BRASWELL FACES `CRITICAL' PERIOD.

Byline: Chris Branam Daily News Staff Writer

Less than a month after Cal State Northridge men's basketball team completed its finest Division I season, the program is in flux.

Head coach Bobby Braswell is seeking a new long-term contract. The team has three, possibly four full scholarships to fill when the signing period begins next Wednesday.

And the team must find a leader to replace the graduated Derrick Higgins.

``This is a very, very critical time for us,'' Braswell said. ``We start individual workouts next week.''

On the court, the desire and hustle Higgins exuded from his 6-foot-4, 200-pound body was the team standard. Off the court, Higgins, a minister's son, was CSUN's soul and conscience.

But the Matadors' only senior played his last game on March 11 when the team was eliminated from the Big Sky Tournament.

That leaves the Matadors talented and without a leader. The top returning players are center Brian Heinle, who will be a junior, and forwards Andre Larry and Jeff Parris, who will be seniors.

``I don't think you can ever replace Derrick Higgins,'' Braswell said. ``He was a shy guy . . . but he got into his teammates when the coaches weren't around. Who the leader on this team is going to be is yet to be seen.

``(A leader) has to be somebody who is a positive influence off the floor,'' he said. ``In the next few months that's going to be decided.''

Finding a new head coach has been a distinct possibility as well. Braswell was a finalist for the the head coaching job at Washington State that eventually went to Paul Graham.

Braswell said he isn't interested in any other head coaching job at this point, including Pepperdine. Braswell, in the second year of a four-year deal that pays him $88,620 annually, is negotiating a contract extension with interim athletic director Sam Jankovich that would keep him at Northridge an additional four years.

``We're in the process,'' Braswell said. ``I feel really good about it. (Jankovich) and I are going to sit down next week about some other issues. Hopefully we'll have the contract done in the next few weeks . . . a new contract that financially will give me the kind of stability I need to be here in the long-term.''

In three years, Braswell has brought the program from one of the worst in Division I to the top half of the Big Sky. CSUN finished 17-12 last season, 9-7 in conference.

Of the three teams that finished ahead of the Matadors in the Big Sky, only Weber State returns key players. But the Wildcats, who upset North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament, lost coach Ron Abegglen, whose contract wasn't renewed.

Northern Arizona was hit hard by graduation and lost coach Ben Howland, who went to Pitt. Portland State graduated Jason Hartman, the former Thousand Oaks standout who was an all-conference forward.

CSUN returns four starters and, with the exception of guard Greg Minor, every key reserve. Minor quit the team after the season ended. So did forward Rico Harris, a talented transfer from L.A. City College who never fulfilled expectations.

The Matadors played brilliantly in the first 15 minutes in the conference- tournament loss to Montana State. CSUN led 38-19 and nearly ran the Bobcats off the floor. That kind of promise tantalizes Braswell.

``We've got a great opportunity next year,'' he said.

One of the open roster spots will be taken by incoming freshman guard Craig Calloway, Larry's godbrother. The 6-foot-1 Calloway was a first-team All-Moore League performer at Long Beach Jordan High.