

Last December you had a 1-PT win at San Diego State, which was the school’s 1st road win over a top-25 team since 1991: do you view it as just another win on your schedule, or a program-altering win that people will be talking about for years to come, or other? I do not think it was “program-altering” because every win is big. Viejas Arena is 1 of the toughest venues in the country, which helps make the MWC so great. This has been a great program for a long time, so I consider it more of a “momentum-changer”: it gave us a lot of confidence as a group.

In the 2025 NCAA tourney you lost to UCLA: what did your team learn from that game that you think will help them this season? You learn from every experience: you must handle success when you win and self-reflect on your losses. The last loss of a season is always the hardest, but it taught me that we need more positional size, which we addressed in the offseason. Bruins coach Mick Cronin is a good friend of mine and 1 of my favorite quotes is from him: “You must win the fight before you win the game”.

You were rumored to be in the mix for the West Virginia head coaching job last March before signing an extension that made you the 2nd-highest paid coach in the MWC: how easy was your decision to stay put? It really was easy. When jobs come open there is so much talk on Twitter, which is why I no longer have social media. When I was younger I that that if I could ever get good enough then I wanted to be in a place that made my family and I extremely happy. Every coach wants their sport to be important to the entire community, and this is by far 1 of the best jobs on the West Coast, if not the entire country. I think we can really grow this program and still think we can eventually reach the Final 4. I love living out here: every day that I wake up it looks like a postcard because the mountains are just mesmerizing. When we move to the Pac-12 next year we will be entering a league with teams like Gonzaga/Oregon State so we must be ready.

Your only returning double-digit scorer from last year is Mason Falslev: what makes him such a great player, and do you think he can increase his FG%/FT% after both decreased last year (although his 3P% increased dramatically)? I compare Mason to Joe Mazzulla. There are certain guys who have the “it” factor: they want to win every single drill due to their competitive spirit. Mason’s confidence level is at an all-time high and he is a more vocal leader now. He will get to the FT line more this year since he has improved different areas of his game, and I think it will be a natural progression for him to make that jump with his shooting percentages.

You have a birthday today: besides talking with me, how will you celebrate the big day? I am going to watch the Aggies play San Jose State tonight in football: hopefully it is a sellout!

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? The goal is to win the MWC. I think Brian Dutcher’s San Diego State team is in a league of its own on paper, but I also respect the heck out of coaches like Bryce Drew/Josh Pastner/Leon Rice: the list goes on and on. We have won regular season/tourney titles in the past, but every year you try to win the league title, make the NCAA tourney, and advance. I am driven by the process/details on both sides of the ball and have built our roster depth, which hopefully will pay big dividends.

Posted in News and Notes | Tagged , | Comments Off on Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Utah State coach Jerrod Calhoun

Big West Media Day Recap and Response

Posted on October 17, 2025 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE For All of our Preseason Coverage, Including Interviews, Podcasts, and Conference Previews

BIG WEST MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:

  1. UC Irvine
  2. UC Santa Barbara
  3. Hawaii
  4. UC San Diego
  5. Cal State Northridge
  6. UC Davis
  7. Cal Poly
  8. Long Beach State
  9. UC Riverside
  10. Cal State Bakersfield
  11. Cal State Fullerton

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-BIG WEST TEAM:

-Jurian Dixon – SO, G – UC Irvine
-Mahmoud Fofana – SR, F – Cal State Northridge
-Jason Fontenet II – JR, G – UC Santa Barbara
-Andre Henry – SR, G – UC Irvine
-Aidan Mahaney – SR, G – UC Santa Barbara
-Gytis Nemeiksa – SR, F – Hawaii

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:

-I am not supposed to play favorites, but this is probably my favorite conference out of all 31 of them. I love the rivalries, the quality of play is way better than what most people realize, and I think the committee should look a little closer at just how hard it is to win on the road in this league.

