PACIFIC DIVISION
A team-by-team preseason glance at the eight Pacific Division men's basketball teams in the Western Athletic Conference:
BRIGHAM YOUNG
1997-98 records: 9-21, 4-10 WAC. Coach: Steve Cleveland, second season at BYU, 9-21 overall. Key returnees: 6-foot-11 junior center Bret Jepsen and the senior backcourt trio of Danny Bower, Brian Dignan and Brian Hamilton. Top newcomer: 6-7 forward Silester Rivers, an honorable mention All-American at Utah Valley State College, averaged 17.1 points and 8 rebounds a game at UVSC. Projected division finish: Fifth. Notes: Cougars' nine new faces this season include six returned missionaries . . . Sophomore Mekeli Wesley (13.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg) is currently attending Salt Lake Community College in hopes of re-enrolling for winter semester and rejoining the team in mid-December . . . Cougars hope to build on late-season surge that included road wins at ranked New Mexico and UTEP . . . After his suspension for an Honor Code violation earlier this year, Ron Selleaze (16.8 ppg) has transferred from BYU for his senior season.
FRESNO STATE
1997-98 records: 21-13, 10-4 WAC. Coach: Jerry Tarkanian, fourth season at Fresno State, 688-158 overall. Key returnees: 6-3 senior guard Chris Herren (15.6 ppg), 6-7 senior forward Terrance Roberson (14.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg). Top newcomer: Travis Robinson, a 6-6 freshman swingman who originally signed with Missouri, has been cleared by the NCAA and Missouri to sign with Fresno and even play this year for the Bulldogs. Projected division finish: Third. Notes: Tark looks for 700th win this season . . . Bulldogs haven't made NCAAs since 1983-84 . . . With myriad off-court problems, suspensions and injuries, Tarkanian said he was anxious for last season to end.
HAWAII
1997-98 records: 21-9, 8-6 WAC. Coach: Riley Wallace, 12th season at Hawaii, 191-179 overall. Key returnees: a pair of 6-8 senior forward in Erin Galloway (7.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and Mike Robinson (8.6 ppg, 6-0 rpg). Top newcomers: 6-foot junior point guard Johnny White averaged 17 points and six assists last year as an NJCAA All-American at Florida's Brevard College. Projected division finish: Fourth. Notes: Rainbows seeking third straight 20-win season . . . Hawaii has to replace "Dynamic Duo" backcourt of Alika Smith and Anthony Carter . . . Rainbows don't take to the road until the start of WAC play in January, hosting five different tournaments in November and December.
NEW MEXICO
1997-98 records: 24-8, 11-3 WAC. Coach: Dave Bliss, 11th season at New Mexico, 440-262 overall. Key returnees: 6-8 senior All-American forward Kenny Thomas (16.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg) and junior wing Lamont Long (14.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg). Top newcomer: 6-7 forward Damion Walker, a freshman All-American at TCU (20.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg), is set after sitting out a season. Projected division finish: Second. Notes: Lobos have been to NCAAs eight of the past 10 seasons . . . Gone after three standout seasons is the talented trio of forward Clayton Shields and guards David Gibson and Royce Olney . . . UNM has won 77 games during the past three years, the ninth-winningest NCAA team during that span . . . Top JC transfer Dontay Hicks, who was projected as a starter, was recently diagnosed with a heart condition that prevents him from playing in full-scale practices or games.
SAN DIEGO STATE
1997-98 records: 13-15, 5-9 WAC. Coach: Fred Trenkle, fifth season at San Diego State, 51-61 overall. Key returnees: Only three players return from last year's team, including sole returning starter Matt Watts (12.9 ppg, 3.8 apg). Top newcomer: 6-7 freshman Vince Okotie, a Nigerian native, averaged 22.8 points and 10 rebounds a game last year while leading San Diego's Grossmont High to four straight league titles. Projected division finish: Seventh. Notes: Trenkle says he's approaching the season with "cautious optimism" . . . eight freshman are on the Aztecs' roster, which includes only three seniors - Watts, a redshirt player and a walk-on player . . . guard Brady Trenkle, the only four-year player in his father Fred's program, returns after sitting out last season with a heart virus.
