Utah Valley University men’s basketball has been picked to finish fifth in the 2026-27 Big West Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Wolverines received 85 points in a vote of the league’s 12 head coaches as UVU prepares for its inaugural season in The Big West.

Utah Valley enters the 2026-27 campaign following a successful final season in the Western Athletic Conference. The Wolverines finished 25-9 overall and captured the WAC regular-season championship with a 14-4 conference record, earning their second consecutive outright league title.

The Wolverines were picked just one point behind fourth-place CSUN, which received 86 points. UC Irvine was selected as the preseason favorite with 114 points and seven first-place votes, followed by UC San Diego with 105 points and three first-place votes. UC Santa Barbara earned the remaining two first-place votes and finished third with 103 points.

Utah Valley enters its fourth season under head coach Todd Phillips, who has guided the Wolverines to back-to-back conference regular-season championships. Phillips, the 2025 WAC Coach of the Year, recently signed a contract extension that will keep him at the helm of the program through the 2029-30 season.

The Wolverines join The Big West after establishing themselves as one of the top programs in the WAC. Utah Valley captured four regular-season conference championships during its time in the league, including titles in each of the past two seasons.

Cal Poly was picked sixth in the preseason poll with 75 points, followed by fellow Big West newcomer Sacramento State in seventh with 65 points. Cal State Fullerton (49), California Baptist (40), Cal State Bakersfield (28), UC Riverside (23) and Long Beach State (19) rounded out the 12-team poll.

Utah Valley travels to St. George, Utah this weekend to play former WAC rival Utah Tech in an Old Hammer Rivalry exhibition game on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Burns Arena. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN The Fan (103.9 FM/98.3 FM/960 AM).

BIG WEST MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

1. UC Irvine – 114 (7)

2. UC San Diego – 105 (3)

3. UC Santa Barbara – 103 (2)

4. CSUN – 86

5. Utah Valley – 85

6. Cal Poly – 75

7. Sacramento State – 65

8. Cal State Fullerton – 49

9. California Baptist – 40

10. Cal State Bakersfield – 28

11. UC Riverside – 23

12. Long Beach State – 19

(First-place votes in parentheses)

ALL-BIG WEST PRESEASON TEAM

Leo Beath, Sr., F, UC San Diego

Josiah Davis, 5th, G, CSUN

Larry Hughes II, Sr., G, Sacramento State

Miro Little, Sr., G, UC Santa Barbara

Hamad Mousa, Jr., G/F, Cal Poly

CJ Shaw, So., G, UC Santa Barbara

Women’s tabbed sixth in anaugural Big West season

The Big West Conference announced its annual women’s basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll and Preseason Coaches Team as well. Utah Valley was picked to finish sixth in the conference standings after receiving 70 total votes from the league’s head coaches.

Defending conference champion UC San Diego was selected as the preseason favorite with 120 points and 10 of the 12 first-place votes. UC Irvine was picked second with 108 points and one first-place vote. UC Santa Barbara and California Baptist were selected third and fourth, respectively, while Sacramento State rounded out the top five with 88 points and one first-place vote.

Following Utah Valley in the poll were UC Riverside in seventh, CSUN in eighth and Cal Poly in ninth. Cal State Bakersfield and Long Beach State tied for 10th with 25 points each, while Cal State Fullerton was selected 12th.

BIG WEST WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

1. UC San Diego – 120 (10)

2. UC Irvine – 108 (1)

3. UC Santa Barbara – 94

4. California Baptist – 93

5. Sacramento State – 88 (1)

6. Utah Valley – 70

7. UC Riverside – 59

8. CSUN – 53

9. Cal Poly – 35

T10. Cal State Bakersfield – 25

T10. Long Beach State – 25

12. Cal State Fullerton – 22

(First-place votes in parenthesis)

ALL-BIG WEST PRESEASON TEAM

Zoe Borter, Sr., F, UC Santa Barbara

Erin Condron, Sr., F/C, UC San Diego

Jenessa Cotton, Jr., F, Sacramento State

Lev Feiman, So., G, UC San Diego

Lauren Olsen, So., G, California Baptist

Natalie Picton, Sr., G, Sacramento State

Rosa Smith, Gr., G, UC San Diego

Utah Valley opens the 2026-27 season on Tuesday, Nov. 3, against Park University at the UCCU Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT. The Wolverines continue their nonconference schedule against Santa Clara on Saturday, Nov. 7, and Nevada on Saturday, Nov. 14.

Long Beach State earns five-set win

Long Beach State defeated Utah Valley 3-2 (13-25, 23-25, 27-25, 27-25, 15-6) on Thursday night at Lockhart Arena. Sidney Hamaker led the 494ers (13-4, 5-2 Big West) with 23 kills, while Madi Maxwell recorded 15 kills, 28 assists and 18 digs for her third triple-double of the season.

Utah Valley (4-15, 2-5 Big West) had four players finish with double-digit kills. Brielle Rueckert paced the Wolverines with 14 kills and seven blocks. Olivia Gloeckner added 13 kills, Miley Thunstrom finished with 12 and Alyvia Watkins contributed 10.

Evalyn Medaris totaled 44 assists, her highest total in Big West play this season, and added 15 digs and five blocks for a double-double. Libero Lani Toutai recorded 16 digs and six assists.

UVU won the first two sets but Long Beach State grabbed the next two to force the fifth set.

Long Beach State carried big momentum into the final set, hitting .333 with eight kills and just one attacking error. The Beach raced to a 9-2 lead and never looked back, securing the set and the match.

Utah Valley concludes the weekend homestand on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 1 p.m. MT when it hosts Cal State Fullerton. The match will mark the first meeting between the two programs and features Teacher Appreciation Day at Lockhart Arena. Tickets are available at GoUVU.com/vbtix.