They started, they stopped, they started again. Basketball in this pandemic-impacted season has been a struggle — but here they are: the UC Davis women’s team, Big West Conference champions for the firth year in a row, and the men’s team, winner of six of their last seven games.

Now they are starting again, playing this week in the Big West Conference tournaments in Las Vegas — the women start play on Wednesday (March 10), the men on Thursday (March 11). No fans are allowed, but all games will be shown on ESPN2 or ESPN3.

Winners of the women’s and men’s tournaments will advance to the NCAAs.

The Aggie women’s team, 9-1 in conference play, 10-2 overall, has the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. The women are led by Jennifer Gross, who on Monday (March 8) claimed coach of the year honors for a fifth straight year, this year as co-coach of the year after four years as coach of the year. Read more about conference honors for Gross and her players.

The women will open play in the quarterfinals: 11 a.m. Wednesday (March 10) vs. the winner of a first-round game between UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton. The quarterfinal winner goes to a semifinal game at noon Friday (March 12). The championship game is set for 5 p.m. Saturday (March 13). All women’s game are on ESPN3.

The Aggie men's team, 6-4 and 9-7, claimed the No. 4 seed and will begin play in the quarterfinals: 2 p.m. Thursday (March 11) vs. Cal State Bakersfield (ESPN3). With a win, the Aggies will advance to a semifinal game at 6 p.m. Friday (March 12), also on ESPN3. The championship game is set for 8:30 p.m. Saturday (March 13) on ESPN2. Read about conference honors for men's basketball.

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