UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Coach: Bob Williams, 80-67, 6th season; 269-167 overall, 16th season
Players to watch: Branduinn Fullove, sr., f/g; Nick Jones, sr., g; Jacoby Atako, sr., g; Bray Skultety, sr., f; Cameron Goettsche, soph., f; Cecil Brown, soph., g
Outlook: UCSB won its first outright Big West title last season with defense, posting a 13-1 conference record in games it held opponents under 60 points. Branduinn Fullove was the player of the year and he's back in a well-stocked backcourt with Nick Jones and underrated Jacoby Atako, the the Big West defensive player of the year. Jones will miss the first eight games, but UCSB has the depth to deal with it. Oregon State transfer Joe See is a 3-point specialist. Interior is suspect, aside from Cameron Goettsche. Champs until proven otherwise.
Utah State Aggies
Coach: Stew Morrill, 118-42, 6th season; 336-180 overall, 18th season
Players to watch: Spencer Nelson, jr., f; Mark Brown, sr., g; Cardell Butler, sr., g/f; Mike Ahmad, sr., c; Nate Harris, soph., f
Outlook: Aggies seemingly reload every season and this year is no different. Spencer Nelson is a solid forward, point guard Mark Brown is steady and wing Cardell Butler can be a highlight reel. Aggies are used to winning -- four consecutive 20-wins seasons, three NCAAs, one NIT -- and that figures to continue.
UC Irvine Anteaters
Coach: Pat Douglass, 95-77, 7th season; 471-195 overall, 23rd season
Players to watch: Adam Parada, sr., c; Jeff Gloger, soph., g; Stanislav Zuzak, sr., f; Matt Okoro, sr., f; Mike Efevberha, soph., g/f
Outlook: Anteaters are capable of
challenging for title because they play quality defense and have a proven front line. Adam Parada, a 7-footer who already holds the school record with 111 blocked shots, and 6-11 Stanislav Zuzak join guard Jeff Gloger, who had a school-record 75 steals last year, to form strong nucleus. Athletic wing Mike Efevberha should provide much-needed scoring punch. UCI has won at least 20 games the last three seasons.Idaho Vandals
Coach: Leonard Perry, 22-34, 3rd season
Players to watch: Tyrone Hayes, sr., f; Tanoris Shepard, jr., g; Dwayne Williams, sr., g; Rashaad Powell, sr., f; Jon Tinnon, sr., f; Dandrick Jones, jr., g
Outlook: Vandals field their deepest and most talented team in Leonard Perry's tenure. Tanoris Shepard seems fully recovered from ACL injury that sidelined him early last season. Seven Vandals who averaged at least 10 minutes per game return. JC transfers Dandrick Jones, Armend Kahrimanovic, Anton Lyons and Lionel Davis provide depth and improve team's athleticism. Points should be easier to come by, but Vandals will go as far as their defense carries them. Top four isn't farfetched.
Cal Poly Mustangs
Coach: Kevin Bromley, 35-38, 4th season
Players to watch: Varnie Dennis, sr., f; Shane Schilling, sr., f; Eric Jackson, sr., g; Phil Johnson, jr., c; Nick Enzweiller, jr., f
Outlook: MVP candidate Varnie Dennis is a proven low-post scorer and quality freethrow shooter, but he's been foul- and turnover-prone (82 last year). Forward Shane Schilling is a nice complement, but backcourt will have to come through for Mustangs to climb in the standings.
UC Riverside Highlanders
Coach: John Masi, 442-233, 25th season
Players to watch: Nate Carter, soph., g/f; Kevin Butler, sr., g; Ted Bell, sr., g; Vili Morton, jr., f
Outlook: Highlanders haven't been very good the last couple years but they had a pretty good excuse. They weren't eligible for the Big West Tournament serving a twoyear NCAA-mandated transition to Division I. Top three scorers return, including 6-7 forward Nate Carter, the Big West freshman of the year. He had eight games with 20 points or more. Vili Morton, a 6-8, 265-pound forward who sat out last season, led the Big West with 9.3 rebounds and 83 blocks during the 2001-2002 season. Ted Bell led the conference in 3-point accuracy the last two years.
CS Northridge Matadors
Coach: Bobby Braswell, 111-94, 8th season
Players to watch: Ian Boylan, jr., g/f; Joseph Frazier, jr., g/f; Chris Davis, jr., f; Davin White, jr., g
Outlook: Ian Boylan was fifth in the Big West in scoring last year (15.8) and also cracked the top 10 in field goal percentage, steals and 3-point percentage. Joseph Frazier is one of the conference's top defenders and Davin White is potentially an explosive scorer. Matadors' starting lineup compares favorably with anyone in conference, but bench is thin.
Pacific Tigers
Coach: Bob Thomason, 234-201, 16th season; 286-228 overall, 19th season
Players to watch: Christian Maraker, soph., f; Miah Davis, sr., g; Matt Kemper, jr., c/f; Tom Cockle, sr., g; Myree Bowden, sr., g; David Doubley, jr., g
Outlook: The gang that couldn't shoot straight last season (41.4 percent) has three seniors and eight juniors, but best player is 6-9 Swedish native Christian Maraker, who averaged 11.3 points as a freshman. Tigers return 71 percent of last year's scoring, but they'll need improved shooting accuracy to move into upper echelon. Bob Thomason is 14 wins from 300 in his career and might not reach the milestone until next season.
Cal State Fullerton Titans
Coach: Bob Burton, 1st season
Players to watch: Pape Sow, sr., c; Zakee Smith, sr., g; Anthony Bolton, sr., f; Derick Andrew, sr., g; Hardy Asprilla, jr., f
Outlook: Titans lost one of the top scorers in the Big West when guard Ralphy Holmes ran into legal trouble last summer. He was expelled by the university. Even without Holmes, CSF has adequate talent. Pape Sow, a 6-10 center who ran afoul of the law last year, had 26 points and 20 rebounds in an exhibition win. New coach Bob Burton wants to play uptempo, opposite of former coach Donny Daniels' style. CSF could surprise if Sow has big year.
Long Beach State 49ers
Coach: Larry Reynolds, 5-22, 2nd season; 115-57 overall, 7th season
Players to watch: Kevin Roberts, sr., f; Jibril Hodges, soph., g; Anthony Coleman, jr., f; Kevin Houston, fr., g; Cody Pearson, jr., f
Outlook: 49ers are in rebuilding mode, especially with the loss of Tony Darden, who hoisted up 199 3-pointers last year. Kevin Roberts and Jibril Hodges are scoring threats, but this team has obvious flaws. Depth is an issue, but Xavier transfer Anthony Coleman, a 6-10 stringbean, will contribute when he becomes eligible Dec. 20. Long Beach State was last in the Big West last season in rebounding.