Big West Team Previews blue ribbon

8/14/2019 Big West Team Previews blue ribbon

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Team preview: Cow Poly

COACH AND PROGRAMThere will be no easing into the Joe Callero era at Cal Poly. The new coach doesn't believe in it.

Never mind getting used to the former Seattle coach's teaching style or his match-up zonedefense. Forget the notion of starting the season with a few cupcakes to get a taste of winning for a program that stumbled to an ugly 7-21 mark last season.

Nope. Callero's first Poly team opens with seven of its first nine games on the road. Thatincludes trips to Stanford -- the second game -- and Wisconsin, plus two-time defending Big Skychampion Portland State and Saint Mary's.

Cal Poly Mustangs

Last Season 7-21 (.250)Conference Record 3-13 (9th)Starters Lost/Returning 3/2

Coach Joe Callero (Central Washington '86)Record At School First year Career Record 139-130 (10 years)RPI Last 5 years 309-278-139-218-305

"The schedule can be daunting," Callero said. "We're clearly not dodging anybody. There's not aDivision III or Division II or NAIA game anywhere on the schedule.

"That was pretty purposeful. People say you need to build confidence, you need to schedulesome teams and win early to get them to believe in your system. We kind of work the other wayaround.

"Let's find out who can't handle it. Who loses faith in our system? Who loses faith in himself?

Who loses faith in his teammates? We want to take both guns out and blaze through it and findout where we're at by Jan. 1."

That's not likely to be pretty. The Mustangs finished 2008-09 ranked last or next-to-last in theBig West in field-goal percentage, rebounding margin, assists and steals, and the players who ledthe team in every one of those categories -- Titus Shelton (FG percentage, rebounds) and ChazThomas (assists, steals) -- have moved on.

PLAYERSThe new Mustangs will hitch their wagon to 6-2 senior Lorenzo Keeler and 6-4 junior ShawnLewis, a pair of veteran wings who last season scored quite a bit but had to shoot a whole lot todo it. Keeler, an honorable mention all-league choice, was the Mustangs' top scorer at 12.7 points

per game but shot a dreadful .338. Lewis' .401 was only a little better while scoring 11.7 per game.

Those numbers illustrate why Callero's first priority on taking the job -- after drilling thefundamentals of his beloved matchup zone into his players' heads -- was emphasizing shotselection and taking care of the ball, especially from the two players who figure to be thecornerstones of the team.

"There's some confidence that they are prepared to play in the Big West and they haveexperience," Callero said. "Now you say, OK, you've played a lot of games and scored some


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baskets, but we've got to score at a more efficient rate, and that will translate to winning moregames.

"Winning is a habit, like a lot of other things we do, and we need to create good habits. We needto realize that by taking a good shot, if you can increase your percentage five or six or seven

percent, we'll have a chance to win a lot of those close games that were lost last year."

Another way to become more efficient is to beef up the inside game, which makes for higher percentage shots and more second chances from offensive rebounds. Which is why the focus of Callero's first recruiting class was on size.

The product of that focus is a group of four post players who will get the chance to win playingtime, or even a starting job, right away. In 6-8, 265-pound sophomore Will Donahue fromPhoenix College and 6-6, 240-pound junior Will Taylor of Hagerstown (Md.) College, theMustangs added some needed bulk, defense and junior-college experience. In Ben Eisenhardtand Ryan Pembleton, they got a pair of lean 6-10 freshmen with athleticism, skill and long-range

potential.

That combination was just what Callero was looking for.

"We brought in some complementary parts," he said. "We got a little beef here, not greatathletes, but physical players. Then we brought in two long players in Pembleton from Texas andEisenhardt from the Seattle area -- 6-10 and can run and shoot. They're different kinds of players.They're pick-and-pops, they're mobile, they're running, long. They've got a ways to go beforethey'll be a force, but they have the potential to be pretty good players because they have goodfeet and good hands.

"I like the skilled bigs. If you're not real skilled, you'd better be awfully physical. We brought acombination of two skilled bigs and two physical bigs who can grind out the court and make thelayups a little more challenged."

Callero said Donahue and Taylor are more physically ready to step into the wars right away, butthe freshmen will also get a look -- and probably a lot of minutes -- immediately.

A couple of undersized returning players, 6-6 senior Charles Anderson (4.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg) and 6-5sophomore David Hanson (3.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg), will also get time at power forward. Walk-onsJordan Lewis, a rugged 6-5 sophomore, and Ryan Darling, a 6-7 senior, will battle to get someminutes.

"Those positions are wide open between freshmen and transfers, and very likely, we'll go smallat times and man the four-spot with Hanson and Anderson," Callero said. "With the match-upzone, the four man doesn't need to be a Hercules body to be effective. We can get away with

playing small. It will definitely hurt us in the preseason games against more physical, high-major talent, but when we get to conference play we'll probably be better off having a quick lineup thana bigger, slower lineup."

The perimeter spots are a bit more settled, thanks to Keeler and Lewis, who fill the starting spotsat shooting guard and small forward, respectively. Keeler averaged more than 30 minutes per game last season and might have to play more this time, because his backup appears to be 6-2freshman Dylan Royer, an invited walk-on who came in with a reputation as a good shooter andscorer before red-shirting last season. Shawn Lewis brings some rebounding (5.0 rpg last season)and tenacity to small forward, where he'll be backed up by Hanson and Anderson when they'renot playing in the post.


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The frontrunner for the point position is swift 5-11 sophomore Justin Brown (3.1 ppg, 0.8 rpg),who saw limited action as Thomas' backup last season, but he'll be pushed by newcomer KyleOdister, a 6-0 freshman from Sacramento who is a ball-handler with an accurate jumper.

Poly's backcourt took a big hit before practice even began when strong 6-2 junior AmaurysFermin, Taylor's Hagerstown teammate, was unable to finish his class work in time to be eligible

this season. Fermin has all the tools to make a huge impact -- as a high school star in the Bronx, N.Y., he was a big-time scorer and once went for 47 in a game, while at Hagerstown he averaged17.5 points and ranked fifth in the nation among junior college players at 8.2 assists per game.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSISBACKCOURT : CBENCH/DEPTH : FFRONTCOURT : D-INTANGIBLES : D

As a first-year coach, Callero readily admits he doesn't yet have a good read on what he has onhand -- "maybe 30 to 40 percent," he said. Then again, with so many untested players figuring

prominently in his plans, no one really has a good read on the Mustangs."Still, I like what I see," the coach said. "There's a foundation there. There's eagerness andenthusiasm. There's energy."

But there is also precious little depth on the roster, and without Fermin, Callero's mostaccomplished recruit, that depth dwindles to practically nothing.

Unless someone unexpected steps forward, the onus will be on Keeler and Shawn Lewis to carrythe team, which makes Callero's push for better shot selection a huge key. Keeler clearly has anice touch, as evidenced by his .849 free throw percentage, so being more selective should helphim become a more effective scorer.

"I think Lewis and Keeler are both ready to emerge and will emerge as go-to guys," Callero said.

"They'll find a way to win. Not just a shot. Maybe you got the rebound that won the game, or gotthe steal that won the game or took the charge that won the game or made the pass that went tothe inside guy that won the game. They're going to do that, too, and that's what I respect aboutthem."


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Team preview: Foolerton


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COACH AND PROGRAMTo some, change is something to dread, a frightening loss of the comfortable and familiar. Toothers, it carries the excitement of new adventure.

Cal State Fullerton coach Bob Burton isn't quite sure where he stands on that issue. He'll have a better idea after he has seen his revamped Titans in action this season.

The changes to the Titans are profound. For one thing, Big West Player of the Year JoshAkognon has moved on, taking his 23.9 points per game with him. His departure also signals adeparture in style from the running, gunning outside-oriented game personified by the trigger-happy Akognon to a team with plenty of size but few outside shooters.

Cal State Fullerton Titans

Last Season 15-17 (.469)Conference Record 7-9 (t-7th)Starters Lost/Returning 1/4Coach Bob Burton (Fresno State '68)Record At School 107-77 (6 years)Career Record 107-77 (6 years)RPI Last 5 years 102-232-148-79-195

"It's a totally different team than I've ever had here," Burton said. "It's going to be a differentlook for us all the way around. We've got a lot of guys, a lot of size, a lot of athleticism. The bigquestion is how we're going to shoot the ball.

"We're going to get back to pounding the ball inside more than we've done in years, becausewe've been so good on the perimeter. We're still going to run as much as we've ever done -- wethink we can run even more because of the boards -- but were also going to make sure we get the

ball to the big guys as they get down there and settle in the blocks."

PLAYERSThe poster child for the new-look Titans might well be junior center Bryce Webster, a rugged 6-10, 240-pounder who transferred from Irvine Valley (Calif.) Community College after beginninghis college career at Minnesota. As a Minneapolis high school star, Webster was a classic back-to-the basket scorer, a tough rebounder and a shot blocker. Burton is counting on him doing allof that as the anchor of Fullerton's inside game.

