Long Beach State on the move

Long Beach State led the nation in scoring last season. This season, the 49ers hope to lead the Big West in victories.

With three returning starters -- including the formidable backcourt of Aaron Nixon and Kejuan Johnson -- from a team that won seven of its last eight games last season, Long Beach was the choice of both coaches and media members in preseason polls.

The 49ers were 18-12 and finished third in the Big West regular-season standings, going 9-5 in conference play.

It was quite a turnaround -- in the previous three years the 49ers were a combined 21-63 overall and 15-39 in Big West play.

Coach Larry Reynolds installed a new, up-tempo system last season and the team responded by averaging 83.3 points a game and advancing to the championship game of the Big West tournament for the first time since 1995.

It was there that Long Beach’s winning streak came to an end at the hands of three-time defending champion Pacific.

Here are five questions about the Big West that will shape Long Beach State’s chances of finally taming the Tigers:

* 1. Can the 49ers traverse Pacific?

Including the conference tournament final, Long Beach State lost six times in Big West play -- three against Pacific. The Tigers are the premier program in the conference with three consecutive 20-victory seasons and three consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament.

Long Beach was close last year, losing by six, nine and eight points.

* 2. Has Pacific successfully reloaded?

The Tigers lost their top three scorers from last season’s team, including forward Christian Maraker, the Big West player of the year. Forward Anthony Esparza and center Michael White, the returning starters, combined to average only 14.6 points.

Guard Steffan Johnson and forward Anthony Brown, both members of the conference all-freshman team last season, will be relied on to replace the lost starters.

* 3. Can Cal State Fullerton win the close ones?

The Titans are the only conference team with three returning players who averaged in double figures last season and they undoubtedly have the talent to make a run at the conference title.

The Titans were 21-11 in 2004-05 and entered last season as the conference favorite, but they faltered in close games. They were 3-6 in games decided by five points or fewer and 1-3 in overtime games, finishing 16-13 overall, 5-9 in Big West games.

Guard Bobby Brown, who averaged 17.5 points and 4.6 assists, is a conference player-of-the-year candidate.

* 4. Does experience count?

If so, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo could be the team to watch. The Mustangs return four starters and five of their top six scorers from a team that finished fourth in the conference.

The Mustangs were 10-19 overall, but with all-conference forward Derek Stockalper leading the way, Cal Poly could make a Long Beach-like turnaround.

* 5. Can UC Irvine sustain the momentum?

The Anteaters won eight consecutive games to start the Big West season, including a victory over Pacific, but lost four of their final six conference games and finished second.

Coach Pat Douglass, who last season notched his 500th career victory and now has 514, clearly knows how to win. With three returning starters, including center Darren Fells, a preseason all-conference selection, he has the talent to make a run.

peter.yoon@latimes.com

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Conference breakdown

*--* CAL POLY SAN LUIS OBISPO

*--*

* Last season: 10-19, 7-7.

* Returning starters: G/F Derek Stockalper, 6-5, Sr. (12.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg); F Tyler McGinn, 6-6, Sr. (8.1 ppg); G Dawin Whiten, 6-3, Jr. (11.6 ppg); G Chaz Thomas, 6-0, So. (7.7 ppg).

* Opener/home opener: Today, 4:15 p.m., vs. Southeast Louisiana at Corvallis, Ore.; Nov. 20, 7 p.m., vs. Cal State Stanislaus.

*--* CAL STATE FULLERTON

*--*

* Last season: 16-13, 5-9.

* Returning starters: G Bobby Brown, 6-2, Sr. (17.5 ppg, 4.6 apg); F/C Justin Burns, 6-7, Sr. (10.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg).

* Opener/home opener: Tonight, 7, vs. Cal Maritime.

*--* UC IRVINE

*--*

* Last season: 16-13, 10-4.

* Returning starters: F Nic Campbell, 6-6, Sr. (10.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg); C Darren Fells, 6-7 Jr. (9.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg); F Patrick Sanders, 6-6, Jr. (8.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg).

* Opener/home opener: Tonight, 6, vs. South Alabama at Fresno; Tuesday, 7 p.m., vs. South Carolina.

*--* LONG BEACH STATE

*--*

* Last season: 18-12, 9-5.

* Returning starters: C Mark Dawson, 6-9, Sr. (5.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg); G Kejuan Johnson, 6-4, Sr. (11.5 ppg); G Aaron Nixon, 6-2, Sr. (14.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg).

* Opener/home opener: Tuesday, 5 p.m., vs. Air Force at Stanford; Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m., vs. Cal State Bakersfield.

*--* CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE

*--*

* Last season: 11-17, 4-10.

* Returning starters: G/F Jonathan Heard, 6-6, Jr. (12.3 ppg); F Calvin Chitwood, 6-8, Jr. (11.8 ppg); C Thomas Shewmake, 6-10, Sr. (6.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg).

* Opener/home opener: Today, 4:30 p.m., vs. Portland State at Eugene, Ore.; Wednesday, 7 p.m., vs. Redlands.

*--* PACIFIC

*--*

* Last season: 24-8, 12-2.

* Returning starters: F Anthony Esparza, 6-5, Sr. (7.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg); C Michael White, 6-7, Sr. (7.6 ppg).

* Opener/home opener: Saturday, 7 p.m., vs. Cal State Bakersfield.

*--* UC RIVERSIDE

*--*

* Last season: 5-23, 3-11.

* Returning starters: G Sean Cunningham, 6-3, So. (10.8 ppg); G Dedrick Bates, 6-0, Sr. (9.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg).

* Opener/home opener: Tonight, 6, at Iowa State; Wednesday, 7 p.m., vs. Vanguard.

*--* UC SANTA BARBARA

*--*

* Last season: 15-14, 6-8.

* Returning starters: G Cecil Brown, 6-4, Sr. (13.1 ppg); F Chris Devine, 6-8, Jr. (12.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg); G Alex Harris, 6-6, Jr. (8.3 ppg).

* Opener/home opener: Tonight, 7, vs. San Jose State.