BIG WEST MEN'S NOTEBOOK: MATADORS PLACED NEAR THE BOTTOM.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Big West Conference coaches and media believe the Cal State Northridge men's basketball team will finish near the bottom of the conference, and that's just the way Matadors coach Bobby Braswell likes it.

CSUN was selected to finish eighth out of 10 teams in the coaches poll and seventh in the media poll. UC Santa Barbara is the favorite in both polls.

``That's good,'' Braswell said. ``As I've said before, we've always been the underdog, and I always like going in with that mentality. It gives us something to prove to people. It's great motivation. Last year, I think we were fourth and maybe we believed the hype a little bit. Hopefully, this gives our guys something to work for.''

Santa Barbara, the Big West regular-season champion last year, returns eight of its top nine players from last year, including Big West Player of the Year Branduinn Fullove (Simi Valley High). The Gauchos return four starters from a guard-oriented team but have added size.

``We're back to being a four-headed monster,'' Santa Barbara coach Bob Williams said. ``We're bigger and more physical on the front line.''

Utah State, which has reached the NCAA Tournament in three of the past four seasons, received three first-place votes in the coaches poll. Utah State will play in the Big West for two more years before moving to the Western Athletic Conference.

UC Irvine has won 20 games in each of the past three seasons under Pat Douglass but has yet to make the NCAA Tournament. The Big West's automatic berth is given to the winner of the conference tournament.

--CSUN update: The Matadors have not received word from the NCAA regarding the outcome of an investigation into the program. The school reported problems with former player John Clark's grades, and two coaches involved in the situation no longer are working for the school.

``I can't really comment on it,'' Braswell said. ``I'm not putting a lot of thought into it. It's one of those things that you can't control. I don't waste a lot of my time dealing with things I can't control. We've cooperated and done everything we've needed to.'' ...

--Final Fullove: Fullove is in his final season with the Gauchos and expects good things from the team. The senior went to the NCAA Tournament as a sophomore in 2002, and he doesn't want to think about the end of his career.

--News and notes: New Cal State Fullerton coach Bob Burton is dealing with the loss of two players: Ralphy Holmes, the team's leading scorer last year, was expelled from school nearly two weeks ago after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor auto theft and hit and run, and he must serve a 60-day jail sentence; and Bron Groomes suffered a severed tendon in his right hand, which ends his season and possibly his career.

Jill Painter, [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

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Box:

MEN'S BASKETBALL

PRESEASON COACHES' POLL