Webster's presence freed Burton to make a number of moves designed to maximize his teams'overall size. With Webster in the middle, 6-8 senior Papa Guisse (3.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.3 bpg) canmove to power forward, which in turn allows 6-6 senior Gerard Anderson (9.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, .541FG) to shift from power forward to his more natural position of small forward and sends 6-4senior Aaron Thompson (7.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg) from small forward to shooting guard.

That leaves sophomore point guard Jacques Streeter, who led the league with a 2.37 assist-to-turnover ratio last season, as the runt of the litter at 6-0. But even that spot has height -- backup

point Jamel McGuire, a junior transfer from San Diego City College, is 6-5.

"We can play [Guisse] at the four and it will be a better matchup for us," Burton said. "I think Gerard's way better at the three. The only problem is he's not a great shooter, but I think he'simproved it enough, and he's so athletic -- he can drive it on anybody -- that he can make thetransition. He's a great defender and a great rebounder from there.'


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"Thompson is a strong rebounder, a very active athlete and a great defender. He's reallyconsistent and he has the ability to shoot the three. That's a physical team at any level, really."

And that's just the beginning.

Junior JerVaughn Johnson, a transfer from San Diego State, lacks power forward height at 6-6, but at 240 pounds he brings enough strength, bulk and skill that Burton, who compares Johnsonto former league co-player of the year Scott Cutley, expects him to start ahead of Guisse.Orane Chin, a 6-7 sophomore transfer from USF (3.9 ppg and 14 starts as a freshman), is likelyto battle Anderson for playing time at small forward, while 6-5 junior Robbie Robinson, a high-scoring wing player at Riverside City College with a deft shooting touch, should push Thompsonat the off-guard spot and might also be a factor at small forward.

Up front, 6-8 senior Ray Miller (4.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg) will fight to earn minutes in the post, while 6-9freshman D.J. Shelton, whose bloodline -- uncle Lonnie was an NBA star, cousin Titus justfinished a strong career at Cal Poly and two other cousins are in the NFL -- and athleticism at the

power forward spot has Burton all but salivating, could red-shirt just because of sheer numbers.

"I don't have a good feel for him and where he fits in right now, but I think down the line, he's

got a chance to be a pretty good player," Burton said of Shelton. "One thing I have seen is he's a perimeter guy. He's not really a center. He's more of a step-out-and-face-up guy. He's reallyskilled. We'll get him out there and see how he does."

Despite all the size, the comparatively diminutive Streeter is the engine that makes the Titans go.Last season, he already looked right at home at the point, scoring 10.4 points per game andmaking 42 percent of his three-pointers as a freshman while averaging 4.4 assists to rank secondin the conference.

With Akognon gone, Streeter will be asked to carrying more of the scoring load while stillthinking pass first, a difficult balancing act.

"Jacques is really a pure point guard," Burton said. "He is a lightning-quick kid and he reallyruns the team. And now his game should really blossom. He'll get better because he has to domore.

"He's got a chance to be a great point guard. He's got a basketball Jones; he absolutely loves it.He plays seven days a week. He's constantly going. He's got a chance to be one of the best pointguards in the West, eventually."

Another little man, 5-11 junior Devon Peltier, may also make a splash because he has the oneskill the Titans lack -- he's a long-range sharpshooter. A native of the Virgin Islands, Peltier shot51 percent from the field, 46 percent from behind the three-point arc and 87 percent from thefree-throw line last season while averaging 17 points per game for Missouri State-West Plains.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

BACKCOURT : C+BENCH/DEPTH : BFRONTCOURT : B-INTANGIBLES : C

Last season, Fullerton's team was constructed around one big-time scorer but had little depth.The new Titans have plenty of talented athletes but no real go-to guy.


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Burton said he likes this way "a lot better," but the Titans could use a reliable shooter or two andopen the season looking for someone to take charge offensively in tight situations. None of the

players Burton is counting on has yet displayed that ability at the Division I level.

"It's so different than last year's team," he said. "I think were going to be in pretty good shape insize and on the boards. The one question is shooting the ball."

Team preview: Cal State Porno

COACH AND PROGRAMOnce again, Bobby Braswell is comfortable. No longer is his team considered the one to beat.

Despite winning back-to-back Big West championships -- one of them shared -- the Matadorshave disappeared from everyone's radar as the Big West favorite. And that's exactly the way their coach likes it.

"Good," he said. "I don't really like it the way it was last year, when everybody picked us to win.We've always thrived off the underdog mentality. Where we're going to finish, I don't know, but

I do know our guys are going to enjoy what people think. It will give them something to playfor."

Cal State Northridge Matadors

Last Season 17-14 (.548)Conference Record 11-5 (1st)Starters Lost/Returning 2/3Coach Bobby Braswell (Cal State Northridge '85)Record At School 205-181 (13 years)Career Record 205-181 (13 years)RPI Last 5 years 111-283-248-115-126

The goal, as always, is a title, and Braswell believes his team has as good a chance to win as itdid last season, when Northridge was the obvious choice to win.

That team had three all-conference-caliber players and plenty of experience, but its road to the NCAA Tournament wasn't quite the smooth path most expected. In January, the Matadors losttheir top scorer when Deon Tresvant was arrested, along with Braswell's son, Jeffrey, andcharged with stealing from an electronics store. Both later pleaded no contest and were sentencedto probation. A month later, point guard and Big West assists leader Josh Jenkins was severelyinjured in a car accident, ending his season.


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Those incidents forced some of the background players to step forward, and several of those whomade that leap are back for another go.

PLAYERSAt the top of that list is 5-10 senior Mark Hill (8.2 ppg, 2.9 apg), a rocket of a guard who turnedthe team's speed dial to warp when he took over for Jenkins at the point. Hill isn't a particularlygreat passer, and his high-velocity mentality sometimes gets him into trouble -- evidenced by his0.9 assist-to-turnover ratio in league games -- but his ability to get down the court and penetrateto the basket fits well with Northridge's frenetic running, pressing style.

Which is why Braswell bristled at the suggestion he ask Hill to tone down his game to stay moreunder control.

"No. You don't want to cage a rabbit," the coach said. "You've got a guy who plays the game acertain way, and there's a certain spirit to his game. What we don't want to do is take that spiritfrom him.

"At the same time, he has to understand -- and I think he does -- our need for him to run theteam, to direct and control the game as well. But I think he's best when he's in the open floor.

He's best when he's pushing the break and attacking people and putting them on their heels.That's just his game. We don't want to take that from him."

As if one rabbit wasn't enough, the Matadors added two more speedy point guards this season toshare the spot.

Like Hill, a transfer from Tulsa, 5-10 sophomore Vinnie McGhee is a diminutive jet who comesto Northridge with a record of Division I success. In 2007-08, McGhee averaged 12.1 points and5.1 assists per game for Sacramento State and was chosen Big Sky Freshman of the Year.

Dathan Lyles, a 5-11 junior, helped lead Salt Lake Community College to the junior collegenational championship last season. He averaged 9.6 points, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals and hit .374(43-of-115) from three-point range.

"We feel we have three point guards who are real solid, who can really play and understand thegame," Braswell said, "and that really makes us dangerous with their speed and athleticism."

So much so that Braswell plans to have two of his water bugs on the court together at varioustimes, figuring their speed will offset any disadvantage caused by their lack of size.

"We've done that in the past, though we haven't done it the past couple years," Braswell said."We think that's going to make it a little harder for people to defend us and hopefully give us anedge defensively to put a little more pressure on people than we normally do. If we get those twolittle point guards out there picking up the ball with full-court pressure, that will help us."

When the Matadors want to go bigger at the off-guard, which is how they'll start, they'll have acouple options. The experienced options are 6-4 senior Kenny Daniels (8.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and 6-6

senior Therin Taylor (2.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg), both of whom might end up as starters at the two wingspots.

Daniels was more than solid after coming in last season as a highly touted junior-college prospect, starting 25 games and shooting 58 percent despite playing much of the season bothered by bone spurs in his feet. Now back at 100 percent, he'll be counted on as the Matadors' mostversatile offensive weapon with the potential to score from outside (.387 3PT) and driving to the

basket.


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Braswell sees Taylor as a potentially explosive scorer, though he wasn't able to deliver on that potential while averaging less than 10 minutes per game in 2008-09.

To win the starting job, though, Taylor will have to hold off a couple of Northridge's latest up-and-comers. Braswell is extremely excited about 6-5 junior Rashaun McLemore, who began hiscollege career at Ball State and flexed his offensive muscle by averaging almost 18 points per

game at Frank Phillips College in Texas, and 6-5 freshman Steve Mallory, a late signee fromRiverside, Calif., known as a deadly shooter who can play all three perimeter positions.

"Rashaun can really get after it. He's going to come in here and press for minutes right away,"Braswell said. "Mallory he has a chance to be a really special player. Obviously, we haven't

played yet, but it's going to be hard to keep Rashaun McLemore, Dathan Lyles and StevenMallory off the floor. We can go a lot of different ways."

