TEAM CAPSULES

CAL POLY SAN LUIS OBISPO

Coach: Kevin Bromley.

2001-02 record: 15-12 overall, 9-9 in the Big West.

Top players: Forwards Shane Schilling, a 6-6 junior transfer from Minnesota, and Diaby Kamara, a 6-7 senior from France who played at Portland, could be among the top newcomers in the conference. Varney Dennis, a 6-7 junior forward who averaged 14.7 points and 5.6 rebounds last season, has recurring knee problems and can’t practice every day. Coaches hope 6-1 senior guard Jason Allen, who ranked sixth in the conference in assists and second on the team in three-point shooting last season, has a break-out year.

Outlook: The Mustangs could be the sleeper if all the pieces come together. “This is a very mature group with lots of experience,” Bromley said. Look for San Luis Obispo to improve when Schilling becomes eligible Dec. 16. Phil Johnson, a 6-11 center who played in only 11 games last year because of academic problems, could provide an additional lift if he remains eligible.

Schedule: Friday: at Colorado, 7 p.m.; Nov. 27: College of Notre Dame De Namur, 7 p.m.; Nov. 30: San Diego State, 7 p.m.; Dec. 2: at Oregon State, 7 p.m.; Dec. 7: Sacramento State, 7 p.m.; Dec. 16: Loyola Marymount, 7 p.m.; Dec. 20: vs. New Orleans at Hawaii Festival, 8 p.m.; Dec. 21: vs. Eastern Illinois at Hawaii Festival, 8 p.m.; Dec. 28: at St. Mary’s, 7 p.m.; Jan. 2: CS Fullerton, 7 p.m.; Jan. 4: UC Riverside, 7 p.m.; Jan. 9: at Utah State, 6 p.m.; Jan. 11: at Idaho, 7 p.m.; Jan. 16: Pacific, 7 p.m.; Jan. 18: CS Northridge, 7 p.m.; Jan. 25: at UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.; Jan. 29: at Long Beach State, 7 p.m.; Feb. 1: at UC Irvine, 7 p.m.; Feb. 6: Idaho, 7 p.m.; Feb. 8: Utah State, 7 p.m.; Feb. 13: at CS Northridge, 7 p.m.; Feb. 15: at Pacific, 7 p.m.; Feb. 20: UC Santa Barbara, 5:30 p.m.; Feb. 27: UC Irvine, 7 p.m.; March 1: Long Beach State, 7 p.m.; March 6: at UC Riverside, 7 p.m.; March 8: at CS Fullerton, 7 p.m.

*

CAL STATE FULLERTON

Coach: Donny Daniels.

2001-02 record: 5-22, 2-16.

Top players: Some scouts think Pape Sow, a 6-10 junior, from Dakar, Senegal, has a future in the NBA. He averaged 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game last season. His 6-11 cousin, Babacar Camara, hopes to improve on a disappointing sophomore season in which he averaged only 4.6 points. Senior guard Brandon Campbell made 40.2% of his three-point attempts last season.

Outlook: Fullerton is off NCAA probation that previously restricted contact with junior college players. Sow has been slowed by an ankle injury, but he figures to be a candidate for conference player of the year. The Titans probably aren’t ready to challenge for a championship, but they are versatile and should be improved. “We will play to the level of the opponent’s talent,” Daniels said.

Schedule: Friday: vs. Texas A&M-Corpus; Christi, at Hawaii Tournament, 7 p.m.; Sunday: vs. Hawaii or Arkansas-Little Rock at Hawaii Tournament, TBA; Nov. 3: Occidental College (exhibition), 7 p.m.; Dec. 2: Morris Brown, 7 p.m.; Dec. 4: Pepperdine, 7 p.m.; Dec. 7: at Loyola Marymount, 7 p.m.; Dec. 11: at USC, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 14: Idaho State, 7 p.m.; Dec. 21: at Sacramento State, 7 p.m.; Dec. 2: at San Francisco, 7 p.m.; Jan. 2: at CP San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.; Jan. 4: at UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.; Jan. 9: UC Irvine, 7 p.m.; Jan. 11: Long Beach State, 7 p.m.; Jan. 14: at Idaho State, 6 p.m.; Jan. 18: UC Riverside, 7 p.m.; Jan. 23: at Idaho, 7 p.m.; Jan. 25: at Utah State, 6 p.m.; Jan. 30: CS Northridge, 7 p.m.; Feb. 1: Pacific, 7 p.m.; Feb. 6: at Long Beach State, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 8: at UC Irvine, 7 p.m.; Feb. 15: at UC Riverside, 7 p.m.; Feb. 20: Utah State, 7 p.m.; Feb. 22: Idaho, 7 p.m.; Feb. 27: at Pacific, 7 p.m.; March 1: at CS Northridge, 7 p.m.; March 6: UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.; March 8: CP San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.

