Whittier vs UC San Diego prediction: UC San Diego opens its Big West farewell against Division III Whittier
The Tritons built last season's 23-11 run on defence, and opening night is a first look at a reshaped roster against an overmatched Division III visitor.
- UC San Diego should control a Division III opponent at home, with the real interest in who plays and how the new pieces fit.
- Watch the Tritons' defence: it allowed 101.2 points per 100 possessions last season, 36th of 365.
- No spread or total is posted yet. Last season's pace of 69.5 possessions per 40 minutes (89th) is the baseline for any total.
Opening night, final lap
This is UC San Diego's opener and home opener, billed as "Opening Night" at LionTree Arena. It tips at 7 p.m. local on Monday, Nov. 2, and streams on ESPN+. It also opens the Tritons' final season in the Big West, and the program was picked fourth in the conference's preseason ranking.
Clint Allard coaches a roster with plenty of new faces. Players listed on it previously played at Florida Gulf Coast, Hawai'i, Lafayette and Indiana State. Treysen Eaglestaff was named the Big West's preseason transfer of the year.
A defence-first identity
Last season's Tritons went 23-11 by guarding. They allowed 101.2 points per 100 possessions, 36th nationally, and held opponents to a 48.7% effective field goal percentage, a shooting measure that counts threes 1.5 times. That ranked 64th. They also finished possessions, grabbing 73.4% of available defensive rebounds, 40th.
The offence was ordinary. Its 33.1% three-point shooting ranked 232nd, and its 69.5% free-throw shooting ranked 275th. Last season ended with an 80-70 loss to Cal State Northridge in the Big West tournament, when Larry Hughes Jr. scored 34. With so many arrivals, last season's numbers are only a rough guide to this group.
The visitors from Whittier
Whittier is a Division III program, and we hold no Division I data on the Poets. Mark Jensen was listed as head coach on the 2025-26 staff page, but this season's staff wasn't confirmed. The roster includes freshmen Jonah Burciaga and Bernardo Zappia. No injury or eligibility news had surfaced for either team. The things to judge on Monday are the rotation, how much of last season's defensive standard carries over, and whether the new shooters lift an offence that ranked 204th in adjusted efficiency (points per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponents) last season.
Key players
- Larry Hughes Jr. (UC San Diego): Scored 34 in last season's Big West tournament loss to Cal State Northridge; his place on this season's roster wasn't confirmed.
- Treysen Eaglestaff (UC San Diego): Named the Big West's preseason transfer of the year, the headline addition to a roster picked fourth in the conference.
Numbers that matter
| Defensive efficiency, last season | 101.2 | Points allowed per 100 possessions, 36th of 365 and the core of last season's 23-11 team. |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive rebound %, last season | 73.4% | Ranked 40th, so opponents rarely got second chances. |
| 3-point %, last season | 33.1% | Ranked 232nd, the main weakness the new arrivals need to fix. |
| Pace, last season | 69.5 | Possessions per 40 minutes, 89th, a moderate tempo. |
Whittier vs UC San Diego: quick answers
When is Whittier vs UC San Diego?
Monday, November 2, 2026 at 10:00 PM ET.