SAN JOSE STATE
1997-98 records: 3-23, 1-13 WAC. Coach: Phil Johnson, first year at San Jose State. Key returnees: 5-foot-10 senior guard Michael Quinney (15.8 ppg, 2.8 apg) and 6-9 senior forward Shaun Murray (8.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg). Top newcomer: 6-foot-5 JC transfer Ben Sanders, who once was at UNLV, was a dependable scorer in high school and at Fullerton College. Projected division finish: Eighth. Notes: Johnson spent the previous five seasons as an assistant to Lute Olson at Arizona . . . Only two players are at 6-9 or taller . . . SJSU has only one winning season in the past decade . . . San Jose lost only one starter from last year . . . 7-1 sophomore center Maik Jertens arrived at SJSU from Germany in the middle of his freshman year.
TEXAS EL PASO
1997-98 records: 12-14, 3-11 WAC. Coach: Don Haskins, 38th season at UTEP, 703-341 overall. Key returnees: 6-foot-9 senior forward/center Sharif Fajardo (15.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and 6-2 junior guard William Smith (12.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg). Top newcomer: Haskins hopes JC transfer guards Winford "Eggie" McRae (Dixie College, Tallahassee College) and Jarvis Mullahon (Southern Idaho) reverse UTEP's backcourt woes in the backcourt. Projected division finish: Sixth. Notes: Miners have not made the postseason in three straight years . . . 6-11 senior frontcourt defender Jon Bomba may miss the first half of the season trying to bulk up; he lost 20 pounds following an offseason colonectomy . . . Haskins' 37 seasons is good for second among active tenured coaches, behind Mount St. Mary's Jim Phelan and his 44 years as a head coach.
UTAH
1997-98 records: 30-4, 12-2 WAC. Coach: Rick Majerus, 10th season at Utah, 309-111 overall. Key returnees: 6-2 All-America guard Andre Miller (14.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.2 apg), 6-10 junior forward Hanno Mottola (12.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and 6-7 junior forward Alex Jensen (6.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg). Top newcomers: Watch the JC transfer duo of 6-5 Tony Harvey (Cerritos JC) and 6-0 Jeremy Killion (Palomar JC). Projected division finish: First. Notes: Utah was NCAA Tournament runner-up, losing to Kentucky in the NCAA finals . . . Miller's triple-double of 18 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists in the Utes' West Regional win over Arizona was the first NCAA Tournament triple-double since the Magic Johnson era of the late 1970s . . . Britton Johnson, Trace Caton and Jon Carlisle left for LDS Church missions after their freshman seasons . . . Majerus has won 78 percent of his games at Utah.
MOUNTAIN DIVISION
Following are team-by-team glances at the eight men's basketball teams in the Western Athletic Conference's Mountain Division:
AIR FORCE
1997-98 records: 10-16, 2-12 WAC. Coach: Reggie Minton, 15th season at Air Force, 143-275 overall. Key returnees: 6-foot-6 senior forward Louis Stewart (7.4 ppg) and 6-7 sophomore forward David Schuck (5.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg). Top newcomer: John Nodilo, a 6-5 freshman forward, was a McDonald's High School All-American and three-time Street and Smith's honoree. Projected division finish: Eighth. Notes: Last year's 10-16 record was the Falcons' best since 1990-91.
COLORADO STATE
1997-98 records: 20-9, 8-6 WAC. Coach: Ritchie McKay, first season at CSU. Key returnees: 6-3 senior guard Milt Palacios (9.8 ppg, 5.1 apg, 3.6 rpg) and 6-1 senior guard Andre McKanstry (3.8 ppg). Top newcomer: Ceedric Goodwyn, a 6-foot-8 forward, averaged 19.1 points and 4.7 rebounds a game at Texas' Midland Junior College. Projected division finish: Sixth. Notes: McKay, who replaces Stew Morrill (now coaching at Utah State) comes to CSU after resurrecting a previously dormant program at Portland State . . . Rams return only four players from last year's team.
