Orange Empire Races Could Have Surprises, or Status Quo : Men: Saddleback, Riverside are the early favorites to win the title. Rancho Santiago has deep backcourt.

The start of play Wednesday for the Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball title brings with it a series of firsts.

To start with, there are two first-year coaches. Paul Bottiaux takes over at Cypress for Don Johnson, who retired last spring.

Tom McCluskey leads Golden West in place of Jim Greenfield, who has stepped down for at least two seasons.

This season for the first time, an Orange Empire Conference game will be played at Irvine Valley, which opened its gym last spring.

As for the conference favorites, Riverside and Saddleback fit nicely in that role. The Tigers are the defending champion; Saddleback won the title in 1993.

Cypress (13-6): Bottiaux, who was an assistant to Johnson for seven seasons, has been more successful than most expected. Cypress, which has nobody taller than 6 feet 4, favors the three-point shot and made a school-record 19 in a game this season. Jeff Cummins and Matt Kenney return as starters. Gil Gonzales (Orange High) is the best freshman.

Fullerton (9-8): The Hornets’ Marcus Austin, a 6-8 forward, is a scoring force in the post. He’s averaging 23 points and 10 rebounds. Jason Cunningham, a former All-Orange County guard/forward, is averaging 15 points. Guard Floyd Payne (12 points) is the only returning player. Coach Roger See, in his 14th season, is going on sabbatical next season.

Golden West (6-10): McCluskey is no stranger to the conference. He was an assistant at Saddleback the previous two seasons. Michael Dean, a guard who is the only sophomore starter, is a transfer from Azusa Pacific. He’s averaging 19 points, six rebounds and four assists. Golden West has lost three starters to injury and at one point was down to eight players.

Irvine Valley (12-6): The Lasers have the tallest and one of the best players in the conference in Keon Clark, a 6-11 freshman center from Danville, Ill. He is averaging 26 points and 17 rebounds. Besides Clark, the Lasers are playing much better defense. Forward Josh Porter of Mater Dei is the most impressive freshman.

Orange Coast (8-8): Coach Tim O’Brien, in his third season, has his best team. Damion Morbley, an all-conference forward last season, is averaging 22 points and 17 rebounds. Anthony Porter (four assists) is at the point after a year as a redshirt at Ventura. The Pirates have some age and experience as well in Rico Blandin, 24, a 6-3 forward who was in the Marine Corps.

Rancho Santiago (12-4): The Dons have one of the deepest backcourts in the state with Michael Oliver, Nick Holt, Nate Small and Jimmy Harris. Oliver averaged five assists, Holt averaged 12 points and Small 10 points last season. Harris is a transfer from Loyola Marymount.

Marlon Watson, a 6-3 forward, starts up front with Aaron Aguilera, a 6-4 forward. The Dons also have Jon Surface, a 6-8 forward from Pacifica High.

Riverside (16-2): The Tigers have reached the semifinal round of the State the last two seasons under Coach Bob Schermerhorn. Ronald Kenan, a sophomore forward, is averaging 24 points and eight rebounds. Johnny Jackson (eight rebounds) returns at the other forward and Rick Hite (nine assists) is at point guard.

Saddleback (13-3): Eric Ambrozich, a 6-7 center, is the only returning starter, but the Gauchos have a strong group of freshman players. Micah Kroeger (Edison High) and Anthony Carter (from Atlanta) have made the biggest impact. Kroeger, a forward, is averaging 18 points and six rebounds. Carter, a guard is at 19 points.