*

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE

Coach: Bobby Braswell.

2001-02 record: 12-16, 11-7.

Top players: Curtis Slaughter, a 6-7 senior swingman, reminds Braswell of New Jersey Net guard Lucious Harris, who he coached at Cleveland High and Long Beach State. Lionel Benjamin, a 6-6 senior forward, led the team in field-goal percentage.

Outlook: The Matadors’ explosive offense has been described as organized street ball but Braswell’s gang has the conference favorites looking over their shoulders. The average margin of loss for Northridge, which started 1-7 a year ago, was only 1.3 points. “We’re so much farther ahead than we were last year,” Braswell said.

Schedule: Friday: at Portland State, 7 p.m.; Sunday: vs. Jacksonville at Oregon Foundation Challenge Tournament; Nov. 25: vs. Grambling or Oregon at Oregon Foundation Challenge Tournament, TBA; Dec 1: Howard, 4:30 p.m.; Dec 4: at San Diego 7 p.m.; Dec 7: Bethany, 7 p.m.; Dec 14: San Jose State, 7 p.m.; Dec 19: Loyola Marymount, 7 p.m.; Dec. 22: at Southern Illinois, 1:30 p.m.; Dec. 28: at Washington, 2 p.m.; Jan. 2: Utah State, 7 p.m.; Jan. 4: Idaho 7 p.m.; Jan 11: at Pacific 7 p.m.; Jan 16: at UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.; Jan 18: at CP San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.; Jan. 22: Long Beach State, 7 p.m.; Jan. 25: UC Irvine, 7 p.m.; Jan. 30: at CS Fullerton, 7 p.m.; Feb. 1: at UC Riverside, 7 p.m.; Feb. 8: Pacific, 7 p.m.; Feb. 13: CP San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.; Feb. 15: UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.; Feb. 20: at UC Irvine, 7 p.m.; Feb. 22: at Long Beach State, 5 p.m.; Feb. 27: UC Riverside, 7 p.m.; March 1: Cal State Fullerton, 7 p.m.; March 6: at Utah State, 7 p.m.; March 8: at Idaho, 7 p.m.

*

IDAHO

Coach: Leonard Perry.

2001-02 record: 9-19, 6-12.

Top players: Senior Justin Logan, a 6-foot guard, started in 27 games last season and is the only returning player. Junior Jack May, a 6-8 transfer from Southern Idaho, is among four community college players who should see plenty of playing time.

Outlook: Big West Commissioner Dennis Farrell recently said that a majority of school presidents want the Big West to become an all-California conference. Utah State took the hint and is leaving to join the Sun Belt Conference. It makes sense for the Vandals to get out too. They’ve had three coaches and a 40-58 Big West mark since leaving the Big Sky Conference six seasons ago.

Schedule: Saturday: at Oregon State, 5 p.m.; Nov. 26: Western Montana, 7 p.m.; Nov. 30: at Boise State, 6:30 p.m.; Dec. 4: Washington State, 7 p.m.; Dec. 7: at Eastern Washington, 7 p.m.; Dec. 12: at Montana 6:30 p.m.; Dec. 14: Boise State, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 21: Montana State, 7 p.m.; Dec. 27: Sacramento State, 7 p.m.; Jan. 2: at Pacific, 7 p.m.; Jan. 4: at CS Northridge, 7 p.m.; Jan. 9: UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.; Jan. 11: CP San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.; Jan. 16: at Long Beach State, 5:30 p.m.; Jan. 18: at UC Irvine, 7 p.m.; Jan. 23: CS Fullerton, 7 p.m.; Jan. 25: UC Riverside, 7 p.m.; Feb. 2: Utah State, 7 p.m.; Feb. 6: at CP San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.; Feb. 8.: at UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.; Feb. 13: UC Irvine, 7 p.m.; Feb. 15: Long Beach State, 7 p.m.; Feb. 20: at UC Riverside, 7 p.m.; Feb. 22: at CS Fullerton, 7 p.m.; March 1: at Utah State, 6 p.m.; March 3: Pacific, 7 p.m.; March 8: CS Northridge, 7 p.m.

