Big West primer

A team-by-team glance at the Big West heading into the 2007-08 season.

Cal Poly

Strengths: Trae Clark and Dawin Whiten form a veteran backcourt that can manage the game and knock down shots. The frontcourt should be strong defensively.

Weaknesses: Scoring production in the frontcourt is a question as two of the top three on the points list graduated during the offseason.

Newcomers: Juco transfer Lorenzo Keeler and freshman Bo Henning will look for minutes in the backcourt, with Shawn Lewis looking for time on the wing.

Cal State Fullerton

Strengths: The Titans have a solid backcourt, and seem to have improved defensively during the offseason. Cal State Fullerton has a number of scoring threats and will be difficult to defend.

Weaknesses: Until Scott Cutley gets back, the Titans are paper-thin on the inside. The team has had a tendency to wear down late in games.

Newcomers: Juco transfer Junior Russell and Georgetown transfer Ray Reed will fight for minutes at the point, and Washington State transfer Josh Akognon will likely win a starting spot on the wing. Eddie Lima and Adam Thomas will compete for the starting center position.

Long Beach State

Strengths: This will be a hungry team. Literally every position in the playing rotation is up for grabs.

Weaknesses: Where to start? A new coach and a whole new roster will make gelling quickly a necessity if the 49ers hope to stay out of last place.

Newcomers: Six newcomers start the season on the 49ers roster, and all will get the chance to play. Fresno State transfer Donovan Morris will get the nod in the backcourt, and freshman point guard Greg Plater might join him. Brian Freeman and Brandon Johnson are candidates to start in the frontcourt.

Northridge

Strengths: Cal State Northridge plays defense, rebounds, and scores in transition. It has the athletes to do these three things well in 2007-08.

Weaknesses: Adding so many new, veteran players is always risky. If the competition for playing time leads to fractures among teammates, the chemistry might not be good enough to improve on last year's record.

Newcomers: Paul Wayne and Josh Jenkins are both Juco transfers who will battle for the starting point guard spot. Deon Tresvant could win the shooting guard spot. Rodrigue Mels didn't join the program until September, but the Juco guard is an intriguing prospect who could win minutes in the backcourt. Tremaine Townsend may take the opening tip to start the season, and Jermaine Smith will also add bulk to the frontcourt.

Pacific

Strengths: The recruiting class should give this team the inside presence it lacked a year ago. Anthony Brown is a proven scorer who's a dark-horse candidate for Big West Player of the Year award.

Weaknesses: The Tigers still aren't very deep, and can't afford foul trouble inside. Neither Steffan Johnson nor Solomon HorseChief are complete players at the point guard spot, and coach Bob Thomason would love to see one or the other step up and seize the job.

Newcomers: Pacific signed three Jucos in an attempt to get players who can contribute right away. Michael Kirby will compete for time in the backcourt, and Michael Nunnally and Byron LeDuc will be looked upon to shore up a frontcourt that wasn't very good a year ago.

UC Davis

Strengths: The Aggies are a big team that can rotate enough bodies inside to frustrate opponents. Vince Oliver is a solid guard who is tough to defend.

Weaknesses: Apart from Oliver, there are no sure things in the backcourt. Finding a capable, consistent point guard will be a key early-season goal. It's not a team of great shooters, and isn't likely to bury opponents with a barrage of 3-pointers.

Newcomers: Adam Malik was an All-State player in California, and the 6-8 guard could win early minutes.

UC Irvine

Strengths: UC Irvine defends better than anyone, as the league-best scoring defense of a year ago indicates. It's particularly strong on the inside, and opposing big men won't relish playing the Anteaters.

Weaknesses: Sometimes it seems like UC Irvine spends so much effort on the defensive end that it forgets that it also has to score points every now and then to win. It doesn't take a lot of outside shots, even though it has some good shooters, and goes through long stretches where it struggles to score.

Newcomers: Brett Lauer will get a chance to win backcourt time early, as he arrives on campus after spending time at two junior colleges, as will Juco transfer Trey Harris. Adam Rodenberg might start the opener at forward. Matt Ballard may need a year to get experience before joining the frontcourt rotation, and Derrick Strings is a scoring guard.

UC Riverside

Strengths: UC Riverside has an all-conference caliber player in Larry Cunningham, and several guards who can create off the dribble. When the outside shots are falling, the backcourt will be tough to defend.

Weaknesses: The Highlanders aren't very big or strong inside, and will have problems against the more physical teams on the schedule.

Newcomers: Cleavon Barlow is the best candidate to play early, as the sophomore Juco transfer could start right away in the backcourt. But freshman Josh Scott and Jalonni Diggs could also earn playing time early. Long Beach State

UC Santa Barbara

Strengths: The Gauchos have a pair of explosive weapons in Alex Harris and Chris Devine, the highest-scoring duo in league history. The team has a number of shooters, and can score both inside and out.

Weaknesses: UCSB didn't take great care of the basketball last season. It also doesn't have much in the way of inside depth, so any foul trouble in the paint will be costly.

Newcomers: Nedim Pajevic is an impact transfer who should see playing time right away in the paint. Guard D.J. Posley will see early minutes as a wing guard.