Utah State picked to lead Big West

By Phil Witte
Daily Forty-Niner

Utah State enters the 2000-2001 season as favorites to repeat as Big West men's champions after finishing last season with a 16-0 mark. Aggie coach Stew Morrill, cautioned against over-optimism, citing the Aggies pre-season sixth pick last year, but they return four starters, including player of the year candidate Shawn Daniels.

Long Beach State is the team given the best chance to unseat Utah State, with both coaches and media members picking the two well above the rest of the pack. The 49ers will have to weather a brutal pre-season schedule before they even take on the Big West challenge.

After the top two it should be a five-team battle for third place. The two teams not given a chance at the top are Idaho and Cal State Fullerton. Idaho graduated all five starters last year and the Titans enter the season with a rookie coach and an NCAA probation.

This will be a transition year for the Big West, with New Mexico State, North Texas and Nevada all dropping out this year. Boise State will drop out after this season and will be replaced by Cal State Northridge and UC Riverside.
 

Utah State (28-6 overall, 16-0 Big West Conference)

Coach: Steve Morrill (43-19, 2 years at Utah State, 261-157, 14 years overall)
Key players: F Shawn Daniels, Sr. (12 ppg., 7.9 rpg.); G Tony Brown, Jr. (11.6 ppg., 3.1 apg.,); C Dmitri Jorssen, Sr. (8.7 ppg., 5.2 rpg.); G Bernard Rock, Sr. (10 ppg., 4.4 apg.)

Outlook: The Aggies return four starters from last year's team that went 16-0 in the Big West, including the 49ers' only conference loss. They are led by Daniels, who was second in the Big West in rebounding and field goal percentage, and tied for first in blocked shots.

Last season included a 19-game winning streak on the way to the top win total in the Big West since 1990-91. A weak non-conference schedule that pales in comparison to their Big West brethren could also boost this year's win total.

Coach Morgan's comment: "They are the team to beat. They have 10 of their top 11 players back. A pre-season top 30 team, they are the team everyone is shooting for."
 

Long Beach State (24-6, 15-1)

Coach: Wayne Morgan (60-54, 4 years)
Key players: G Rock Lloyd, Sr. (14.6 ppg., 2.9 rpg.); F Rudy Williams, Sr. (12.2 ppg., 7.1 rpg.); G Ron Johnson, Sr. (5.4 ppg., 2.0 apg.); F Travis Reed, Jr. (transfer); F Lemi Williams, Jr. (transfer)

Outlook: The 49ers return a core of key seniors but will have a tough time reaching last year's total of 24 wins with a much tougher schedule this season. Last year, LBSU led the Big West in scoring, field goal percentage, steals and blocks.

The loss of conference player of the year Mate Milisa should be offset with Reed on the inside and Williams on the outside.
 

Boise State (12-15, 6-10)

Coach: Rod Jensen (79-62, 5 years)
Key players: F Abe Jackson, Jr. (16.2 ppg., 4.4 rpg.); G Clint Hordemann, Sr. (8.2 ppg., 4.9 rpg.); F Kejuan Woods, Sr. (11.1 ppg., 3.3 rpg.).

Outlook: This will be last year in the Big West for the Broncos, who will move to the Western Athletic Conference next season. Ranked last in the conference in offense at 62.2 points per game, but compensated with stingy defense that only allowed 62.2, second behind Utah State.

Last season was the first in 10 years the Broncos posted a losing record, but they only lost one player to graduation. They also have a tough early season with their first five games on the road, including a game against perennial power Cincinnati.

Coach Morgan's comment: "Jensen is one of the best coaches in the conference and I expect them to be competitive. They have a good number of starters back in addition to two or three players that redshirted last year."
 

UC Irvine (14-14, 7-9)

Coach: Pat Douglass (29-52, 3 years; 405-170 19 years)
Key players: G Jerry Green, Jr. (15.6 ppg, 3.3 apg.); G Malachi Edmond, Sr. (7.9 ppg., 2.2 rpg.); F/G Sean Jackson, Sr. (10.1 ppg., 3.3 rpg.)

Outlook: The Anteaters added two seven footers to a strong returning backcourt. Green, a second team All-Big West selection, ranked in the top 10 in both scoring and assists last season.

Douglass has yet to post a winning season in three years at Irvine after winning three Division II national championships at Cal State Bakersfield.

