BIG THINGS EXPECTED FROM CSUN'S BOYLAN.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

IRVINE - Ian Boylan is the Big West Conference's unofficial preseason basketball player of the year.

There was no official ballot Wednesday, but everyone was talking about it. Boylan is the conference's leading returning scorer. He was the Big West Tournament's most valuable player and almost single-handedly put Cal State Northridge into the NCAA Tournament.

CSUN has all its returning starters back, so it's no surprise that it was picked to finish third in the Big West coaches and media polls. The Matadors even received two first-place votes in the media poll.

``I have guys on the team that help me out,'' Boylan said. ``It's not anything close to a one-man show. Postseason MVP would mean more, because that would mean we're winning.''

Boylan averaged 14.5 points last year in conference games and was one publication's preseason player of the year. He also was selected to the Big West's preseason media all-conference team.

The Matadors return four players who averaged in double figures: Boylan, forward Eto Onyenegecha (13.0), point guard Davin White (12.7) and guard Joseph Frazier (12.2).

Pacific, which won 25 games last year, was selected to win the conference by coaches and tied with Utah State, playing its final season in the Big West before moving to the WAC, for first in the media poll.

Pacific beat CSUN 75-73 in last season's conference tournament final. The Tigers return 10 players, seven of them seniors, and a wealth of experience after a first-round win over Providence last season in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers have strong depth in the frontcourt, and Christian Maraker and Guillaume Yango return. The Tigers finished 17-1 in the Big West last year.

``We have to prove we're not a fluke,'' senior guard David Doubley said. ``We have to prove we're deserving of everything we're given.''

CSUN coach Bobby Braswell loves to embrace the underdog role, but the Matadors are anything but that this year. They were 14-16 last year, but this year they have depth, experience and talented newcomers such as freshman Calvin Chitwood and transfers Bakari Altheimer and Sal Vance, whom Braswell calls the best athlete he's coached at CSUN.

``This is expected,'' said Braswell, who is in his ninth season as head coach. ``You can't have the run we had at the end of the season and return five starters and not have those expectations. I'm excited about it.

``This team didn't fulfill the goal we had last season and it left a bitter taste in our mouths.''

--Nagging knees: Two of CSUN's senior starters, Onyenegecha and Frazier, are participating in limited practice with tendonitis in their knees. Braswell said he isn't worried about Frazier, who has experienced it in just one knee, but is concerned about Onyenegecha, who has it in both knees.

Onyenegecha, a junior college transfer, was instrumental for the Matadors last year and was ranked in the top 10 in the Big West in rebounds, blocked shots and steals.

``He's usually never complained about it but it's gotten worse,'' Braswell said. ``He concerns me a little more because he's missing stuff, and Joe's been here for three years. We may have to slow him down in the early games.''

Jill Painter, [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

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