-UC Irvine did not make the NCAA Tournament last year, but I would argue they should have. They won 27 regular games, and an amazing 13 of those were true road wins with another five coming on a neutral floor. That is incredible. I guarantee you many of the teams from P4 leagues that snuck into the field would have not done as well against the schedule UC Irvine played. This year they are the preseason favorites despite having just one starter back, but Andre Henry and Langston Redfield both return after suffering injuries, so the cupboard is not bare. While a lot of the returners saw limited minutes, many should be able to step into bigger roles this year.

-UC Santa Barbara is also tasked with replacing most of their starters. They have several players who transferred in from P4 programs, presumably in search of more minutes. If they can step into bigger roles this year they should be able to finish near the top of the standings.

-Hawaii being picked 3rd is interesting. They finished 9th in the standings last year, but they have added some talent from the portal, including Dre Bullock (who averaged double-figures at South Dakota) and Tanner Cuff (who was a solid post player at Evansville). Jake Meyers also comes in from Norfolk State and they have some guys who were high-level contributors at the JUCO level. All these new pieces could add up to a lot more wins for the Rainbow Warriors this year.

-UC San Diego had an amazing season last year! They won 18 conference games! They won 30 games overall! They made the NCAA Tournament and nearly beat Michigan in the Round of 64!! And this year…well…virtually all of those players are gone and they are having to start over. They turned to the portal and grabbed Tyson Dunn (who put up solid numbers at Buffalo) and Alex Chaikin (who averaged just under 14ppg at Lafayette). Most returners saw limited minutes last year. UCSD will not be as good as they were a year ago, but they have enough pieces to at least be competitive in the conference.

-Andy Newman has done a great job in his two years at Cal State Northridge. They won 22 games a season ago and were a very respectable 14-6 in the conference, which earned then an NIT bid. They are in a bit of a reset mode with just one starter returning, and their roster seems to be lacking in players who have seen significant minutes at the D-1 level. Still, given how bad this team was the season before Newman arrived and how good they are now, I am not going to count out his ability to get production out of his roster.

-Jim Les has had a few good years at UC Davis, but not many recently. They did pick up a solid transfer in Connor Sevilla (who put up good numbers at Central Arkansas), but they do not have much in the way of proven D-1-level guys.

-Cal Poly is coming off their best season in quite some time. They were just 16-19, but the most games they had won in four years prior to that was eight, so it was a good first year for Mike DeGeorge as head coach. Just one starter returns in Peter Bandelj, who is a solid guard, but he is one of the few players on the team with substantial experience. Still, this is a program that appears to be going in the right direction.

-Long Beach had been one of the better programs in this conference, but they had a terrible season a year ago where they lost 25 games (after winning 21 the year before) and are still trying to rebuild from that. Just one starter is back, but they do have some guys transferring in with some solid D-1 experience, so the Beach may exhibit some improvement this year.

-UC Riverside’s program has been a great story in this conference, and has really turned itself around winning 20+ games in two of the last three seasons. The problem this year is that all their starters are gone and they have a new coach in Gus Argenal. Their roster does consist of some guys who were standout players at lower divisions, but stepping onto the D-1 level in a conference like the Big West, which is one of the top Under the Radar conferences, is not easily done. It could be a long year for the Highlanders, which is unfortunate because you kind of hate to see a legit up-and-coming program like this suddenly lose all its momentum and have to start over.

-It has been a while since Cal State Bakersfield had a winning season and the expectations are once again not very high. Dailin Smith was a solid player at Alabama A&M last year, but other than him they just do not have many guys with solid D-1 experience on the roster.

-Cal State Fullerton won just six total games a season ago, and the days of them being a solid conference contender now seems like it was a long time ago. They do have some guys who were standout players at lower divisions last year, so I do not expect them to finish dead last, but I do not expect them to be anywhere near contention either.

Posted in Conference Preview, News and Notes | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Big West Media Day Recap and Response