Both Traores Named Preseason All-Big West As Men’s Basketball Among The League Favorites
10/19/2023 11:15:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Long Beach State was picked to finish second in the preseason Big West Coaches Poll.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State's dynamic duo from the Ivory Coast, Aboubacar and Lassina Traore were both selected to the Preseason All-Big West team, as Beach Men's Basketball enters the upcoming season with high expectations from the league's coaches.
Long Beach State was picked to finish second among the 11 teams, receiving two first-place votes and coming in just behind preseason favorites UC Santa Barbara. Hawai'i was picked just behind LBSU, with UC Irvine sitting in fourth and UC Davis rounding out the top five.
The two forwards from Long Beach State were the only frontcourt representation on the six-player preseason all-conference team. Both players started every game a season ago, and were the top two in rebounding in the Big West a season ago.
Lassina returns after earning Big West Newcomer of the Year honors as well as NABC All-District and First Team All-Big West recognition. He is one of ten returning players in Division I that averaged a double-double, putting up 12.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Aboubacar returns for his third season at the Beach, where he continues to pile up big numbers. Averaging 8.8 rebounds per game to supplement 10.1 points per game, Traore was the team's leader in assists as well, ranking the Big West's Top 10 and providing a consistent triple double threat.
The remainder of the Preseason All-Big West team was filled with guards: JoVon McClanahan of Hawai'i, Ajay Mitchell from UC Santa Barbara, Elijah Pepper of UC Davis and Bryce Pope from UC San Diego.
The Beach returns all five starters and nine letterwinners in total from last season, and has brought in two impact Division I transfers and two high-level freshman to join that core as Long Beach State chases its 16th Big West title and 10th NCAA Tournament Appearance.
Long Beach State hosts Cal Lutheran in an exhibition for their home opener on Thursday, November 2 and then hits the road for their regular season opener at Portland on Monday, November 6.
2023-24 Big West Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. UC Santa Barbara - 92 (9)
2. Long Beach State - 82 (2)
3. Hawai'i - 80
4. UC Irvine - 75
5. UC Davis - 69
6. Cal State Fullerton - 58
7. UC Riverside - 45
8. Cal State Bakersfield - 36
9. UC San Diego - 31
10. CSUN - 18
11. Cal Poly - 12
Long Beach State was picked to finish second among the 11 teams, receiving two first-place votes and coming in just behind preseason favorites UC Santa Barbara. Hawai'i was picked just behind LBSU, with UC Irvine sitting in fourth and UC Davis rounding out the top five.
The two forwards from Long Beach State were the only frontcourt representation on the six-player preseason all-conference team. Both players started every game a season ago, and were the top two in rebounding in the Big West a season ago.
Lassina returns after earning Big West Newcomer of the Year honors as well as NABC All-District and First Team All-Big West recognition. He is one of ten returning players in Division I that averaged a double-double, putting up 12.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Aboubacar returns for his third season at the Beach, where he continues to pile up big numbers. Averaging 8.8 rebounds per game to supplement 10.1 points per game, Traore was the team's leader in assists as well, ranking the Big West's Top 10 and providing a consistent triple double threat.
The remainder of the Preseason All-Big West team was filled with guards: JoVon McClanahan of Hawai'i, Ajay Mitchell from UC Santa Barbara, Elijah Pepper of UC Davis and Bryce Pope from UC San Diego.
The Beach returns all five starters and nine letterwinners in total from last season, and has brought in two impact Division I transfers and two high-level freshman to join that core as Long Beach State chases its 16th Big West title and 10th NCAA Tournament Appearance.
Long Beach State hosts Cal Lutheran in an exhibition for their home opener on Thursday, November 2 and then hits the road for their regular season opener at Portland on Monday, November 6.
2023-24 Big West Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. UC Santa Barbara - 92 (9)
2. Long Beach State - 82 (2)
3. Hawai'i - 80
4. UC Irvine - 75
5. UC Davis - 69
6. Cal State Fullerton - 58
7. UC Riverside - 45
8. Cal State Bakersfield - 36
9. UC San Diego - 31
10. CSUN - 18
11. Cal Poly - 12
Players Mentioned
Forward
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