NEVADA LAS VEGAS
1997-98 records: 20-13, 7-7 WAC. Coach: Billy Bayno, fourth season at UNLV, 42-23 overall. Key returnees: 6-8 senior forward Kevin Simmons (11.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and 6-4 senior guard Brian Keefe (7.7 ppg, WAC-record 13 3-pointers in the conference tournament). Top newcomer: Shawn Marion, a 6-7 forward considered one of the top JC players in the country last year, averaged 23.5 points and 13.1 rebounds at Vincennes University. Projected division finish: Second. Notes: UNLV won 10 of its last 13 games, including four games in the five-day WAC tournament to win the league's automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
RICE
1997-98 records: 6-22, 3-11 WAC. Coach: Willis Wilson, seventh year at Rice, 80-88 overall. Key returnees: 6-4 senior swingman Robert Johnson (11.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and 6-8 sophomore forward Derek Michaelis (6.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg). Top newcomer: 6-7 senior forward Jason Skaer, who averaged 8.8 points and 6.0 rebounds at Oklahoma State, plays after sitting out a transfer season. Projected division finish: Seventh. Notes: The Owls haven't had a postseason for six seasons.
SOUTHERN METHODIST
1997-98 records: 18-10, 6-8 WAC. Coach: Mike Dement, fourth season at SMU, 164-165 overall. Key returnees: 6-6 sophomore guard Jeryl Sasser (15.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.7 apg) and 6-0 junior guard Stphen Woods (13.3 ppg, 2.8 apg). Top newcomer: 6-8 freshman for-ward DeWayne Floyd, who was being recruited by New Mexico and Texas Tech, averaged 17.5 points, 14.8 boards and 3.0 blocks in high school. Projected division finish: Fourth. Notes: The Mustangs posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in a decade . . . there's only one senior on the Ponies' squad this year.
TEXAS CHRISTIAN
1997-98 records: 27-6, 14-0 WAC. Coach: Billy Tubbs, fifth season at TCU, 519-245 overall. Key returnees: 6-9 senior center Lee Nailon (24.9 ppg, 14.9 rpg) and 5-10 senior guard Prince Fowler (8.2 ppg, 6.1 apg). Top newcomer: The Horned Frogs have three JC transfers and Croatia native Vladimir Jaksic, a 6-8 sophomore guard who played a season at Blinn Community College. Projected division finish: Third. Notes: Nailon joins Utah's Andre Miller and New Mexico's Kenny Thomas as preseason candidates for the Naismith and Wooden awards.
TULSA
1997-98 records: 19-12, 9-5 WAC. Coach: Bill Self, second season at Tulsa, 74-66 overall. Key returnees: 6-8 senior forward Michael Ruffin (10.4 ppg, 9.5 rpg) and 6-5 junior forward Eric Coley (10.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg). Top newcomer: Tulsa welcomes a pair of All-American honreers in JC transfer Brandon Kurtz, a 6-10 center from Bakersfield College, and DeAngelo McDaniel, a 6-10 freshman forward from Okla-homa City. Projected division finish: Third. Notes: The Golden Hurricane lost just one letter-winner from last year's team.
WYOMING
1997-98 records: 19-9, 9-5 WAC. Coach: Steve McClain, first season at Wyoming. Key returnees: 6-6 junior forward Justin French (6.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and 6-0 junior guard Andy Young (4.9 ppg, 2.1 apg). Top newcomer: With zero senior scholarship players on their roster, the Cowboys are adding even more youth by bringing in five freshmen and no JC transfers. Projected division finish: Fifth. Notes: The Cowpokes won't be slowpokes as McClain plans an up-tempo game.