CSUN University News Clippings

CSUN men’s basketball picked 1st in polls

(October 30, 2008)

By ALLAN STEELE
The Press-Enterprise IRVINE - It’s seemingly become an annual custom every October. The Big West preseason basketball polls are compiled, and UC Riverside finds itself at opposite ends of the voting spectrum.

The Highlanders men have been picked last in the Big West polls every season since 2004-05. They were picked last again Wednesday in both media and coaches’ polls. The Highlanders women were picked first for the third straight season.

Neither pick was a complete surprise — the women have been a title contender the past three years while the men’s program has been in a state of perpetual rebuilding — but the selections were intriguing.

Second-year men’s coach Jim Wooldridge cleaned house and has 11 new players on the roster, including five junior college recruits and two Division I transfers. There was plenty of buzz at Wednesday’s media day about the positive direction UCR has taken, but it didn’t translate into votes.

“What we’ve been saying for years is we’re in for the long haul,” Wooldridge said. “My plan is to build this program from top to bottom.”

When asked if being selected last had any impact on the team, Wooldridge didn’t hesitate.

“If you can’t get motivated by this, you can’t get motivated,” he said.

The Highlanders women are loaded with senior experience and will have three-time all-conference selection and former player of the year Kemie Nkele back after missing most of last year with a knee injury. UC Santa Barbara, last year’s conference champion, also returns the core of its team and was second in both polls.

Waddell Out for Season

While the conference is expected to be more competitive than in past seasons, it could end up being a two-team race. But UCR has already taken a hit with a season-ending knee injury to guard Brittany Waddell, the team’s top perimeter player.

“We’re not exactly the same team we thought we’d be,” Coach John Margaritis said in revealing the injury and noting adjustments will have to be made.

“You can’t go back to square one,” Margaritis said. “We’re still trying to figure it out. We’ll know a little more once we start playing. Right now it’s still a big question mark.”

Nkele Going All-Out

Nkele declared herself “back close to 100 percent” and was selected to the preseason all-conference team for the third straight year. She said watching from the bench last year gave her a different perspective on the game.

“It’s a whole different world watching it and playing it,” she said.

Nkele and UCSB post player Jenna Green, both seniors, are front-runners for player of the year.

“I usually set my goals high but this year, because last year was taken from me, this year will be all-out every game, every second,” Nkele said. “I’m so anxious to start playing … I feel it’s all or nothing. I didn’t feel that way so much last year. Knowing this is my last year regardless of what happens I see it in a different light.”

Thomas Aims High

Former Fontana Miller High standout Toni Thomas is also a senior this year and looks for her third straight scoring title for Cal State Fullerton.

“The coaches are really instilling in me to be a complete player,” said Thomas, who averaged 17.1 points last season. “Inside-out, rebounding, defense. I’m known as an offensive player, (but) I want to been seen as a multi-dimensional player.”

Matadors Men No. 1

Cal State Northridge was picked as the men’s team to beat in the conference after finishing in a three-way tie for the title last season.

“Last year we were hunters, and this year we’ll probably be the hunted,” Coach Bobby Braswell said. “We have a target on our back, and these guys understand that.”

Several publications and on-line sites have picked the Matadors No. 1 in Big West preseason polls. Northridge received all eight of the coaches’ first-place votes Wednesday (coaches can’t vote for their own team) and 14 of the 20 media votes.

“Last year we were picked to finish sixth and obviously it didn’t turn out that way,” Braswell said.

Reach Allan Steele at 951-368-9648 or asteele@PE.com

Publication: Riverside Press-Enterprise