Pacific owns the Big West these days.  Fullerton will have a nice season, but recent transgressions against Long Beach and Irvine cause concern, plus Pacific's mastery of the Titans is likely to continue.  A third place finish with a win in the BWT, but the NIT saying no thanks.

Big West Conference:  8-6, 3rd Place
Overall: 19-11, 1-1 in Big West Tourney. No postseason.

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Cal State Fullerton did not cause the ban on booze. That is understood. But in this post-9/11 society, America should be celebrating its freedoms, not shedding them in order for security. If you ban booze from college sporting events, the terrorists win. By banning booze at sporting events, the Cal State chancellors are supporting terrorists. The Fullerton administrators are also supporting those who support terrorists. Patriots such as Sam Adams would be appalled that the Fullerton administration has not stood up to these tyrants. Nice message they are sending the kids. The Cal State chancellors office is grooming a generation of subservient sober students.

But what does this have to do with college basketball? Nothing. But after reading the insane ramblings of some of the reviewers, you could use some levity. And a beer.

The Titans are going to struggle in the early part of the schedule as they work the Bookstore Four back into the lineup and games against UCLA should prove to be a daunting task. Titans fans (especially the dorks running their mouths on the UCLA message board last year) should realize that Steve Lavin does not coach UCLA anymore. The Titans should have wrapped about 16-18 wins prior to the Big West tournament and Fullerton has just as good of a chance as anybody to win the whole thing. Pacific is destined for a solid, but unspectacular season. UC Irvine always looks strong in the non-conference season. It will come down to Long Beach State and Fullerton for the finals.

Coach Burton has developed kind of a Marty Schotteheimer-like coaching performance—producing quality seasons, without a championship to show for it. But with the way that the Chargers are playing this year, maybe they can both break through.

Big West Conference: 8-6, 3rd Place
Overall: 18-12, 1-1 in Big West Tourney

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Cal State Fullerton is likely to struggle in the early going with the suspensions of their three best players in addition to an updated, penetrating offense and a completely overhauled, hopefully improved, defense. Big West conference is all that matters these days but this conference appears to be so balanced that 7 out of 8 teams will have a shot at Dance come March. It does not help the Titans that the only cupcake on the schedule is UCR, their travel partner. This is a huge disadvantage because teams will be focusing solely on Fullerton from a scouting perspective leading up to their games.

Long Beasch State will win the conference but UOP will get the Tourney bid. Final conference standings predictions are:

1. Long Beach State
2. Pacific
3. CSUF
4. CSUN
5. UCSB
6. UCI
7. Cal Poly SLO
8. UCR

Big West Conference:  8-6, 3rd Place
Overall: 18-12, 1-1 in Big West Tourney. No postseason.

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Last year we were picked to win the BW and go to the NCAA. I predicted a great season, based on what we had returning, and a very weak schedule. We were well on the target of achieving these lofty goals by dominating our weak non conference schedule; however, we lost all the close games and finished a very disappointing sixth in the BW.

This year, we have three returning starters who averaged double figures, we have (according to hype) the best point on the West Coast, we have three transfers from D1 schools – so how are we going to do?

Our non conference schedule is again weak, but the BW looks to be a very evenly matched conference(some say parity, others say weak). I think every team, except UCR, has a chance to win the league; ditto for the BWT, although it is almost impossible for any of the bottom four seeds to win the BWT. For the Titans to have a successful season, we must finish in the top four. Can we do it? Our success in the BW tells us “no”; but this group of kids will definitely give it their best, and anything less than a BWT Title will be viewed as a failure in their minds.

We might be a year away from having the year that we all want – but then again, what is the cry of the Titan? WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!

As usual, I am of the play the best five regardless of size and position. That being the case, I would start: LB, RayRay, FRob, Cutley, and Justin. I predict that Crenshaw, and Morgan get minutes. Alexander and Green get minutes when the others get in foul trouble. Minardo gets minutes, if Coach B. finds a place to hide him on the defensive end. Battles, Williams and Lake get the DNP.

Big West Conference:  7-7, 5th Place
Overall: 17-13, 1-1 in Big West Tourney. No postseason.

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