The Matadors have plenty of choices to fill their inside positions as well, beginning with 6-8senior Willie Galick. Playing alongside all-conference center Tremaine Townsend, Galick (9.3

ppg, 5.5 rpg) proved to be strong and dependable in the post on both ends of the court, shooting58 percent and leading the team in free throws attempted.

"Really, he was one of the top players in our conference," Braswell said. "As a senior we expecthim to really step up. He's a big-time athlete who can run the floor, he's very strong and herebounds and finishes around the basket."

Galick is the only sure thing up front, but candidates to start with him are legion. Galick couldwind up at center, with undersized but muscular 6-6 senior Vincent Cordell (3.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg) at

power forward. Cordell, who could also get some minutes at small forward, adds an outsideshooting dimension to the position, allowing him to pull a bigger defender away from the basketand give Galick and Daniels a chance to pick up some offensive rebounds.

On the other hand, Galick might well start at power forward if 7-0 senior center Xavier Crawford(1.5 ppg, 1.4 rpg) finally develops into the powerful presence Braswell believes he can become,especially as a shot blocker at the back of Northridge's trademark full-court press.

"It's a matter of his commitment level," Braswell said of Crawford. "It's a matter of how hardhe's going to work. If puts in the work and puts in the time, he can be a 20-25 minutes a gameguy. It depends on him and the amount of effort and energy he gives. He's great at blocking shotsand he can run the floor, and at seven feet we need that. To be honest with you, it's still unknownwhat he's going to give us."

Depth will come from a talented newcomer who could push for a major role. Lenny Daniel, a 6-8 junior who dominated for Coffeyville (Kansas) Junior College, has the ability to do the same inthe Big West, says Braswell, who compares him to the star of last season's team. Last season theRichmond, Va. native averaged 17.5 points and 7.7 boards, shot .608 (194-of-319) from the fieldand blocked a team-high 38 shots.

"Lenny loves to rebound," the coach said. "It wouldn't surprise me if he averages double-digitrebounds a game. He's a big-time athlete and scorer. He can put the ball on the floor and go by

people. We think eventually he can take over the numbers Tre Townsend gave us. He's reallythat good."

Filling in the remaining minutes are a couple of familiar faces and a newcomer. Senior TonyOsunsanmi (1.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg), a 6-4 former walk-on, has earned a reputation for overcoming hissize limitations as a rugged rebounder and an inside defensive stopper and will get a chance toearn increased playing time. The other veteran, 6-7 junior Michael Lizarraga (1.4 ppg, 0.8 rpg),


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who got some notoriety as the only deaf player in Division I basketball, is a big-bodied banger who saw limited action last season.

Kevin Menner, a junior transfer from Saddleback (Calif.) Junior College, displayed an aptitudefor scoring inside, averaging 19 points per game, despite standing only 6-5.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSISBACKCOURT : B-BENCH/DEPTH : C+FRONTCOURT : CINTANGIBLES : B

Braswell's up-tempo style is unique to the Big West, which makes it difficult to prepare for. Butthe Matadors are about more than steals (8.9 spg) and forced turnovers (+1.97 turnover margin)-- as usual, they led the league in both last season. They also held opponents to a league-low 41.9

percent shooting, and they led the conference in offensive rebounds (13.0 per game) by a widemargin.

"When a shot goes up, we expect to see three of our guys in the lane on every shot," Braswell

said. "If we see only one or two in there, we tell our guys from the beginning we're going to losethat game.

"We have four things we press our guys on every game -- holding our opponent to 40 percent or below, averaging 30-35 deflections a game, which has to do with how we're pressuring the ball; protecting the paint, because percentages go way down when people are shooting outside; andout-rebounding our opponents."

Regardless of preseason predictions, no team enters the season with more confidence than Northridge. Everyone, after all, aspires to be the champions. The Matadors are the champions.

"It would be one thing if you lost your entire team after winning the championship," Braswellsaid. "It's another to have key, critical guys who experienced that coming back. They have a lot

to teach these new guys, and there's a feeling that those guys haven't forgotten. They liked thatfeeling, and that's a great motivation. That's going to play a big role on how this team finishes.

"You always feel like you have a chance. We're back-to-back champions, and we're going to tryit again."


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Team preview: Long Beach State

COACH AND PROGRAMThe hope that ran rampant around Long Beach a year ago is long gone.

These days, it has been replaced by confidence.Thanks to a stunning group of newcomers who unexpectedly stormed the Big West last season,the 49ers, just a season removed from an ugly 6-25 disaster, strut into the 2009-10 season as astrong contender for the conference title, sharing the favorite's role with UC Santa Barbara.

Long Beach State 49ers

Last Season 15-15 (.500)Conference Record 10-6 (t-2nd)Starters Lost/Returning 3/2Coach Dan Monson (Idaho '85)Record At School 21-40 (2 years)Career Record 191-163 (12 years)RPI Last 5 years 265-154-81-324-155

And given the youth of the team, this is only the beginning.

"These freshmen, because of the state of our program, got to get their feet wet extensively rightaway," coach Dan Monson said. "We hope that translates into them improving and becomingmore productive as sophomores.

"As far as being the favorite, I don't really worry about it. I didn't worry about it last year whenwe were picked last, either. They didn't know what they were talking about last year. Hopefully,they know better this year."

Last season's prediction was shattered when Long Beach, after a rough start thanks to a toughnon-conference schedule, blew through its first five Big West games at 5-0, including victoriesover Pacific and eventual league champion Cal State Northridge. The 49ers wound up finishingsecond in the regular season and advancing to the tournament semifinals.

PLAYERSWith almost everyone back on a team filled with go-to guys, the 49ers enter this season with thetitle squarely in their sights.


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Who is the 49ers' best player? Is it 6-6 sophomore Larry Anderson, the do-it-all swingman whowas chosen first-team all-conference as a freshman? It is sophomore T.J. Robinson, an athletic 6-7 power forward who kept opposing coaches awake nights last season worrying about the match-up problems he created? Is it sharpshooter Stephan Gilling, a transfer from Colorado State whohit the ground firing last season? Or point-guard Casper Ware, a 5-9 rocket who ranked amongthe league leaders in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio as a freshman?

Maybe all of the above, Monson said.

"We'll be a team that tries to use its balance as a strength," he said.

That summed up the 49ers last season, when no one averaged more points per game than the14.8 of now-departed Donovan Morris, but five players scored more than nine per game.

That said, Anderson and Robinson managed to stand out. In Anderson's case, what catchesattention is his versatility. Though he barely averaged double figures in scoring (10.8 ppg), theswingman opened eyes all over the court, corralling rebounds (4.0 rpg), handing out assists (2.7apg), bringing the ball up court at times against pressure and defending the opponent's bestoffensive player. And then there's his .546 field goal percentage and .400 three-point percentage.

Pretty good for a guy who wasn't even a starter until the final third of the season."What Larry does is what you hope your team does -- he was productive," Monson said. "He wasin the top 10 in our conference in five major statistical categories -- scoring, field-goal

percentage, steals, rebounds and assists. And he was one of our best defenders.

"He did a little bit of everything, and that's the kind of player we thought he was. He's got a little junkyard dog to him. He played anywhere from [small forward] to the point and found ways to be productive."

Like Anderson, Robinson (11.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg) didn't earn a starting spot until late in the season. Infact, he opened as No. 5 in the pecking order of post players and worked his way up the depthchart through a combination of attrition and improvement.

Once he got on the court, though, there was no holding him back. He had an 18-point, seven-rebound game against Temple and went for 17 points and 10 boards at Oregon. During theconference season, Robinson posted three consecutive games of 20 or more points and 10 or more rebounds.

Robinson's quickness and leaping ability proved impossible for Big West post men to guard.While his 59.7 percent shooting led the league, he was an even more impressive 62.3 percentshooter in conference games, and his 7.8 rebounds per game average against conference teamsranked second.

"T.J. is one of those kids who mirrors our team," Monson said. "He's got the upside and theability to really blossom, and yet he still has to do it. & He started the year not playing verymuch, and he learned that to succeed at this level it takes a great deal of work, and you have tofight for everything you get. His learning curve was very quick. Hopefully, he can make another

jump this year."

If Robinson is the anchor of the 49ers' inside game, Gilling (11.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg), who came toLong Beach from Colorado State, is the chief gunner from the outside. The 6-2 senior's 2008-09field-goal percentage wasn't exactly stellar -- .366 -- but he shot an almost identical .364 onthree-pointers, and his fearless finger on the trigger forced defenses to account for him, providingroom for the rest of Long Beach's stars to operate.


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Ware's game is all about speed, and the sophomore burst onto the scene in the blink of an eye lastseason. Originally expected to share the point with then-senior Maurice Clady, Ware (9.1 ppg)instead won the job outright and wound up leading the 49ers in minutes played, and finishingthird in the conference with 4.1 assists per game and a 1.47 assist-to-turnover ratio.