*

LONG BEACH STATE

Coach: Larry Reynolds.

2001-02 record: 13-17, 9-9.

Top players: Tony Darden, a 6-4 senior guard, averaged 10.1 points last season. Mark Bowens, a 6-2 sophomore guard, tore a knee ligament and is out for the season. Lemi Williams, a 6-6 senior forward who averaged 11.7 points two years ago, missed the 2001-02 season with an injury and now has a bad back, which will limit his playing time. Riverside City College transfer Darnell Thompson, fighting for the starting point guard spot, has academic eligibility problems.

Outlook: Highly successful in five seasons at Division II Cal State San Bernardino, Reynolds follows Wayne Morgan, who in his six years as coach turned off alumni by the droves. Reynolds has been making the rounds glad-handing and is the centerpiece of a cable television campaign that touts a new image at the Pyramid. His motion offense, however, will take time to learn, as evidenced by 22 turnovers in a recent 61-53 exhibition loss to his former team.

Schedule: Friday: at Charlotte, 4:30 p.m.; Nov. 26: CS Monterey Bay, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 2: Pepperdine, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 4: at Southern Utah, 6 p.m.; Dec. 8: at UCLA, 1:05 p.m.; Dec. 10: San Diego State, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 14: at Loyola Marymount, 7 p.m.; Dec. 20: at Gonzaga, 7 p.m.; Dec. 30: Portland, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 4: UC Irvine, 7 p.m.; Jan 16: at CS Fullerton, 7 p.m.; Jan. 16: Idaho, 5:30 p.m.; Jan. 18: Utah State, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 22: at CS Northridge, 7 p.m.; Jan. 29: CP San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.; Feb. 1: UC Santa Barbara, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 6: CS Fullerton, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 8: UC Riverside, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 13: at Idaho, 7 p.m.; Feb. 15: at Utah State, 6 p.m.; Feb. 19: Pacific, 7 p.m.; Feb. 22: CS Northridge, 5 p.m.; Feb. 27: at UC Santa Barbara, 5 p.m.; March 1: at CP San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.; March 8: at UC Irvine, 7 p.m.

*

PACIFIC

Coach: Bob Thomason.

2001-02 record: 20-10, 11-7.

Top players: Senior guard Demetrius Jackson averaged 13.2 points last season and is the most experienced of five returning players. Sophomore guard Jasko Korajkic will be out four to six weeks with a broken hand. Tim Johnson, a 6-11 senior center, is expected to start, as is Tom Cockle, a 6-5 junior forward who sat out last season, and David Doubley, an all-state choice who transferred from Skyline College. Swede Christian Maraker, a 6-9 redshirt freshman, “will be a star in this league,” Thomason said.

Outlook: Even with a soft nonconference schedule the Tigers will probably start slow, just as they did two seasons ago in advancing to the Big West tournament final by beating heavy favorite UC Irvine in a semifinal. “I like the players I have for the next couple of years,” Thomason said.

Schedule: Friday: Santa Clara, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday: Lamar, 2 p.m.; Nov. 30: at Oregon, 7 p.m.; Dec. 7: at Nevada, 7 p.m.; Dec. 11: at Fresno State, 7 p.m.; Dec. 14: San Francisco, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 21: at San Jose State, 7 p.m.; Dec. 23: Western Kentucky, 7 p.m.; Dec. 28: St. Joseph’s, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 2: Idaho, 7 p.m.; Jan. 4: Utah State, 7 p.m.; Jan. 11: CS Northridge, 7 p.m.; Jan. 16: at CP San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.; Jan. 18: at UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.; Jan. 23: UC Irvine, 5:30 p.m.; Jan. 25: Long Beach State, 7 p.m.; Jan. 30: at UC Riverside, 7 p.m.; Feb. 1: at CS Fullerton, 7 p.m.; Feb. 8: at CS Northridge, 7 p.m.; Feb. 13: UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.; Feb. 15: CP San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.; Feb. 19: at Long Beach State, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 22: at UC Irvine, 7 p.m.; Feb. 27: CS Fullerton, 7 p.m.; March 1: UC Riverside, 7 p.m.; March 6: at Utah State, 7 p.m.; March 8: at Idaho, 7 p.m.

*

UC IRVINE

Coach: Pat Douglass.

2001-02 record: 21-11, 13-5.

