BIG WEST CONFERENCE / THE OTHER TEAMS : Aggies Favored, but Contenders Exist

Big West basketball coaches are talking parity again, and this time it might be more than empty rhetoric. In their preseason poll, four teams got first-place votes, although six coaches picked New Mexico State to repeat as conference champion.

The Aggies, who have won an average of 24 games over the last six seasons and made the NCAA tournament six times in a row, might be in for a fight as they seek a third consecutive Big West title.

“We’re a relatively slender team and definitely short,” said Aggie Coach Neil McCarthy, who has taken over for Jerry Tarkanian as the conference’s answer to Lou Holtz. “There are seven teams that could win this conference. I’m telling you, this league is up for grabs.”

Seven might be a stretch. But Nevada Las Vegas, where ticket sales are booming and new Coach Tim Grgurich is brooding; Long Beach State, with the power of it’s new Pyramid arena and six returning lettermen, and Utah State, with all five starters including seven-foot Nate Wickizer back, all appear to be legitimate contenders.

Grgurich, who replaced the embattled Rollie Massimino on Oct. 22, says he can’t tell his players without a program--”We have four starters returning . . . from what I’ve read in the papers”--but he undoubtedly likes what he sees, especially in NBA-bound center Kebu Stewart, the Big West player of the year last season.

“This conference is much stronger than it was last year,” San Jose State Coach Stan Morrison said. “And I think we’ll be sending that message throughout the nation during the preseason.”

Here’s a look at the Big West, excluding Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State and UC Irvine:

NEVADA

1993-94 record: 11-7, 6-12.

Conference finish: Eighth (tie).

One publication rated Nevada’s recruiting class No. 21 in the nation and Coach Pat Foster says he won’t consider the season a success unless the Wolf Pack wins 17 games. Junior college transfers Faron Hand, a 6-7, 260-pound center, and Daniel Watts, a 6-8 forward, will join returning second-team all-conference picks Jimmy Moore, a 6-8 forward who averaged 19 points, and point guard Eathan O’Bryant, who averaged 12 points and eight assists.

NEVADA LAS VEGAS

1993-94 record: 15-15, 10-8.

Conference finish: Fifth (tie).

The Rebels’ starting five is probably the conference’s best, but depth, especially up front, is a problem. Stewart, who averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds, will be joined up front by returning senior Patrick Savoy, a 27-game starter last season. Shooting guard Reggie Manuel, an all-conference first-team selection who averaged 17 points, is also back, as is point guard Jermaine Smith.

NEW MEXICO STATE

1993-94 record: 23-8, 12-6.

Conference finish: First.

The Aggies will be small up front, sure, but they’ll also be quick and will probably grab a couple hundred more rebounds than their opponents, as usual. Three senior starters return--center Johnny Selvie and guards Keith Johnson and Rodney Walker--and McCarthy has brought in his usual crop of talented community college transfers.

PACIFIC

1993-94 record: 17-14, 10-8.

Conference finish: Fifth (tie).

The Tigers have one senior and two juniors, but Coach Bob Thomason says he wouldn’t trade his two sophomore guards--Adam Jacobsen and T.J. Walker--for “any other guards in the nation.” There is a downside to Pacific’s youth movement, however. Gone are the top three scorers from last season, who accounted for more than half the team’s points. And Charles Jones, a 6-5 forward, is the only returning front-line player who averaged more than 11 minutes a game.

SAN JOSE STATE

1993-94 record: 15-12, 11-7.

Conference finish: Second (tie).

The bad news? The Spartans play seven of eight nonconference games on the road. The good news? Morrison figures he will know “who the real competitors in this program are” by the time Big West play starts. Last season was Morrison’s first winning season in five at San Jose State, but only two starters are back. And center Mike Brotherton and forward Darren Greene averaged only 14 points and nine rebounds, combined.

UC SANTA BARBARA

1993-94 record: 13-7, 9-9.

Conference finish: Sixth.

Santa Barbara committed almost 100 more turnovers than its opponents last year, but the maturation of former walk-on Phillip Turner and Tecon Madden at point guard should help remedy that. The Gauchos need to improve their outside shooting to make it into the conference’s upper echelon and Coach Jerry Pimm has recruited Danny Prince, a 6-1 guard who led the nation with 182 three-pointers last season at Antelope Valley College.

UTAH STATE

1993-94 record: 14-13, 11-7.

Conference finish: Second (tie).

“Our talent isn’t going to overwhelm anybody,” Coach Larry Eustachy said. “But we have the depth, character and chemistry to compete.”

The Aggies also have size. Seven-footer Nate Wickizer will be a force at both ends of the court if he can stay injury-free. Brother Jon, 6-8, and junior Eric Franson, 6-7, a second-team all-conference pick last season, are two blue-collar forwards. Also returning are point guard Roddie Anderson and off-guard Corwin Woodard, who combined to average 23 points.