That foursome gives Long Beach the Big West's strongest nucleus, but for depth, the 49ers are

going to have to count on some unproven veterans and, yes, a few more newcomers.At the top of that list is 6-1 sophomore Jesse Woodard, who will back up Ware at the point.Another transfer from Colorado State, Woodard sat out last season after averaging 5.2 points and1.4 assists per game as a Rams freshman. Monson sees him as a counterpoint to the driving styleof Ware and someone who can take a little pressure off the starter.

"Last year, Cas was kind of on his own there," Monson said. "Jesse will give us a little differentlook because he's more of a scoring, shooting point guard and Cas is more of a penetrating guy.It's a different gear, a little bit of a different kind of player."

On the other hand, the reserves behind Anderson and Gilling on the wings are very much in themold of Anderson and Gilling. Tristan Wilson, a 6-5 junior transfer from Yuba (Calif.) College,is tall, athletic, versatile and can take the ball to the basket, while 6-1 junior Greg Plater (3.2 ppg,0.9 rpg) is a spot-up shooter who last season saw only limited action.

Still, Plater had some success as a freshman, scoring almost eight points per game in moreextended playing time, and Monson said he is confident in the veteran's ability.

"Plater's had some huge games for us," Monson said. "He had 15 points on five threes in one half against Santa Barbara here to break that game open. He's very capable. Playing behind DonovanMorris and Gilling, he didn't get enough minutes to really get a rhythm as a shooter, but we feelvery good about his progress and where he's at.

"Tristan is more in the Larry Anderson, bounce-it-to-the-rim mold. He's probably our strongestwing, our best rebounder and biggest body at that spot. Like Larry, he has a very good motor.We're hoping he can give some toughness and energy to our team."

Brandon Nevens, a 6-3 senior who is eligible after transferring from Cal State Bakersfield, mightnot get a chance to make a pitch for playing time as he continues his recovery from a kidneyailment suffered last year. Through late August, had not been cleared to play.

Behind Robinson at power forward, 6-7 senior Arturas Lazdauskas (2.3 ppg. 2.0 rpg) has one lastchance to emerge. Since his arrival in 2005, the athletic Lithuanian has been viewed by hiscoaches as a potential force inside, and while he had limited success in 2007-08, averaging 4.5

points and 3.3 rebounds per game and shooting 57.6 percent, he has never come close to that potential.

Lazdauskas will battle 6-6 sophomore Eugene Phelps, who flashed some promise of his own inaveraging 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game as a freshman last season. Sophomore Lin

Chang, who was born in Beijing, played high school basketball in Canada and comes to LongBeach from Mira Costa (Calif.) College, will push for minutes at power forward and at center,and bullish 6-7 freshman Kyle Richardson will try to push his way into the competition as well.

Jules Montgomery, a 6-10 freshman who can play inside positions, tore ligaments in his kneeduring last season's high school playoffs and is not yet 100 percent. He is likely to redshirt.

Center is the only position at which the starting job remains unsettled. Andrew Fleming (1.0 ppg,1.3 rpg) will try to change that. The 7-0, 285-pound senior has long been what coaches refer to asa project -- he played only one season of high school basketball -- but Monson believes he is at


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last ready for prime time, even though Fleming managed to get on the court a mere 6.0 minutes per game last season.

"Andrew's improved a lot," Monson said. "He helped us in some games at the end of last year, but we were reluctant to use him because you probably have to change your offense for him. Wewere running an offense where the center was coming out of the post a little bit, but he's a true

back-to-the-basket guy."He's a kid we need to commit to and give him some time on the floor because he solves somerebounding issues. He's a very good center defensively. He runs well. I think we've got enoughguys to score around him that he can give us what we need."

If Fleming isn't up to the task, the 6-9 Chang could get a look, as could Lazduaskas or evenPhelps, if Monson decides to go to a smaller lineup.

Redshirt freshman Mike Vantrimpont is a project similar to Fleming -- a 7-footer who playedlittle high school ball, though Vantrimpont spent two years working on his game in France -- andis not likely to be a factor this season.

"Center is a concern," Monson said. "Phelps has bulked up a little bit, and we could go small

with him in there. Lin Chang has a very good body but he's more of a face-up skilled guy we cango with if we don't go with the back-to-the-basket guy.

"There are four or five different avenues, different ways we can go there. We're hoping one or two will emerge."

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSISBACKCOURT : B+BENCH/DEPTH : B-FRONTCOURT : BINTANGIBLES : B

For all their returning talent, the 49ers will have a difficult time building up their overall record, because their schedule is by far the toughest in the Big West. By the time league play begins inJanuary, Long Beach will have faced Duke, Kentucky, Texas and Notre Dame -- all on the road.It's also entered in the 76 Classic, which includes UCLA, Minnesota, West Virginia, Texas A&Mand Clemson, and has an ESPNU BracketBusters game set for February.

"I would think our preseason schedule has got to rank among the top in the country," Monsonsaid. "It has four of the top 10 teams in America on it. We felt last year, with all those freshmen,that the best way to get them better was to challenge them early and let them know what theyneeded to work on. So we went to Oregon, we went to Wisconsin, we went to Syracuse, we wentto BYU, and it paid dividends.

"This year, I don't think we wanted to go quite as difficult as we did. We bit off quite a bit here,obviously. But it also becomes more difficult to get games against mid-level teams when peopleare picking you to be better. They kind of steer away from you, and the only people who will

play you are the high-level teams. So we just decided to go ahead and do that."

That will be a stern test for a couple of key players who have been around the program but stillhave much to prove. Plater needs to show he can provide needed relief for Gilling and Anderson,while Fleming must emerge as a legitimate full-time player rather than an under-construction

project.


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Monson believes they are ready despite neither having averaged more than nine minutes per game last season.

"I think so," he said. "It's not like you're relying on a freshman or a junior college kid. They've been in our program for two years. We're talking about the two most improved guys we have,and I feel good about both of them. Especially with our schedule and the size of the schools

we're going to be playing, we've got to get Fleming in there to give us some size."

Team preview: Overrated

COACH AND PROGRAMThe last time Pacific won a Big West championship was 2006.

At the other conference schools, that's called recent success. At Pacific, it qualifies for a drought.

The league's premier program of the past 10 years -- winner of five titles in that span -- hasn'tgone far. Other than a sub.-500 blip in 2006-07, the Tigers have been a consistent 20-gamewinner and a force in the conference race.

Pacific Tigers

Last Season 21-13 (.618)Conference Record 10-6 (t-2nd)Starters Lost/Returning 3/2Coach Bob Thomason (Pacific '71)Record At School 364-263 (21 years)Career Record 491-334 (27 years)RPI Last 5 years 23-87-205-143-138

That isn't about to change. And this season, coach Bob Thomason might have the horses to endPacific's title drought.

"I think when everything's said and done, it's going to be a pretty good team," Thomason said."Our athletic ability -- our quickness and overall speed -- is at a lot higher level than it's been.

"I'll be disappointed if we're not as good as, if not better than, last year. I'll be disappointed if wearen't."

Better than last year equals a real championship contender, because the 2008-09 Tigers finishedone game behind regular-season champion Cal State Northridge and advanced to the conferencetournament final before making a run to the semifinals of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

PLAYERS


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The Tigers figure to be better because the uncertainty that hung over them entering last seasonhas been replaced by the security of some proven big men, depth and versatility.

Perhaps the biggest addition was one of the most significant subtractions last season. Michael Nunnally was a returning starter at center who figured prominently in Thomason's plans until ascandal erupted regarding an alleged sexual assault. While criminal charges were never filed, the

school's judicial review board suspended three players over the incident, including Nunnally,who was forced to sit out the entire season.

Now the 6-8 senior is back, and he has company up front. While Nunnally was away, 6-9 junior Sam Willard (7.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg) developed into a reliable scorer and one of the league's toprebounders. In fact, UC Davis' Joe Harden is the only returning Big West player to average morerebounds per game than Willard. If Nunnally, who averaged 7.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game when he last played, can get his game back in shape after a year's absence, the Tigerswould have a formidable inside duo.

"At the time, I told him it would be really good for him to sit out," Thomason said. "Not that wewanted him to sit out, but just to get away from everything and let him grow up.

"I think it's been good for him. In the long run, it will be better for his game. I think Mike's a better player. We'll find out, but he's done a good job in the off-season working on his game,working on his shot, working on his moves. He's excited to come back and play well."

The Tigers have much more up front than Nunnally and Willard. Pat Eveland, a powerful 6-6 junior who transferred from Miramar (Calif.) College, brings a rare combination of insidetoughness and a soft outside shot to the power-forward position. Last year he averaged 19.7

points, second in the Pacific Coast Conference, and 8.8 rebounds.

And Nyika Williams, a 6-8 junior from the Virgin Islands by way of Barton County (Kansas)Community College, adds speed and athleticism. Last year he led Barton County in scoring (15.4

ppg), rebounding (9.2 rpg) and field-goal percentage (.695, 203-of-292).

