CHATTER: ACKER BEST AMONG CONFIDENT WAVES LOOKING TO RETURN TO NCAAS.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

So far so good for the Pepperdine University men's basketball team, which begins its second year under coach Paul Westphal.

Aside from a setback to power forward Glen McGowan, who required additional knee surgery a week before practice started and will be sidelined until the second game of the season, everything has gone smoothly for the Waves.

``We're ready to play a game,'' Westphal said.

The Waves return several key players from last year's NCAA Tournament team, including standout seniors Devin Montgomery, Jimmy Miggins and Boomer Brazzle; junior Will Kimble; and sophomores Terrance Johnson and Rob Turner.

But it's a redshirt freshman who has been the Waves' best player in practice. Alex Acker, a 6-foot-5 swingman, is pushing for big minutes.

``He's a very versatile player,'' Westphal said. ``He's leading the team in rebounds, steals, scoring and assists. He fills up the stat sheet, and he can play anywhere from point guard to small forward.''

Westphal isn't surprised. Acker opened eyes last year during practice as a redshirt.

``There were times when he was the best player on the floor,'' Westphal said. ...

Gilbert Arenas wanted the starting point-guard job with the Golden State Warriors, and he got it.

Boy, has he got it.

Arenas, the former Grant High of Van Nuys star, has become a workhorse for the Warriors, who are without backup Bob Sura for at least two more games. Arenas has responded by averaging 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

``It's a precarious situation,'' Golden State coach Eric Musselman said. ``We're trying to teeter with one guy. There is little room for error.''

How valuable is Arenas? When he left Friday's loss to Seattle because of foul trouble, the Warriors fell apart. The next night he played 47 minutes against Utah.

As usual, the ever-honest Arenas didn't hold back on the officiating that kept him on the bench down the stretch against the Sonics.

``The fourth and fifth (fouls) were bull----,'' Arenas said. ``The fourth should have been a noncall, and the fifth, he (referee Michael Smith) gave me a ticky-tack. It happened so quick. If I didn't get that fifth, who knows what could have happened.'' ...

Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen, the former Alemany of Mission Hills standout, leads the Vols against Miami this week in a potential season-saving game for Tennessee.

But that's not the only thing at stake. A horde of NFL scouts will scrutinize prospects on both teams. Clausen, a junior, has another year of grooming but definitely is on NFL radar screens.

``He could be a top-five player in a year-and-a-half.'' NFL scout Frank Coyle said.