Big West Conference Preview
by Josh Diggs
The Big West Conference is by no means as good as the SEC, ACC or Pac-10 conferences, but they are getting better. Utah State hovered around the nation’s top 25 polls for several weeks and Pacific made a splash last March by crashing the NCAA Tournament with a Cinderalla-like run that included upsetting Providence and challenging Kansas in the second round. Pacific will be the favorites to pick up right where they left off last season. They ripped through their conference games (17-1) and won the Big West Conference Tournament before shaking things up at the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers lost star Miah Davis, but have plenty of talent to surge forward.
Utah State will make their run after being overlooked for a spot in the Tournament last year. They have the best frontcourt in the conference and want to prove doubters that they deserved to be playing well into the month of March. Cal State Northridge still has a sour taste in its mouth after they were one shot away from upsetting Pacific and running away with the conference tournament last year. The Matadors went on a late-season run with help of three players returning from suspension, just in time to move up in the conference standings and upend UC Santa Barbara and Utah State in the tournament. Bobby Braswell will try to help his make the jump this time around. He is one of the better coaches in the conference and the scary part he is returning all five starters. UC Santa Barbara is the most well-balanced team in the conference and one of the deepest, but injuries will hobble them out of the gates. Ralphy Holmes returns from a one-year suspension to lead the Cal State Fullerton Titans. Holmes, a Big West first-team selection in 2002-2003, will team up with last year’s Freshman of the Year Bobby Brown for an explosive backcourt in Head Coach Bob Burton’s up-tempo run-n-gun type offense. Idaho, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, Long Beach State and Cal Poly round out the bottom part of the conference that is quickly becoming more competitive. Last season, the last three seeds in the tournament were determined in the final weekend of play and only three games separated fifth from tenth place in the standings.
All-Conference Preseason Team
Christian Maraker, F, Pacific
Ralphy Holmes, G, Cal State Fullerton
Ian Boylan, G/F, Cal State Northridge
Nate Harris, F, Utah State
Spencer Nelson, F, Utah State
Honorable Mention
Bobby Brown, G, Cal State Fullerton
David Doubley, G, Pacific
Guillaume Yango, F/C, Pacific
Etoagwara Onyenegecha, F, Cal State Northridge
Kameron Gray, G, Cal Poly
Big West Player of the Year
Christian Maraker – Pacific
Freshman of the Year
Anthony Brown – Pacific
Pacific Tigers
Projected lineup:
F – Christian Maraker
F – Guillaume Yango
C – Tyler Newton
G – David Doubley
G – Mike Webb
Key Losses: Miah Davis, Myree Bowden, Tom Cockle
Must step up: David Doubley. He will have to carry much of the offensive load in the post-Miah Davis era. Davis, an All-American honorable mention last season, led the Tigers in scoring and single-handedly took over games in the conference tournament and in the team’s upset over Providence in the opening round of the NCAA Tourney. Doubley, a 6-1 guard, will have to pick up the offensive slack and match Davis’ leadership and winning attitude. Doubley averaged 8 points per game and shot a respectable 36 percent from behind the arc. He is an excellent free-throw shooter and should take advantage of that by driving aggressively to the basket to create opportunities for himself and his teammates. He needs to be more cautious with the ball though, he led the team with 73 turnovers last season.
Impact freshman: Anthony Brown. He is a pure scorer and a monster on the boards. The 6-8 forward averaged over 30 points and 14 rebounds per game last season at Proctor Academy in Andover, New Hampshire, where he had multiple 40 point performances and a 51-point outburst. He has a shot at some serious playing time if he can prove to the coaching staff that his defense is as well-rounded as his offense.
Mark your calendar: Dec. 4 at Kansas – They face a hostile crowd and a loaded roster in a rematch of last year’s game that sent the Tigers home for the rest of the season Dec. 11 at Nevada – They face another potential Tourney-bound team Feb. 26 vs Cal State Northridge – The Matadors nearly upset the co-champs last year.