That gives Thomason the option to mix and match four players among the two post positions,and the coach can't wait to get started."Sam right now is by far the best of all those guys," Thomason said. "He can score more, he cango outside and score, he can pass the ball better and he plays a little smarter.

"Sam and Nunnally complement each other well, and Sam and Nyika complement each other well, and I think Pat can play with any of those three because he's going to keep people off of them -- he's such a good shooter and passer. Whether Nyika and Nunnally can play together,we'll have to wait and see, but they're both so athletic, it would be fun to see them out thererunning the court and going to the offensive boards."

The perimeter options are also intriguing, and they center around versatile Joe Ford (4.3 ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.6 apg). The 6-6 senior spent much of last season as a wing player, but he took an extended

turn at point guard early in the season and Thomason liked what he saw.Ford wound up with more assists than the point guard heir apparent, 6-1 senior Lavar Neufville(3.7 ppg, 2.1 apg), and his 1.53 assist-to-turnover ratio was nearly identical to Neufville's 1.60.In addition, he adds size, shooting (.527 to Neufville's .390) and rebounding to the position.

"Lavar had just an OK year at best, and I think he's ready to turn the corner as far asunderstanding what he has to do," Thomason said. "He's going to be in the hunt. But Joe Ford'sgoing to be in the hunt.


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"Joe just needs to play all out all the time. He such an unselfish player that sometimes he justwants to fit in with the guys and not cause problems. But he's so athletic and he can rebound, if Ican just wind him up a little more. Sometimes he gets wound up and he's just unbelievable.

"He can hawk people and block shots and rebound. When he plays point guard, who can keephim off the boards? He's got a lot to bring to our team. It's just a matter of making sure he brings

Joe Ford to the party every night."Thomason said he plans to play Ford at point guard and small forward this season. But there iscompetition at both spots.

At the point, it comes from Neufville and a couple of newcomers. Demetrece Young, a 5-11 junior from Northern Oklahoma College, is a jet with an accurate outside shot, and 6-1 freshmanStephon Lamar is a strong penetrator. Thomason said both have a chance to be major contributors.

On the wing, Terrell Smith (6.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg), a 6-4 junior who started half of last season, and 6-6 junior Royal Edwards (0.0 ppg. 1.5 rpg), who limped through two games before undergoingseason-ending knee surgery, are expected to push hard for the starting job.

To do that, though, Edwards needs to be healthy, and there are still questions about that."He got his tonsils out and had a lot of problems with it," Thomason said. "He lost about 15

pounds, and now he's working to get his stamina back. He can be a real asset to us because he's agood rebounder and a good scorer, but he just hasn't held up physically. There's a point whereyou have to go out and do something."

Smith, on the other hand, improved his shooting and passing during the off-season. Now the onlything standing between Smith and a strong season is Smith.

"His attitude's good, he's working hard, his body's in great shape and he's ready to have a goodyear," Thomason said. "But you know how you want to do good so bad that you can't quite do it?That's kind of where Terrell's at right now. So we're trying to get him to relax and have fun andnot worry about it and keep on competing."

Assuming he can keep his nerves in check, Smith's improved skills also make him a candidate toslide down to the off-guard position, though Pacific has a couple of new faces there that might beready to emerge.

Allen Huddleston and Sterling "Sporty" Carter are incoming freshmen who will be a given achance to make a splash right away. The 6-0 Huddleston, who can also play the point, averagedmore than 30 points per game for Merced High, with games of 50 and 48. Carter is coming off major knee surgery that cost him his final high school season, but Thomason called the 5-11recruit from Seattle "a tough guy who can guard, hustle and play."

Along with Lamar, Thomason called that group "the most talented freshman guards I've ever brought in."

"I like the depth of those guys a lot," the coach said. "They're all going to be kind of interchangeable. I don't know how that's going to work out. I'm going to keep a completely openmind."

That extends even to a couple of redshirt freshman walk-ons. Thomason said 5-11 Reed Kamler and 6-1 Nick Peterson will get a look and a chance to get on the court some. Jordan Turner, a 6-5freshman walk-on, probably won't see much time, while 6-3, sophomore Andrew Ritchart, atransfer from Cal State East Bay, is expected to be redshirted.


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BLUE RIBBON ANALYSISBACKCOURT : C+BENCH/DEPTH : BFRONTCOURT : BINTANGIBLES : A

Thomason, who knows a thing or two about winning Big West titles, is very high on his team,reason enough to consider the Tigers strong contenders.

The return of Nunnally gives Pacific a strong inside presence to add to Willard and allows thetwo newcomers to serve as depth rather than starters. And while none of the backcourt options isa proven offensive force, Ford's versatility and the sheer number of choices give Thomason

plenty of chances to find a breakout player.

Thomason's plan is to whittle down that group to a five-man perimeter rotation. But that won't beeasy.

"We've got battles at every position," he said. "The [shooting guard] position is probably themost competitive. I might play two point guards. You get a little more quickness and guys can

handle the ball and penetrate."Still, points will have to come from somewhere, which is why the coach sees Smith as perhapsthe key to the season.

"If Terrell breaks loose and has a good year, we're going to be really good," Thomason said."He's been on the verge of doing that. He's really a pretty good shooter right now. He doesn'tquite shoot like he believes he's that good a shooter, but he's at the point where he's learned howto score off the dribble, and he's strong."

Team preview: UC Nowhere

COACH AND PROGRAMIn Big West terms, UC Davis is still a baby.

Well, maybe a toddler.

It can be easy to overlook that last season was only the second for the Aggies as full-fledgedmembers of the Big West -- and Division I, for that matter -- because they played as if they had

been around for years. Not that they were a championship team or anything, but in battling to a7-9 conference finish, the Aggies showed they could go toe-to-toe with any team in the league.

UC Davis Aggies

Last Season 13-19 (.406)

Conference Record 7-9 (t-7th)Starters Lost/Returning 2/3Coach Gary Stewart (Le Verne '84)Record At School 64-110 (6 years)Career Record 206-229 (16 years)RPI Last 5 years 251-296-313-304-263


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"Yeah, it does feel like we belong now," coach Gary Stewart said. "There's a lot of work that hasgone into this by a lot of people, and to see the growth in the program is exciting. The thing thatkind of gets lost a little bit is, we're in our third year in the league, and last year was the first timewe were competitive."

And now the bar rises. Competitive is OK, but it is no longer a goal. The next step, Stewart said,

is to move into the top half of the Big West standings and stay in contention for a championshipas the season winds down.

PLAYERSStewart believes he has the horses on hand to make that step, and the numbers bear him out. Twosecond-team all-conference players and another double-figure scorer are back, giving the Aggiesan offensive punch to match any in the league. Last season, UCD was third in the league inscoring offense at 73.1 points per game, a mere half-point behind leader Cal State Northridge,and its .461 field-goal percentage trailed only Pacific.

Even after losing Vince Oliver's 15 points per game, the Aggies have plenty of firepower onhand. Forward Joe Harden, a 6-8 junior, is the Big West's second-leading returning scorer (14.8

ppg) and No. 1 returning rebounder at 7.2 per game. Dominic Calegari (11.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg), a 6-10 senior, is a big man with touch, taking 116 three-pointers last season and making 38 percentof them. And 6-8 junior Mark Payne (10.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.1 apg, 1.4 spg) well, he doeseverything.

Payne is easily the Aggies' most intriguing player, and, Stewart said, his fingerprints are all over every aspect of UCD's game. As an oversized point guard, Payne emerged as the Big West's top

playmaker, leading the league in assists with a stellar assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.35. Hisrebounding and steals averages both ranked among the conference leaders. And he averageddouble-figured scoring despite averaging a mere 5.4 shots, mostly because he shot an astounding67.5 percent from the field.

"By nature, he's a pass-first guy," Stewart said. "He came to our program as a distributor. His

background, his innate instinct, is to create opportunities for others and to get the ball to other people, and we had three other double-figure scorers, so he fell into trying to feature those guys.

"Going into this season, we're going to ask him to be a lot more aggressive in looking for hisopportunities. When a guy shoots that high a percentage, you want that guy taking the mostshots. We've got to do a better job of getting him opportunities."

The funny thing is, the only hole in Payne's offensive game was his shot. His percentage washuge in large part because many of his 106 baskets were dunks, but he made only two of his 16three-point attempts for the season (.125).

To remedy that, Payne, always a gym rat, worked harder than ever in the off-season, taking1,000 shots a day and cleaning up his form. The results, Stewart said, have been staggering.

"He's gone from a kid who was barely in the conversation in terms of perimeter shooting to our best shooter," the coach said.

Of course, Payne still loves to pass, and Harden and Calegari give him plenty of options. And hemight have more if some young players develop the way Stewart believes they can. At the top of that list is 6-3 freshman off-guard Julian Welch, a pure scorer who was red-shirted last season, amove that left his coach with second thoughts that linger today.

