2024 | Guam & Chaminade to join Big West Conference for basketball

[TuscanSota]

 

After rumors circulating over the past year on expansion further west, Big West Commissioner "Biggy Weston" announced this morning that the conference has sent invitations to the University of Guam and Chaminade University. Both schools would join as affiliate members of the conference for Basketball moving forward, with a full expansion complete by 2028.

The Guam Tritons, who recently joined D-2 Basketball in the Big Pacific Conference were competitive with Chaminade and American Samoa but had a lot of building to do given their short history. The Tritons hope to make a large impact on Big West play in the near future. The university has been rumored to join the Big Ten as an effort to expand that conference's further footprint. Rather than joining a conference that plays in Maryland and New Jersey, Guam opted for something more regional.

For Chaminade, the decision to join is a no-brainer. Hawai'i is a nearby college and further elevates the rivalry that the Rainbow Warriors and Silverswords hold against one another.

The additions of Guam and Chaminade give the Big West conference much needed travel partners alongside Hawai'i, and expands the footprint deeper into the Pacific and into Micronesia. With the conference now at 13 members, it remains to be seen if the conference will expand further or sit comfortably with lucky number 13.