It will be hard to best last year’s NCAA Tournament run, when they stunned Providence before falling to Kansas in the second round, especially without the services of their explosive guard Miah Davis. He was instrumental in the Tigers 25-8 record and their romp through the Big West Conference (17-1) en route to the league championship (shared with Utah State). But they will definitely make their case. They return first-team Big West Conference selection Christian Maraker and honorable mentions David Doubley and Tyler Newton to provide a strong core of veteran leadership for a group of already experienced players. They boast one of the biggest frontcourts in the conference (Maraker 6-9, Guillaume Yango 6-9, Tyler Newton 6-10) and feature good depth up and down the roster. Doubley will likely take on a bigger role in the team’s offensive schemes to compensate for the void left by Davis. The key for Pacific down the stretch will be to find the player that can take over a game like Davis was able to leading into the tournament last year.
Utah State Aggies
Projected lineup:
F – Jason Williams
F – Spencer Nelson
C – Nate Harris
G – Marques Crane
G – Chris Huber
Key losses: Mark Brown, Cardell Brown, Mike Ahmad
Must step up: Chris Huber. The junior guard will have to play a bigger role in running the team. He is in the mix of several players looking to take over the point guard role. Huber needs to improve his field-goal percentage to maximize his potential in the team’s highly efficient offensive.
Impact newcomer: Marques Crane. The 6-4 guard may very well be what the team needs to fill Mark Brown’s shoes. The transfer from Saddleback JC in California averaged 16.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while being named Orange Empire Conference MVP in 2002-2003.
Mark your calendar: Dec. 4 vs Utah – The Aggies play host to their in-state rivals Jan 13 at Pacific – last year both teams ran the table in league play and they split their only two meetings of the season en route to a Big West Conference co-championship.
Disappointment is probably the first word that comes to mind to help describe Utah State’s 2003-2004 season. There’s also screwed, overlooked and a handful of four letter words. Try to figure out which is worse: Losing to fifth seeded Cal State Northridge in the semifinal round of the Big West Tournament, or becoming the first team since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 to miss the tournament after being ranked in the top 25 in the final season rankings. Either way, the Aggies didn’t reach their goal. They hope this year will be different. The Aggies are returning three starters from last year’s 25-4 team, including Nate Harris and Spencer Nelson. Together they form the strongest frontcourt in the conference and their performance will determine long the team’s season will last. The Aggies run an incredibly efficient offense (.509 percent field-goal percentage – third best in the nation) and stress defensive effort. They have an experienced team, but will need a huge boost at the point. Mark Brown was crucial to the team’s success last year and guard play will undoubtedly be the Aggies’ key position this time season.
Cal State Northridge Matadors
Projected lineup:
F – Ian Boylan
F – Calvin Chitwood
C – Thomas Shewmake
G – Jonathan Heard
G – Davin White
Key losses: Antoine Parker
Must Step Up: Thomas Shewmake. The 6-10 center made a big impact in the middle last year and will need another strong season if the Matadors plan on making a run at the NCAA Tournament. He was the only starter on last year’s squad that didn’t have a double digits scoring average, but his 8.9 points per game will suffice. He needs to add to his rebound totals and play solid defense on some of the taller, beefier centers in the league. He fouled out of three games and was one personal foul short of tying the team lead (92). He led the team in blocks last year (19), but he averaged less than one per game. He is only a sophomore, but he is a quick learner and has the body to handle he post.
Impact Newcomer: Greg Okwudibonye. The freshman guard reminds Coach Bobby Braswell of current junior Ian Boylan. That’s a good thing. Okwudibonye, a slasher/scorer, can put the ball on the floor and is a solid defender. He averaged 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game at Ocean View High School, but can also get the job done with assists (2.5 apg) and steals (4.5). He will look to add depth to an already deep guard rotation and could be factor off the bench.