Those second thoughts helped drive Stewart toward his decision not to redshirt this season's prized freshman, 6-4 guard Ryan Sypkens of Elk Grove, Calif. Calling Sypkens "the most ready


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to play freshman we've recruited," and "the heir apparent to Mark Payne at the point," Stewartexpects the freshman to push for significant playing time right away at both guard spots.

"Originally, we were going to redshirt him, and when Mark was a senior, he'd be a freshman andhe'd take that position over for three years," Stewart said. "Today, we feel he's too talented andtoo ready for us to redshirt. He's ready to play right now."

So ready that the two juniors who figured to provide most of the Aggies' backcourt depth -- 6-3Todd Lowenthal (2.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg) and 5-10 Ryan Silva (4.7 ppg, 1.2 apg) now figure to belooking over their shoulders. Lowenthal showed he could be effective when he filled in for theinjured Payne at the point and led UCD to an early season victory over Tulane, but mostly hefaded into the background on offense.

"Todd falls into the same situation as Mark -- he's an excellent shooter who just didn't getenough shots," Stewart said.

Silva doesn't have that problem, jacking up 69 more shots than Lowenthal in 85 fewer minutes, but his 39 percent shooting is an issue. And with Welch penciled in at the off-guard, the battlefor playing time at both spots has escalated into an all-out war.

"It's really hard to have three point guards," Stewart said. "It's much easier to rotate two guys inthat position than three. & [Sypkens] will have a chance to put a lot of pressure on Ryan Silvaand Todd Lowenthal. He'll pressure those guys for minutes because of his ability."

Also scrambling for minutes on the perimeter will be 6-5 redshirt freshmen Ryan Howley andJacob Ranger, who will try to contribute at the shooting guard and small forward spots. Howley

brings versatility, athleticism and what Stewart calls "basketball IQ," while Ranger is a ruggedcompetitor who adds toughness and a strong work ethic.

Actually, the biggest addition to the perimeter game is Harden, who spent most of last season atthe power forward spot. Stewart will try to take advantage of Harden's skills as a ball handler andshooter by moving him to small forward, with 6-8 sophomore Adam Malik (2.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg),who played a limited role last season, as his likely backup.

Harden's move becomes possible if Calegari can slide from center to the big forward role, whichmeans UCD must find someone to man the middle. At this time last year, Stewart was hoping 6-11, 255-pound Derek Oestreicher (1.0 ppg, 0.5 rpg) could handle that job. He couldn't, droppingOestreicher out of the team's plans.

This season, Oestreicher, a junior, will get another shot to win a position.

"He has a lot of ability, but he's got to fall in love with basketball again," Stewart said. "We needhim to have the passion and the intensity needed to improve daily and put him into the upper echelon in the Big West."

To get there Oestreicher will have to play his way past slender 6-10 freshman DeAndre Medlock,who can run and jump but lacks bulk and could have trouble holding his ground inside. The onlyother frontcourt alternative is 6-9 sophomore Jelani Floyd, but not only is he not a natural center,he might be a natural small forward.

A transfer from Brown, where he played four minutes as a freshman, Floyd's motor impressesStewart more than his skills, which Stewart says are pretty impressive in their own right.

"He doesn't take plays off," Stewart said. "He's highly competitive and he's versatile. He's able toguard just about one through five. He might be a mismatch in that he can match up on the


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perimeter offensively, but defensively, he can match up in the interior. He'll help us defend. He'sreally active. He'll help us on the backboards as well, and he can step out and make a shot."

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSISBACKCOURT : BBENCH/DEPTH : CFRONTCOURT : CINTANGIBLES : B

UCD has tons of offensive weapons. But can it guard anyone? Last season, the Aggies allowedopponents to shoot 46.9 percent, the league's worst mark. Defense has become a priority, butStewart said one way to improve that percentage is to do a better job of rebounding -- another statistic in which the Aggies finished last in 2008-09.

"We looked at our field goal percentage against the first shot and it was exactly where we wantedit to be," the coach said. "We weren't very good with two or three shots. You can't give a teammultiple opportunities to score."

In addition, for all their considerable skill, the UCD big three of Payne, Harden and Calegari has

considerable room for improvement. Consider Harden's .414 shooting percentage and Calegari's4.4 rebounding average.

But their greatest need for improvement, Stewart said, can't be measured by numbers.

"We need better leadership," he said. "We need better direction. We lost a significant number of one- and two-possession games last year. We led by double figures in most of our losses. So tonot close games out and not execute down the stretch consistently is an area we need to address.

"So those three guys can't be the same guys they were last season. They've got to not only be better, but they've got to be significantly better if the program is to improve."

All that said, the program has shown steady improvement and should again. While Stewartwasn't about to say his team is now ready to make a run for the Big West title, he is confident of

another step forward."I know we're going to be better," he said. "I don't know what that's going to translate to. Thenext step for us is moving to the upper part of the conference and competing for championships.We're now a tough out. But we have one senior and seven freshmen or sophomores. It's a tallorder for a team with that type of distribution."

Team preview: UC ME

COACH AND PROGRAMThe goal for UC Irvine is to turn its offense inside-out.

Last season, no team in the Big West shot better from outside the three-point line than theAnteaters. And no team shot worse from inside the arc.

Only two league opponents attempted fewer free throws.

UC Irvine Anteaters


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Last Season 12-19 (.387)Conference Record 8-8 (t-4th)Starters Lost/Returning 2/3Coach Pat Douglass (Pacific '72)Record At School 183-173 (12 years)

Career Record 559-291 (28 years)RPI Last 5 years 187-166-174-158-237

UCI coach Pat Douglass readily admits that is not the formula for a winning basketball team.

So it isn't surprising Irvine took a step back last season, managing only 12 victories despitefinishing with a flurry in which it won four of its last six. The coach knows well that to get histeam moving in the right direction, that direction must be toward the basket.

"We've got to be able to penetrate more," Douglass said. "We generally execute our plays, butwe haven't had as many guys who can break you down and get to the basket and get fouled."

PLAYERS

That, Douglass said, will change this season with the addition of a couple of newcomers insideand some maturity among returning players. At least, that's the plan.

The success of that plan -- and, ultimately, of the Anteaters -- hinges on Eric Wise, a verticallychallenged post player who used his girth, power and what his coach calls his "high basketballIQ" to emerge as Irvine's star and a second-team All-Big West choice as a freshman in 2008-09.

The 6-5 sophomore, who is listed at 235 pounds but is closer to 260, was shockingly successfulin bulling his way inside for 14 points and six rebounds per game as an undersized center. His

body type is in the mold of Charles Barkley, but while Wise takes heat from opposing fans abouthis weight, he answers with a combination of skill and tenacity.

"He really did surprise me," Douglass said of Wise, whose father, Francois, was an All-American at Long Beach State and whose uncle, Willie, was a three-time ABA All-Star. "Hesurprised everyone. A lot of people in our league backed off of him.

"He has the big butt, but he has a floater, which you don't find in a guy who weighs 250. He canshoot the three [.357, 5-of-14]. If you block his shot, the next time he's going to make you foulhim [.766 FT]. And the thing about it is, the guys who have a feel or an intuitive sense on thecourt, they're rarities. His dad was an outstanding pro and college player and he just seems tohave it in his genes."

Which is why, despite his lack of height for the position, Wise is a lock to start at power forward,where Douglass expects him to improve the one questionable part of his game last season -- his .445 shooting percentage.

"When you have a guy scoring that many points, you want him to shoot like 55 percent," thecoach said, "and I think at the four spot he could. He could play any position offensively. Hecould play a wing. He's trying to tone his body so he can go out and defend on the perimeter more, and it wouldn't surprise me if he did that. He has high aspirations of what he wants to getdone. I think he's going to be better than he was last year."

In theory, he will have plenty more help up front, thanks to a pair of Slovakians and junior college teammates who signed on as a package deal.


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games of last season with a partially torn patellar tendon. Douglass is hopeful Moore's knee issolid and he'll be able to drive to the basket with authority.

"He came in as a guy who always busts it, but he didn't bust it last year because his knee was bad," Douglass said. "So I'm looking for him to play a little different than he did last year. Plus,he would be the guy who can defend."

The other contenders include 6-2 sophomore Derrick Strings (5.5 ppg, 1.6 rpg), who showedability as a three-point gunner last season, hitting 39 percent -- but only 36 percent of his two-

pointers -- and 6-2 freshman Michael Wilder, who posted big scoring and three-point numbers atLong Beach Wilson High. And, if necessary, Wise can slide down to the small forward spot togive the Anteaters a bigger look.

"We have more size than we had last year and more quickness," Douglass said. "We have moredepth. We have these kids -- Brandon Scott, Michael Wilder -- we don't know what they can doyet. Wilder, especially, is physically mature enough to help out right away."

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSISBACKCOURT : C-

BENCH/DEPTH : CFRONTCOURT : B-INTANGIBLES : C

With the loss of Lauer's three-point marksmanship, Douglass made it a point to shore up theinside game and has put a high priority on taking the ball to the basket.