Top players: Adam Parada, a 7-0 junior center, averaged 12.4 points and seven rebounds last season. Stanislav Zuzak, a 6-10 junior, averaged 8.2 points and 3.8 rebounds. Jordan Harris, a 6-5 senior forward, averaged 12.4 points and 6.8 rebounds, but is coming off knee surgery. Greg Ethington, a 6-8 sophomore forward, is back after two years on a Mormon mission.

Outlook: Jerry Green, the two-time conference player of the year, is playing professionally in Germany, so Irvine will go big with five players 6-7 or taller. “Our point guard situation is a question mark,” Douglass said. The Anteaters made only three of 22 three-point attempts in a 63-56 exhibition loss at Cal State Bakersfield. Nonetheless, look for the Anteaters to win 20-plus games for the third season in a row.

Schedule: Friday: vs. Oklahoma at Oklahoma Tournament, 5 p.m.; Saturday: vs. Princeton or Western Michigan at Oklahoma Tournament, TBA; Nov. 30: at Pepperdine, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 4: Loyola Marymount, 7 p.m.; Dec. 7: Pomona-Pitzer, 7 p.m.; Dec. 19: at Stanford, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 22: at St. Mary’s, 3 p.m.; Dec. 28: Indiana-Purdue, Fort Wayne, 7 p.m.; Jan. 4: at Long Beach State, 7 p.m.; Jan. 8: at CS Fullerton, 7 p.m.; Jan. 11: at UC Riverside, 7 p.m.; Jan. 15: Utah State, 7 p.m.; Jan. 18: Idaho, 7 p.m.; Jan. 23: at Pacific, 5:30 p.m.; Jan. 25: at CS Northridge, 7 p.m.; Jan. 30: UC Santa Barbara, 5:30 p.m.; Feb. 1: CP San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.; Feb. 5: UC Riverside, 7 p.m.; Feb. 8: CS Fullerton, 7 p.m.; Feb. 13: at Utah State, 5:30 p.m.; Feb. 15: at Idaho, 7 p.m.; Feb. 20: CS Northridge, 7 p.m.; Feb. 27: at CP San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.; March 1: at UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.; March 8: Long Beach State, 7 p.m.

*

UC RIVERSIDE

Coach: John Masi.

2001-02 record: 8-18, 5-13.

Top players: Junior forward Vili Morton, who led the Big West in field-goal percentage (58.6%) and rebounding (9.3) last season came up with the idea to redshirt himself, Masi said. He’ll be back next year when the team is eligible for postseason play. Play-making swingman John Galbreath, 6-11 center Klaus Schille and 6-7 forwards Nate Carter and Aaron Hands have to pick up the slack.

Outlook: There will be times when Masi asks himself why he agreed with Morton. Then again, this season figures to be just another tough part of the Division I learning curve.

Schedule: Friday: at USC, 7 p.m.; Nov. 30: San Diego, 7 p.m.; Dec. 14: UC Santa Cruz, 7 p.m.; Dec. 17: at St. Mary’s, 7 p.m.; Dec. 21: at San Diego, 7 p.m.; Dec. 28: at Oregon, 3 p.m.; Jan. 2: at UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.; Jan. 4: at CP San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.; Jan. 9: Long Beach State, 7 p.m.; Jan. 11: UC Irvine, 7 p.m.; Jan. 18: at CS Fullerton, 7 p.m.; Jan. 23: at Utah State, 7 p.m.; Jan. 25: at Idaho, 7 p.m.; Jan. 30: Pacific, 7 p.m.; Feb. 1: CS Northridge, 7 p.m.; Feb. 6: at UC Irvine, 7 p.m.; Feb. 8: at Long Beach State, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 12: CS Fullerton, 7 p.m.; Feb. 20: Idaho, 7 p.m.; Feb. 22: Utah State, 7 p.m.; Feb. 27: at CS Northridge, 7 p.m.; March 1: at Pacific, 7 p.m.; March 6: CP San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.; March 8: UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.

*

UC SANTA BARBARA

Coach: Bob Williams.

2001-02 record: 20-11, 11-7.

Top players: Freshman guard Cecil Brown of Canoga Park has impressed coaches in drills. Swingman Branduinn Fullove, who was among the best in the conference in five categories on offense last season, averaged 14.1 points and 4.2 rebounds. Senior Mark Hull, a 6-7 forward who averaged 13.9 points and 4.1 rebounds, is the tallest starter back. Bray Skultety, a 6-6 senior forward who played in 26 games last season, tore a knee ligament and won’t play.