Mark your calendar: Nov. 20 at Oklahoma – Ian Boylan gets a chance to play in front of his home crowd Dec. 4 at Arizona State – ASU All-American Ike Diogu will test CSUN’s big men Jan. 15 vs Utah State – a rematch of last year’s semifinal meeting in the conference tournament.
The Matadors will be the X-factor in the Big West Conference. They took the conference tournament by storm last year by beating Cal State Fullerton, then upsetting UC Santa Barbara and Utah State, before suffering a touch luck loss to Pacific in the tourney’s final round. The Matadors went on a late-season run, leapfrogging a couple of teams in the conference standings, when three of its players were reinstated after serving 11-game suspensions. They are returning all five starters from last season and added depth to an already deep lineup with the signing of a couple key recruits. Coach Bobby Braswell likes to test his team with a tough pre-conference schedule, which includes road games at Oklahoma and Arizona State. It prepares the team for league play and big-game situations. If the Matadors can stay healthy and the players stay out of trouble off the court, they have an outside shot of winning the conference title. The experience the gained from last season will be invaluable when they attempt to make a run at the NCAA Tournament.
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Projected lineup:
F – Casey Cook
F – Cameron Goettsche
G – Cecil Brown
G – Josh Davis
G – Chrismen Oliver
Key losses: Branduinn Fullove, Nick Jones
Hobbled and bandaged: The injury bug has made its way to Santa Barbara. Players are dropping like flies and the season hasn’t even started yet. The frontcourt has taken the biggest hit as forwards Chris Devine (knee), Cameron Goettsche (groin), Glenn Turner (ankle), and David Kennedy (leg) have all found their way to the bench with injuries. Cecil Brown, who was expected to start at guard, will likely miss the start of the regular season with a sprained MCL in his right knee.
Must step up: Joe See. With several players out with injuries to start the season, See will have to increase his offensive production. The 6-foot guard is the team’s best playmaker and will need to get the rest of the team involved in the offense.
Impact freshman: Alex Harris. The 6-5 true freshman can play three positions, which will help his chances of finding a spot to fill on the floor, especially with the injuries the team has suffered in recent weeks.
Mark your calendar: Nov. 23 at Wisconsin – the Badgers highlight UCSB’s non-conference schedule Dec. 1 at Pepperdine – last year the Gauchos barely got past the Waves 65-62 in Santa Barbara, this time they travel to Malibu. Jan. 29 at Cal State Fullerton – last year, UCSB hung on for the win in a 98-95 double over-time shootout.
Injuries will slow this team but not enough to keep the Gauchos from making a legitimate run at the conference title. They have a well-balanced offensive attack and probably the deepest bench in the conference. They return eight players from last year, including four of its top five scorers and both of their leading rebounders. Forward Cameron Goettsche is ready for a breakout year after showing flashes of brilliance in his sophomore season. He averaged 8 points and nearly 6 rebounds playing alongside Casey Cook, who averaged 10 points and 4.6 rebounds, despite suffering a leg injury. And the team added even more size in the offseason to bolster its frontcourt. Cecil Brown’s recovery from a sprained knee will be crucial to the team’s offensive scheme. He is a scorer and loves to shoot from downtown. He was second on the team with 24 three-point baskets last season.
Cal State Fullerton Titans
Projected starting lineup:
G – Bobby Brown
G – Ralphy Holmes
C – Lloyd Walls
F – Jamaal Brown
F – Yaphett King
Key losses: Pape Sow, Anthony Bolton, Zakee Smith, Derick Andrew
Sow Long: Former Titan forward Pape Sow was the Big West Conference’s lone representative in last June’s NBA Draft. The 6-foot-10-inch big man was selected in the second round by the Miami Heat with the 47th overall pick and later traded to the Toronto Raptors. The Senegalese native, who led the conference in rebounds (9.7 rpg) last season, signed a contract with the Raptors and will start the NBA season on the injured reserve list.
