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Big West overview

Long Beach could challenge Utah State's reign

Special to CNNSI.com

Utah State hopes point guard Bernard Rock can lead the Aggies back to the NCAAs. Chris Stanford/Allsport

Order of Finish 1. Utah State 2. Long Beach State 3. Boise State 4. UC Irvine 5. Cal Poly 6. Pacific 7. UC Santa Barbara 8. Idaho 9. Cal State Fullerton

Top storylines

With its 16-0 mark in league play last season, Utah State became the first undefeated team in Big West games since UNLV in 1990-91. The Aggies are a solid favorite to dominate the league again after losing just one player from a year ago.

After four years as a two-division conference, the Big West returns to a nine-team format for 2000-01. The switch was made after Nevada left for the Western Athletic Conference and New Mexico State and North Texas bolted for the Sun Belt. More changes are in store for next season, when Boise State follows Nevada to the WAC and Cal State Northridge (Big Sky) and UC Riverside (Division II) join the Big West. In 2001-02, the only teams in the conference located outside California will be Utah State and Idaho.

The return to a single division means eight of nine teams advance to the conference tournament at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif., after five years at Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nev.

The Big West has sent just one team to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last seven years, with seven straight first-round losses. The last Big West team to win a game in the Big Dance was New Mexico State in 1993.

Players to Watch

Top Three Players

Ramel Lloyd, G, Long Beach State • Lloyd (14.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg) is a two-time all-Big West second team pick who can take over a game. The Syracuse transfer is expected to have a league MVP-like season. Shawn Daniels, F, Utah State • Daniels, a 6-6, 250-pound senior, will anchor the Aggies' frontcourt. Daniels (12.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg) is efficient around the basket. He shot .581 from the field a year ago as opponents struggled to move him out of the paint. James Williams, C, Long Beach State • Williams (12.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg, .559 FG) was voted second-team all-conference a year ago while leading the 49ers in rebounds, steals and blocked shots. He had six double-doubles and was third in the conference in field-goal percentage.

Top Newcomer

Jamaal Scott, G, Cal Poly • Scott, a 6-5 freshman shooting guard who was Arizona's top prep player last year, reportedly passed on offers from several Pac-10 schools, Pittsburgh and Gonzaga to play for Cal Poly. He¹ll get plenty of minutes as a freshman.

Coaches

Hot Coach

Stew Morrill, Utah State • With a 43-19 record in two years, Morrill has more than maintained a quality program.

Coach on the Hot Seat

Jeff Schneider, Cal Poly • The Mustangs haven't had a winning record in their four seasons in Big West play. Can Schneider, with the league's best freshman in Jamaal Scott, reverse those fortunes this season?

Mark Your Calendar

Dec. 2, Long Beach State at Stanford • This will be an early test to see whether the 49ers have the talent to unseat Utah State in the Big West. A good game against Stanford would provide some momentum, with a rare, early-season conference game just a week later at Idaho. Jan. 11, Long Beach State at Utah State • Can the defending league champions guard their home court against their top rival? Feb. 17, Utah State at Long Beach State • This game could determine the No. 1 seeding in the Big West Tournament.

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