2012-13 Preview: Big West

Stephan Hicks burst onto the scene for the Matadors last season. He was voted Big West Freshman of the Year, the second Matador to earn top such honors. Hicks ended the 2011-12 season ranked third in the Big West Conference with 7.1 rebounds per game, fifth with his .813 free throw percentage and 2.79 offensive rebounds per game average, sixth in defensive rebounds per game, and seventh in scoring with 15.1 points per game.

With its move to the Big West this season, Hawaii gets to show off Vander Joaquim, who wrecked havoc in the WAC last season. H led the team in scoring (14.3 ppg), rebounding (9.5 rpg), field goal percentage (.560) and blocks (58) while recording a team-high 12 double-doubles. Joaquim’s rebound average was the highest by a Rainbow Warrior since 1995, while his field goal percentage was the sixth-best single-season mark in school history.

After sitting out one season after transferring from California, D. J. Seeley earned first-team All-Big West Conference honors in 2011-12, and many feel that Seeley could be the conference’s player of the year this season. Seeley led the team in scoring at 17.3 ppg (4th in Big West) and was second in rebounding at 5.5 rpg (14th in Big West). He shot 43.4 percent (4th in Big West) from the 3-point line after flirting with school record (44.3).