Must Step Up: Yaphett King. The 6-4 forward will need to pick up a good chunk of the scoring slack with the departure of four of last year’s starters. King proved that he could be a viable scorer as the third option in Head Coach Bob Burton’s uptempo offense, but he needs to boost his rebounding totals and three-point shooting percentage. He worked on his mid-range jumper in the offseason and will look to become more aggressive around the perimeter.
Impact newcomer: John Clemmons. The junior transfer out of El Camino College will push Bobby Brown for minutes at the point and might even share the backcourt with Brown in critical stretches of the game. Coach Burton likes how the speedy combination meshes with Brown’s three-point abilities. Burton recruited Clemmons when he was an assistant at Fresno State and the guard may prove to be the steal of his recruiting class.
Mark your calendar: Dec. 10 – at Eastern Washington – EWU will be looking to avenge last year’s loss Dec. 30 – at Pacific – Fullerton lost to the conference co-champs in OT 66-64 last year March 5 – Cal State Northridge- potential tournament seeds on the line in CSUF’s closer
The Titans will begin their second year under Head Coach Bob Burton and his fast-paced up-tempo offense. He is gradually grooming his second recruiting class to fit his high-scoring system. The team has some big shoes to fill, especially after losing four of the team’s starters from a year ago. The biggest void is in the middle where Fullerton will miss forward Pape Sow dearly. The former first-team All Big West selection was drafted in the second round of the NBA Draft and recently signed a contract with the Toronto Raptors. A contingency of big men including 6-9 Lloyd Walls and 6-9 Derek Quinet will try to replenish the 17 points and nearly 10 rebounds a game that Sow contributed. Bobby Brown will be looked to lead the team after an outstanding freshman campaign in which he was named Big West Freshman of the Year. He was second on the team with 13.2 points per game and added 3.5 assists, despite starting the year on the bench. Ralphy Holmes and Jamaal Brown will add a tremendous offensive boost when they regain eligibility after the Fall final exams on December 18.
Idaho Vandals
Projected lineup:
F – Dandrick Jones
F – Mike Kale
C – Lionel Davis
G – Tanoris Shepard
G – Tihon Johnson
Key losses: Tyrone Hayes, Rashaad Powell, Dwayne Williams
Must step up: Tanoris Shepard. The senior guard will have to carry the rest of the team on his 5-foot-9 -inch frame after losing three players from last year’s squad, including the top two leading scorers. Shepard chipped in with 8 points per game last year but he will have to increase those numbers significantly or Idaho will fall to the middle of the pack in the conference race.
Impact freshman: Tihon Johnson. The transfer out of Mt. San Jacinto College will spend some time at point guard. Head Coach Leonard Perry likes his ability to run the team and has Johnson has already proven he can score (19 ppg, 5.8 rpg last season).
Mark your calendar: Nov. 24 at Gonzaga – The Vandals will be tested early in the season Jan. 20 vs UC Riverside – the first of two meeting against the Highlanders. Last year, Idaho beat UCR three times, including an overtime win on the road and in the first round of the conference tournament.
Like many teams in the Big West Conference, Idaho was hit hard by the loss of several key seniors from last year’s squad. They lost a lot of offensive firepower, but perhaps even more importantly, they lost their emotional leaders on the floor. As a result, they will tumble a couple of spots in the conference standings. Tanoris Shepard and Dandrick Jones will be relied upon to lead the team offensively. Together, the duo averaged a little over 15 points per game, but they will have more reign over the offense to help boost those numbers.
UC Irvine Anteaters
Projected lineup:
F – Greg Ethington
C – Adam Metelski
G – Jeff Gloger
G – Aaron Fitzgerald
G – Ross Schraeder
Key losses: Adam Parada, Stanislav Zuzak, Mike Efevberha
Close but no cigar: Former Anteater Adam Parada got a pleasant surprise when the Sacramento Kings invited him to their Summer League in July. The 7-footer averaged 9 points and 8 rebounds for the Kings in five games and eventually found a spot on the team’s pre-season roster. He was the only non-signed player on the team, but was cut when the Kings’ final roster was submitted in early October.