Outlook: The Gauchos, who have plenty of experience, won the conference tournament with a bigger lineup. This season they will play small ball with as many as four guards on the floor. “Bigger doesn’t mean better,” Williams said.

Schedule: Friday: vs. Weber State at Top of the World Classic, Fairbanks, Alaska; Saturday-Sunday: Top of the World Classic at Fairbanks, Alaska, TBA: Nov. 30: San Francisco, 7 p.m.; Dec. 3: USC, 7 p.m.; Dec. 7: at Pepperdine, 7 p.m.; Dec. 10: at California, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 18: Westmont (exhibition), 7 p.m.; Dec. 21: at Brigham Young, 6:30 p.m.; Dec. 27: vs. Nebraska at Arizona State Hoops Classic, 5 p.m.; Dec. 28: Arizona State Hoops Classic, TBA; Jan. 2: UC Riverside, 7 p.m.; Jan. 4: CS Fullerton, 7 p.m.; Jan. 9: at Idaho, 7 p.m.; Jan. 11: at Utah State, 6 p.m.; Jan. 16: CS Northridge, 7 p.m.; Jan. 18: Pacific, 7 p.m.; Jan. 25: CP San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.; Jan. 30: at UC Irvine, 5:30 p.m.; Feb. 1: at Long Beach State, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 6: Utah State, 7 p.m.; Feb. 8: Idaho, 7 p.m.; Feb. 13: at Pacific, 7 p.m.; Feb. 15: at CS Northridge, 7 p.m.; Feb. 20: at CP San Luis Obispo, 5:30 p.m.; Feb. 22: ESPN’s Bracket Buster Saturday, TBA; Feb. 27: Long Beach State, 5:30 p.m.; March 1: UC Irvine, 7 p.m.; March 6: at CS Fullerton, 7 p.m.; March 8: at UC Riverside, 7 p.m.

*

UTAH STATE

Coach: Stew Morrill.

2001-02 record: 23-8, 13-5.

Top players: Senior forward Desmond Penigar ranked second in the conference in scoring (17.2 points) last season. At 6-4, senior Toraino Johnson should start at small forward. Cardell Butler, a 6-4 redshirt who transferred from Southern Idaho, “can score and rebound,” Morrill said. The Aggies are also counting on Mark Brown, a transfer from Saddleback College, and Greg Patton, from Canada College, both guards.

Outlook: The Aggie roster reads like a Who’s Who of top junior college players. It works. In four seasons, Morrill has a 94-33 record. And the Aggies are expected to have their fourth consecutive season with 20 or more wins.

Schedule: Saturday: at Illinois State, 5 p.m.; Nov. 26: Whitman College, 6 p.m.; Nov. 29: vs. Vermont, at Hawaii-Hilo Tournament, 8:30 p.m.; Nov. 30: vs. Drake, at Hawaii-Hilo Tournament, 8:30 p.m.; Dec. 1: vs. Hawaii-Hilo at Hawaii-Hilo Tournament, 6:05 p.m.; Dec. 7: at Jackson State, 6 p.m.; Dec. 14: at Brigham Young, 6 p.m.; Dec. 17: Utah, 6 p.m.; Dec. 21: Weber State, 6 p.m.; Dec. 27: vs. Arkansas State, at Food Classic Tournament, 7 p.m.; Dec. 28: vs. Missouri-Kansas City or Idaho State, at Food Classic Tournament, TBA; Jan. 2: at CS Northridge, 7 p.m.; Jan. 4: at Pacific, 7 p.m.; Jan. 9: CP San Luis Obispo, 6 p.m.; Jan. 11: UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.; Jan. 15: at UC Irvine, 7 p.m.; Jan. 18: at Long Beach State, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 23: UC Riverside, 6 p.m.; Jan. 25: CS Fullerton, 6 p.m.; Feb. 1: at Idaho, 7 p.m.; Feb. 6: at UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.; Feb. 8: at CP San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.; Feb. 13: UC Irvine, 5:30 p.m.; Feb. 15: Long Beach State, 6 p.m.; Feb. 20: at Cal Fullerton, 7 p.m.; Feb. 22: at UC Riverside, 7 p.m.; March 1: Idaho, 6 p.m.; March 6: CS Northridge, 5:30 p.m.; March 8: Pacific, 6 p.m.