2008 Big West Hoops Preview

Coming off a share of the school’s first Big West regular-season title, which earned Bobby Braswell Coach of the Year honors in the Big West, the senior-laden Matadors appear poised to make another run. Deon Tresvant (13.9 ppg), Josh Jenkins (10.5 ppg, Big West-leading 6.4 apg) and Rob Haynes (6.8 ppg) give Northridge three experienced backcourt players. Tremaine Townsend, a 6'9", 220-pound senior forward (10.1 ppg, 9.8 rpg), had 10 double-doubles including a monstrous 21-point, 22-rebound performance against UC Davis. The recruiting class includes center Xavier Crawford, a junior college transfer and the school’s first 7-footer. Northridge will be tested early with road games vs. UCLA and Stanford.

2. Cal State Fullerton (24–9, 12–4)

Coach Bob Burton was rewarded with a five-year contract extension after the Titans won 10 of their final 11 regular-season games to reach the NCAA Tournament. They’ll have to make do this season without the departed Frank Robinson and Scott Cutley, who combined to provide the team more than 30 points per game. The key returnee is senior guard Josh Akognon (20.2 ppg), the one-time Washington State transfer who set a school record with 116 3-pointers. The Titans will rely on seven newcomers, led by 6'8", 235-pound freshman Bernard Kamwa and junior wing Gerard Anderson, who sat out last year.

3. UC Santa Barbara (23–9, 12–4)

The Gauchos feature 6'8", 230-pound senior forward Chris Devine (12.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and junior guard James Powell (12.3 ppg) but will have to fill the void left by departing senior Alex Harris (20.2 ppg), who broke the school’s career scoring mark and helped set a school record with 23 victories. Junior Justin Joyner (3.6 apg) had surgery on his wrist in April but is expected to return to play the point. The recruiting class features shooting guard William Brew and 7'2" freshman center Greg Somogyi. The home schedule includes an enticing Nov. 21 match-up with North Carolina.

4. Long Beach State (6–25, 3–13)

First-year coach Dan Monson inherited an empty cupboard last season after the 49ers’ tumultuous championship campaign of 2006-07. Without a senior on the roster, Long Beach won only once on the road all season and dropped its final eight games. There is experience returning, led by senior guard Donovan Morris (21.2 ppg), a former transfer from Fresno State who earned first-team All-Big West honors after posting five 30-point games. Four others who averaged at least 7.0 points are back, including sophomore guard Greg Plater, but the 49ers have limited size. In early July, they signed 7-footer Mike Vantrimpont, a native of Manhattan Beach, Calif., who spent the past two seasons playing for a top French junior team.

5. Pacific (21–10, 11–5)

 The Tigers expected to return 11 of their top 12 scorers from a year ago, when they logged coach Bob Thomason’s seventh 20-victory season. But three seniors, including All-Big West guard Steffan Johnson (14.5 ppg, 4.9 apg) and starting center Michael Nunnally (7.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg), were dropped from the club in mid-July. School officials declined to comment on reports that the players allegedly were involved in a campus sexual assault case that was investigated but led to no criminal charges. Senior guard Michael Kirby, also dropped from the roster, was expected back on the team for the second semester. The stripped-down squad is led by two seniors, guard Chad Troyer (12.8 ppg), who made 85 3-pointers last season, and 6'7" forward Anthony Brown (10.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg).

6. UC Irvine (18–16, 9–7)

The Anteaters rebounded from a 4–8 start last season to post their highest victory total in five years, but they enter this season without three of their top four scorers. Michael Hunter, a 5'10", 155-pound junior guard, is the top returning scorer at 8.8 points per game. Senior forward Kevin Bland provides bulk and experience. Two intriguing freshmen are 6'5" wing Eric Wise, who averaged 20.4 points and 9.3 rebounds at Riverside King High, and 6'8" forward Adam Folker, who averaged 31.0 points and 12.0 rebounds at Markham District High School in Ontario, Canada.

7. Cal Poly (12–18, 7–9)

The guard-oriented Mustangs underachieved last season, losing six of their final nine games. But they return four upperclassmen who combined to provide more than 36 points per game. Junior Lorenzo Keeler (10.3 ppg) and senior Trae Clark (10.3 ppg) anchor the backcourt, supported by senior Chaz Thomas (7.8 ppg). Cal Poly needs a big season from 6'7" senior forward Titus Shelton (7.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg), their only experienced frontcourt player. Among the freshmen are guard Justin Brown of Richmond, Calif., and Anthony DiLoreto, a 7-footer from Minnetonka, Minn.

8. UC Riverside (9–21, 4–12)

Coach Jim Wooldridge, hoping to add athleticism and scoring punch to a squad that averaged only 60.1 points last season, signed five junior college players, including versatile 6'4" guard Brandon Dowdy, who averaged 14.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.3 steals at Imperial Valley (Calif.) College. Departed senior Larry Cunningham was the club’s only double-digit scorer, with senior guard Aaron Scott (8.4 ppg) heading the returnees.

9. UC Davis (9–22, 2–14)

The Aggies struggled in their first full season in the conference, and things won’t be much easier this year. Providing hope is 6'7" sophomore Mark Payne (9.3 ppg), who led the team in virtually every category, posted a triple-double against regional rival Sacramento State and was the Big West Freshman of the Year. Senior guard Vince Oliver (12.2 ppg) is solid, and 6'9" junior forward Dominic Calegari (9.2 ppg) had four 20-point games in the Aggies’ final eight outings. Forward Joe Harden, a 6'8" transfer from Notre Dame, is expected to make an impact.