To make the plan work, one or more of the big men must emerge as a steady presence inside totake the heat off Wise, with Simek and Losonsky the most likely candidates. On the outside, theAnteaters need someone to go to the hole. Douglass would love Moore to do more of that, but hisknee makes that an iffy proposition. If Flowers can win the point position from Rembert, his

penetration could create better scoring chances and the desired higher shooting percentage.

Of course, Irvine is not about to give up on the three-pointer, not with marksmen like Hunter andStrings on the roster.

"We need a couple of guys to emerge," Douglass said, "like the inside guys to be consistent sothey can pound inside and our shooting. We need a couple guys besides Hunter to be able toknock down a three."


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Team preview: UC Methlab

COACH AND PROGRAMThe best season in UC Riverside's brief history as a Division I basketball program wasconstructed almost exclusively by the labor of Kyle Austin.

In his first season since transferring from USC, the 6-7 junior wing was nothing short of arevelation, immediately emerging as the Highlanders' star and an All-Big West choice. All he didwas finish second in the conference in scoring at 16.2 points per game -- trailing only league

player of the year Josh Akognon -- while also ranking in the league's top 10 in rebounding (6.1 per game) and field-goal percentage (.437).

The results of Austin's efforts were 17 victories, the most for UCR since it joined Division I in2001-02 (the previous mark was 11), plus its first .500 season in the Big West and its best finish

in the conference standings. And those are sure signs of progress for coach Jim Wooldridge's program.

UC Riverside Highlanders

Last Season 17-13 (.567)Conference Record 8-8 (t-4th)Starters Lost/Returning 2/3Coach Jim Wooldridge (Louisiana Tech '77)Record At School 26-34 (2 years)Career Record 338-271 (21 years)RPI Last 5 years 295-312-316-291-202

"Are we where we want to be?" Wooldridge said. "No, we're not. Two years ago, we all agreedwe were going to have to build this thing from scratch. There was very little to build on. Wehadn't had a lot of success.

"But in two years, we've got a competitive team on the board and we finished in the upper echelon in the Big West with the most wins in our Division I history. We've got a first-team all-league player who just completed his sophomore year. Attendance is better and we had a coupleof sellouts. There's a buzz about our program within the community. Early returns are that we'remaking progress."

PLAYERSFor that progress to continue, though, Wooldridge knows he cannot rely on Austin alone. That's

not to say Austin won't still have to do most of the heavy lifting. It's just that for the Highlandersto make the next step -- from competitive to championship contenders -- others will have toshoulder their share of the burden, especially on offense.

Even with Austin's prolific scoring, Riverside managed a mere 60.2 points per game, by far thefewest in the Big West. Part of that was by design, as the Highlanders also led the league inscoring defense, allowing 60.6 points per game, but that doesn't excuse all the offensive

problems. UCR finished next to last in the league with a .424 shooting percentage as opponentsset their defensive sights squarely on Austin.


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"We're going to have to have more people contribute more production for us," Wooldridge said."We don't want to place all the responsibility on Kyle. He proved to be the most productive

player on our team and we need him to do the same thing this year, but we need others tocontribute more."

Fortunately for Wooldridge, he has a couple of others in mind, a pair of transfers who arrive

carrying high expectations.Dwight Gordon was hard to contain at Victor Valley (Calif.) Junior College, averaging 21.8

points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 57 percent. The 6-2 junior will be counted on to providesome outside firepower and take some scoring pressure away from Austin in an attack that willfeature four perimeter players and one post.

"Dwight is a player we think can score out of our offense," Wooldridge said. "He can drive the ball, he can separate off screens and has a reliable jump shot. He can score in transition -- he runseasy, he's a grade-A athlete. He's kind of like Kyle, not anything spectacular but a lot of goodthings. & We couldn't score very well from the two guard spot, and we've got to get morescoring there. We brought him in to do that."

The demands are similar on 6-5 senior Larry Gurganious, who is eligible after sitting out lastseason after his transfer from Gonzaga. While his numbers there were pedestrian (3.3 ppg, 2.6rpg in 2007-08), Wooldridge is convinced Gurganious has the potential to score big at Riverside.

"Larry uses his athleticism to the degree he needs to," Wooldridge said. "He, too, will score in avariety of ways. He's just a terrific athlete. He can post you, he can drive it, he can score intransition. We hope we'll see him around the basket in rebounding situations for put-backs.Again, he's not pigeonholed into one way of scoring."

There are others on the roster who will be asked to pick up the scoring pace -- guards Rudy Meo,Brandon Dowdy, Jesse LoBue and Javon Borum among them -- but Gordon and Gurganious arethe keys.

"Brandon Dowdy is a shooter," Wooldridge said. "If he doesn't shoot the ball well, he's not goingto score. [Gordon and Gurganious] can have a so-so night from 15-20 away, but they can stillhave a good night because they got fouled going to the basket, they rebounded, they ran intransition, they drove."

That said, Dowdy (7.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg), a 6-2 senior who last season shot less than 40 percentoverall but made 40.6 percent of his three-pointers (41-of-101), will certainly be asked to pick uphis offensive game. The same goes for 6-4 senior Meo (3.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg), who missed half theseason after undergoing knee surgery and played the other half at less than full speed.

"We're hoping he can come back and show he's the kind of player we recruited him to be,"Wooldridge said of Meo. "We were going to red-shirt him, but we pulled him off his red-shirtyear because we got into some dire straits with other injuries, so it really wasn't a fair year tohim. He's healthy and he's had a whole off-season to get himself ready to play, and, hopefully,that will show up in the numbers."

LoBue (4.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg), a 6-6 senior, and 5-11 senior Borum (9.7 ppg, 2.4 apg) could become part of the solution to the scoring problem because of their outside shot. They were among threeHighlanders ranked in the league top 10 in three-point percentage last season -- Dowdy was theother. LoBue finished third at .484, though he had only 64 attempts, while Borum was fourth at .426.


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Borum will also run the show as the point guard, having won the job from 6-2 junior JalonniDiggs (3.0 ppg, 1.2 apg) last season. In fact, Diggs might find himself fighting for the backup jobwith the addition of 5-10 freshman Lateef McMullan, who put up big statistics at NorthCarolina's Flora MacDonald Academy.

Others fighting for minutes in the backcourt are 6-2 senior Sean Cunningham (5.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg)

and a walk-on, 5-10 freshman Niko Brooks, whom Wooldridge said "could surprise a lot of people."

The biggest question the Highlanders must answer is in the middle, where four contenders arevying for the one post position. While three of them are returnees, none of them are proven

players and there is no frontrunner for the spot heading into preseason practice.

"We've got to find one," Wooldridge said. "We've got to find someone who can win it. We didn'tget a lot of production out of that spot. From a scoring standpoint, it was a huge hole. We've gotsome candidates, and anyone who can step to the front is going to have an opportunity."

Of all the candidates, 6-8 senior Bryson Hampton (3.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg) has the most experience, andhis godfather is former NBA player A.C. Green. That's got to count for something. But he playedin only 10 games last season.

Konner Veteto (3.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg), a solid 6-9 sophomore, was a contributor last season,averaging 11.6 minutes per game and shooting almost 60 percent, while 6-6 sophomore DavidChavarria (0.3 ppg, 0.6 rpg) barely saw the floor. Jessee Hazely, a 6-6 incoming freshman, willget a shot at the job as well after posting double-figure averages in points and rebounds for Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.) High School.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSISBACKCOURT : B-BENCH/DEPTH : CFRONTCOURT : DINTANGIBLES : B

Offense is the buzzword at Riverside these days. Coming off a strong defensive performance and boasting the league's returning scoring leader, Wooldridge believes he is not far away from titlecontention.

The missing pieces are a couple of alternative scoring options and a few more points from theones he had already on hand. One way or another, whether it's a change in scheme or personnel,that is UCR's goal.

"Obviously, I hope we can be better in the scoring department," Wooldridge said. "I don't wantto say that's where our season is going to be determined, but we have to find more scoring. Welooked at players, we looked at format. We're coming into this year feeling we can improve that.We've put a lot of emphasis on it.

"We need Larry Gurganious to be a double-digit scorer. Then a collection of other people have toimprove their ability to produce. Not dramatically -- we don't think we need that -- but we needsome improvement. Brandon Dowdy, Jesse LoBue and Javon Borum can provide a little more."


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Team preview: UC Tortillas

COACH AND PROGRAMFor what seems like forever, Chris Devine was the heart, soul and guts of the UC Santa Barbara

basketball program. And now that he is at last gone, one would think the hole left by the four-time All-Big West forward would be enormous.

But into that hole steps Orlando Johnson, who joins the Gauchos after a season on the sidelinewith great fanfare and greater expectations, and Santa Barbara coach Bob Williams has everyreason to believe the 6-5 sophomore can fill that gap seamlessly.

"I'm not going to compare Orlando to Chris, but I think Orlando will be a great addition,"Williams said. "He's a very difficult match-up. He can play bigger or smaller. He's a load for anybody to handle."