Must step up: Ross Schraeder. The junior guard averaged less than 8 points per game last season, but erupted for nearly 80 points over the final four games. The Anteaters will need that kind of production from him to replace the three seniors on last year’s team that averaged double-digit scoring.
Impact newcomer: Adam Metelski. The 6-10, 275-pound center transferred from Grayson County College to add some much needed help in the paint after the departure of Adam Parada. Metelski will have a chance to start if he can prove that he can handle the Division I big men. His position in the middle may be the determining factor between a winning and a losing season.
Mark your calendar: Nov. 22 at USC – The Anteaters meet the Trojans for the first time in 8 years. Nov. 27 at UCLA – Their last two meeting have been decided by a combined 6 points. Feb. 12 vs UC Riverside – UCI snuck by the UCR in a close one last year Feb. 17 at Long Beach State – after suffering a loss the 49ers last year, things went haywire and the team dropped their next 6 games
Last season’s downward spiral was unexpected, especially considering that they had a strong group of veterans leading the way. They had been one of the conference’s upper echelon teams for several years prior to missing the Big West Conference Tournament last season. UCI looked solid until they lost a double-overtime game at Long Beach State and apparently fell apart. They disappeared for the second half of the season and couldn’t win on the road (1-11). They had a chance to lock up the final spot in the conference tournament with three games remaining, but they lost a close game to Utah State and followed that up with consecutive road losses to UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly. The team will likely make the tournament this year, but as a low seed. They lost their top three scorers from last season, including 7-foot center Adam Parada and Mike Efevberha. Swingmen Jeff Gloger and Ross Schraeder will take reigns as team leaders. Gloger, a Big West honorable mention last season, is a solid all-around player. He averaged 9 points last season and ranked second in the conference in assists (4.2) and third in steals (2.1). Schraeder added 7.9 points per game, but exploded for nearly 20 per game over the final four contests of the season.
UC Riverside Highlanders
Projected lineup:
F – Vili Morton
F – Klaus Schille
C – David Misko
G – Rickey Porter
G – Matt Benson
Key losses: Nate Carter, Kevin Butler, Mark Peters
Must step up: Rickey Porter. The 6-3 guard had a solid season last year, but was plagued by inconsistencies. Although he led the team with 42 three-pointers made and averaged nearly 8 points per game, he still needs to prove that he can be an efficient playmaker. Head Coach John Masi has praised Porter’s offseason work ethic and believes Porter can be effective in that role.
Impact freshman: David Misko. The highly touted center has a reputation for being a hardnosed defender and at 6-10, 215-pounds, he will fill a void at the center position.
Mark your calendar: Dec. 12 at Arizona State – the Highlanders will take their chances against the NCAA Tournament hopefuls Dec. 30 at CSUN – a rematch of last year’s 72-71 overtime thriller
UC Riverside finished the regular season last year on a high note, winning two of its final three regular season games, including a one-point overtime win at Cal State Northridge, to sneak into the fifth seed in the conference tournament. They brushed off Cal Poly in the first round before losing to Idaho in the second. The Highlanders might not be as lucky this time around. They will be without two of their top three scorers from last year and will look to Vili Morton and Rickey Porter to play bigger roles. Morton has proven he can be a threat on offense (12.3 ppg, .599 field-goal percentage) and defense (43 blocks-led team) but he needs to stay out of foul trouble. He led the team with 91 personal fouls last season and fouled out of five games. Porter struggled with inconsistency and needs to improve his field-goal percentage (.389) and assist-to-turnover ratio (33:33).