Coach Morgan's comment: "Some pre-season polls have them picked ahead of us. They are returning a lot of veterans and have a few long-time starters. In some ways, they remind me of us last year."
 

UC Santa Barbara (14-14, 10-6)

Coach: Bob Williams (29-17, 2 years; 218-127 12 years)
Key players: F Adam Ndiaye, Sr. (9.3 ppg., 7.5 rpg.); F Mark Hull, So. (10.3 ppg., 5.0 rpg.); G Brandon Payton, Sr. (9.5 ppg., 2.3 rpg.)

Outlook: The Gauchos lost their top three guards to graduation but return a solid front court, led by Ndiaye, the leading shot blocker in the conference. Payton is expected to man the point this season.

Tough early season schedule features three of first four games on the road, including match-up against UCLA at Pauley Pavilion.

Coach Morgan's comment: "They return their entire front court and they have a great coach in Williams. I expect them to be very competitive."

Marten Lewerth/Daily Forty-Niner

Utah State looks to be the toughest competition for  forward Kevin Roberts and the 49ers.

University of the Pacific (11-18, 6-10)

Coach: Bob Thomason (185-162 12 years, 237-189 15 years)
Key players: C Tim Johnson, So. RS; C Mike Preston, Jr. (9.1 ppg., 5.1 rpg); G Nathan Davis, Jr. (3.4 ppg., 4.3 apg.)

Outlook: Getting center Tim Johnson back after he sat out last season with a foot injury will be a big boost for the Tigers, whose streak of seven consecutive winning seasons was snapped last year.

Four starters return from last year, including Davis, who ranked third in the Big West in assists last season.

Coach Morgan's comment: "Coach Thomason is someone you can never take for granted. They have a lot of good recruits and I expect them to be competitive also."
 

Cal State Fullerton (8-19, 3-13)

Coach: Donny Daniels (first year)
Key players: F Ike Harmon, Sr. (18.7 ppg. 7.5 rpg.); C Matt Caldwell, Sr. (12.7 ppg. 4.3 rpg.) G/F Brandon Campbell, Jr. (10.7 ppg. 4.7rpg.)

Outlook: Daniels returns to his alma mater with an entirely new coaching staff to take over a program that has not had a winning season since the 1992-93 season. They will be bolstered by the renewed eligibility of Harmon, a three-time All-Big West selection.

The Titans are in the second year of probation for recruiting violations in the early '90s. Despite being excluded from recruiting at the JC's, they have a strong recruiting class with two JC walk-ons and three incoming freshmen.

Coach Morgan's comment: "They may have the best frontline in the conference, they just need guard play to match. Harmon may be the best player in the conference."
 

University of Idaho (12-17, 6-10)

Coach: C. David Farrar (43-40, 3 years)
Key players: F Matt Gershefske, Jr. (6.7 ppg., 2.3 rpg.); G Adam Miller, Sr. (1.6 ppg., 1.2 apg.); G Corry Beavers, Jr. (JC transfer); G Bethuel Fletcher, Jr. (JC transfer)

Outlook: The Vandals lost all five starters from last year and Gershefske is the only returnee who attempted more than 50 field goals last year. Five junior college transfers and two freshmen will have to produce quickly for any success this year.

Size will also be a factor for Idaho, with no player over 6-foot-8 on the roster. They also face a brutal end of season schedule, with seven of last 10 games on the road.

Coach Morgan's comment: "Coach Farrar is a very good coach, a great recruiter. With five new starters, I'm not in a position to say how good they'll be."

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (10-18, 5-11)

Coach: Jeff Schneider (65-77, 5 years)
Key players: F/C Chris Bjorklund, Sr. (19.4 ppg., 7 rpg.); F Jeremiah Mayes, Sr. (13 ppg., 7.8 rpg.); G Jamaal Scott, Fr.

Outlook: The Mustangs return four starters from last year's squad, led by Bjorklund, the second-ranked scorer in the Big West last season. Senior Mayes, third in rebounding and fifth in field goal percentage in the Big West, is also expected to be a big contributor.

Schneider has been unable to post a winning record in four years and will try to reach the Big West tournament for the first time this year.

Coach Morgan's comment: "Coach Schneider is one of the best in the conference. I expect him to have the best team since he's been there."