UC Santa Barbara Gauchos

Last Season 16-15 (.516)Conference Record 8-8 (t-4th)Starters Lost/Returning 2/3

Coach Bob Williams (San Jose State '76)Record At School 179-146 (11 years)Career Record 368-246 (21 years)RPI Last 5 years 230-219-152-90-176

Johnson proved that in 2007-08, when, as a freshman for Loyola Marymount, the solidly builtswingman led his team in scoring (12.4 ppg) and rebounding (5.4 rpg).


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And after sitting out last season after his transfer, Johnson is set to return to the court as astronger and more skilled player, one who has created a buzz before ever playing a Big Westgame. Many coaches and league observers already have Johnson penciled into their all-conference teams, and some see him as one of the favorites for the league's player-of-the-year award.

"He was a really good player when he came in and he's made a major step up by relentlesslyworking on his weaknesses," Williams said. "He's managed to improve his game in most everyarea. He's quicker and he's shooting better, he's worked on his ball-handling skills, he's workedhard to become a better defender.

"No doubt he gives us a level of confidence. I do think he's probably an all-conference level player. I don't know if he's player-of-the-year level. He hasn't played a game. You have to seehow he assimilates into everything we're doing. But he is a very good, all-around, versatile,tough guy. He brings a lot to the table."

PLAYERSSo much so that the addition of Johnson has helped push a Santa Barbara team coming off a

disappointing .500 season into the role of Big West favorite. Not that Johnson is the only reason for such optimism. The Gauchos also have three starters and10 players back, plus another touted transfer and the healthy return of point guard Justin Joyner,who missed all last season with a wrist injury.

As a result, the Gauchos have what Williams called the deepest team in his 11 seasons at SantaBarbara, more so than even the 2002-03 team that cruised through its league schedule at 14-4and won the regular-season championship.

"We were two deep at every position that year and pretty darn good," Williams said. "And thisteam is deeper. That's our biggest strength."

The depth took a big step forward with the return of Joyner (3.8 ppg, 3.6 apg in 2007-08), whose

steady hand guided the Gauchos to 23 wins two seasons ago despite playing the entire seasonwith a broken bone in his wrist. After sitting out to let it heal, Joyner returns healthy, andWilliams said the 6-0 junior's ability to take care of the ball might be the biggest of many

positives he adds to the team.

The numbers back him up. Last season, the Gauchos ranked next to last in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio at 0.81 and finished 16-15. With Joyner and his 1.8 career ratio in the lineup in2007-08, they ranked second at 1.02 and went 23-9.

"We didn't take care of the ball worth anything last year," Williams said. "But Joyner had sixstraight games without a turnover as a sophomore. And that was basically playing with one wrist.He gets the ball from one end to the other. He gets it to the right guy and he gets you in theoffense, then he defends his rear end off. And that is extremely valuable to a team.

"He just brings leadership at the point guard position. He's a winner, he's a proven winner. As afreshman he started and we won 18. As a sophomore, he started and we won 23. He just givesyou that stability. The young man expects to win no matter who he plays against, every time hegoes on the floor. He's a competitive human being. And we love that."

Joyner will get the majority of the minutes at the point, because the players behind him are thesame ones who contributed to last season's issues. Still, 6-0 senior Paul Roemer (3.8 ppg, 2.0apg) has experience and can hold down the fort at times, and 6-3 sophomore Will Brew (4.8 ppg,2.0 rpg) showed an ability to shoot (.403 3PT), if not take care of the ball (0.82 assist-to-turnover


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ratio). Brew's younger brother, Chris Brew, a 6-3 incoming freshman from Oakland, Calif., willget a look at the point as well, though he seems just as likely to land at the shooting guard spot.

"We're not sure with Will and Chris Brew which positions we're going to play them at,"Williams said. "Chris, the freshman, is an exceptionally good athlete. We're not sure what his

best position will be, whether it's the point or the wing. We just know he's a basketball player."

The Brews will be part of a struggle for minutes at off-guard, because there are plenty of provenwings on the roster vying for the starting spot opposite Johnson.

James Powell (9.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg), a 6-2 senior, is a solid performer who started 19 games lastseason and has teetered on the verge of stardom in his career, averaging more than 12 points per game as a sophomore.

James Nunnally (7.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg), a 6-5 sophomore, had a strong freshman season, shooting .464 from the floor and .361 from three and earning seven starts. Powell and Nunnally will gettime at both wing spots, which are virtually interchangeable in Santa Barbara's system.

In addition, 6-0 junior walk-on Jordan Weiner (3.5 ppg, 0.7 rpg) brings an outside touch off the bench (.382 3PT), and Williams isn't afraid to use it -- last season, Weiner averaged 10 minutes

per game."They're all guys who have proven they can play in this league," Williams said.

Which is why 6-2 freshman Brad Lewis, a recruited walk-on who displayed an accurate shot atSimi Valley High School, is a strong candidate to redshirt this season.

For all the proven players on the perimeter, Williams said the inside game is the deepest part of his team. And that's not counting Johnson, who Williams plans to move to power forward attimes to create matchup problems for slower defenders.

The intriguing newcomer in the post is 6-10 junior power forward Jon Pastorek, who sat out lastseason after transferring from San Diego State. While Pastorek didn't exactly make a splash inSan Diego, averaging 1.9 points and 1.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore, but Williams sees

tremendous possibilities in his game."He's a smart, versatile player who can possibly play some [small forward]," the coach said."He'll help make us better."

Pastorek will battle for the starting job against slender 6-9 junior Sam Phippen and rugged 6-9freshman Lucas Devenny. Devenny has a bigger body and the ability to face up and shoot.Phippen has been an enigma ever since he arrived, teasing the coaches with sparkling flashes of ability but never delivering consistently.

Last season, Phippen managed to get on the court less than 10 minutes per game, averaging 2.5 points and 1.6 rebounds. Williams, who has been waiting for Phippen to emerge, remainshopeful but cautious.

"Who knows?" Williams said. "He's one of those kids whose confidence level has to be up, and playing behind Chris Devine didn't add to his confidence. He needs to be more assertive. He hasto bring more toughness, and he has to have more fight in him. Is he talented? Yeah, he runs likea deer, he's may be the best athlete on the front line, he can shoot the three. He brings a lot of things.

"If he emerges, our depth on the front line is ridiculous. We'll have six legitimate guys who cancompete well in our league."


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The other three will slug it out for minutes at center, and all have a legitimate claim. Jaime Serna(6.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg), a 6-7 sophomore, was competitive as a freshman and is stronger this season.Jesse Byrd (6.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg) was a powerful presence in the post before he was severely limited

by a knee injury. The 6-8 senior is expected to be back at full strength.

And while 7-2, 230-pound sophomore Greg Somogyi (3.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg in 11 minutes per game)

wasn't overwhelming as a freshman, his immense size and potential already has him on NBAradar screens. Somogyi, who spent the summer playing for his native Hungary in the U-20European championships, is expected to figure more into Santa Barbara's plans.

"We think has made major strides, and being 7-2 and a half with a 7-9 and a quarter wingspanmakes him potentially the guy who can make the biggest difference," Williams said. "I don'tknow if it's this year or next year. But we're very hopeful it's this year.

"The middle is probably the deepest we are anywhere. Serna is extremely strong, very quick, hada real good year and now is way more comfortable. The question on Byrd is if he's going to playthe way he did in November and December. Because boy, he was good. If you gave him the ballon the block in December, before he got injured, that thing was going in."

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSISBACKCOURT : BBENCH/DEPTH : A-FRONTCOURT : BINTANGIBLES : B

With plenty of key pieces back and perhaps the Big West's most gifted newcomer coming in, theGauchos are primed for a run at the league title. Indeed, their only holes are minor ones, such asthe backup point guard spot and the league's second-worst three-point percentage (.334) lastseason.

The shooting, Williams said, can be cured by the return of Joyner. Not because he's a brilliantshooter -- his career three-point percentage is a frigid .288 -- but because his passing and

penetrating will lead to better shots."He takes the pressure off you to try to do things you can't do and lets you concentrate on doingwhat you can do," Williams said. "The thing is, you'd better be really good inside and really goodon the glass if you don't shoot the ball well. And we didn't shoot the ball well last year. This year,we'll jump back into the middle of the pack, which is all we need to be. I don't want us to be ateam that has to shoot the three well to win games. We shouldn't have to."

But the Gauchos do have to finish what they start. Though they ended the season with eight winsin their last 10 games, the Gauchos let a lot of games get away in the final minutes. Williamshopes that will change with Joyner back and with Johnson around as a go-to guy, but he hasmade it a priority to finish games strong.

"We were 2-7 at one time," Williams said of last season. "In four of those seven games, we had a12- to 22-point lead with around 10 minutes to go in the game, and we'd lose. We didn't have themental toughness, the discipline with the ball, the ability to make plays and to hold people at bay,and I'm talking about Fullerton and Northridge. You've got to hold those teams at bay whenyou've dominated the game for 30 minutes."

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