Long Beach State 49ers
Projected lineup:
G – Jibril Hodges
G – Louis Darby
C – Anthony Coleman
F – Cody Pearson
F – Chris Jenkins
Key losses: Kevin Roberts, Marcel Jackson, Antoine Jackson, Lucian Graham
Must Step Up: Anthony Coleman. He missed all but two games last season due to a stress fracture in his left foot, but looks to be a contributor this season. He averaged over 7 points and 7 rebounds per contest in the two games he suited up for last year, including a nine point, 10 rebound display against Pacific. At 6-11, the transfer from Xavier University is the tallest player on the roster and, if healthy, he will likely be the team’s dominate inside force.
Impact newcomer: Shawn Hawkins. The 6-6 forward is the most prolific scorer of a group of five recruits that will all likely see some playing time. Hawkins lit up opponents while at Columbus State, averaging 23.5 points a game and nearly 8 rebounds. He plays aggressively on the offensive end, which might help him crack the starting lineup if the big men have trouble scoring points.
Mark your calendar: Dec. 20-23 -Long Beach State travels to Honolulu, Hawaii for the 41st Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic for an eight-team tournament featuring USC, Indiana State, and Georgetown. Jan. 13- at Cal State Fullerton- 49ers always play their heated rivals down to the wire
The 49ers will use a mix of talented young players and a few key seniors to try and dig themselves out of the Big West Conference cellar. They have missed the conference tournament for the past two years and hope to climb back to respectability. Their guard play will have to lead the way. Junior Jibril Hodges was second on the team in scoring last season (10.2 ppg) while making 55 shots from behind the arc. Hodges will officially take over as the team’s first scoring option and will have the ball in his hands with the game on the line, but he needs to improve his shooting percentage and look to create more opportunities by heading to the foul line. Guards Louis Darby and Kevin Houston, a pair of Big West All-Freshman first-team selections, will also need to step in and continue to build on last year’s impressive season. Darby reached the 20-point mark twice last year and Houston dished out 10 assists in game against Cal State Northridge. Both sophomores will need to contribute if the team plans on shedding its bottom-dwelling fortune.
Cal Poly Mustangs
Projected lineup:
F – Nick Enzweiler
F – Vladimir Lisinac
C – Phil Johnson
G – Kameron Gray
G – Mike Titchenal
Key losses: Varnie Dennis, Shane Schilling, Eric Jackson, Keith Lawrence
Must step up: Phil Johnson. At 6-11, he is the tallest player on the team and will be counted on to provide a presence in the paint. The Mustangs’ offense relied on Varnie Dennis’ post play and positioning last year, so Johnson will need to be more active on the boards and more offensive minded. He is the team’s best post player in a thin frontcourt and will have to assert himself and prove that he can handle the load.
Impact freshman: Andrew Haskins. He may be the team’s long-term answer to filling Shane Schilling’s shoes ( 16.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg) but he will be asked to contribute right away. Haskins, from Bellevue, Washington, can play the guard/forward positions similar to Schilling. There will be a learning curve, but he will try to make the most of his opportunity.
Mark your calendar: Dec. 22 vs Utah – the team’s final tune up before Big West Conference play Jan. 29 at UC Riverside – the last time they traveled to Riverside, the Mustangs won by two points in overtime, but UCR got its revenge by returning the favor in the conference tournament.
The Mustangs managed to squeak into the conference tournament last year by winning three of its last four games, but this season won’t not be as lucky. They will start the season without their top two leading scorers from last year’s squad, which made up nearly half of the team’s offense. They have a big hole to fill in the middle and don’t have much depth in their inexperienced lineup. Kameron Gray (13 ppg, 85 assists) and Nick Enzweiler (8.4 ppg) will take over as the team leaders, but several players will have to step up and contribute offensively to keep the team in games. Some of last year’s bench players will asked be asked to step into much bigger roles this season. Justin Hutson will also be taking on a much larger role. He was hired as assistant coach before the start of the season to replace Kevin Brown who left to coach at San Jose State.
