CSUN BASKETBALL: POLLS: IT'LL BE MATADORS.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

For the first time in school history, the Cal State Northridge men's basketball team will advance to the NCAA Tournament. At least, that will be the case if media and coaches know much about prognosticating.

As expected, the Matadors were picked to win the Big Sky Conference in media and coaches polls, which were released at the Big Sky's annual media day Wednesday in Salt Lake City. CSUN was chosen as the preseason favorite in The Sporting News and Street & Smith's college basketball publications.

The Matadors return four starters and received eight of the nine first-place votes in the coaches poll. Eastern Washington, picked second, received the other first-place vote.

``To be honest with you, when you have a team that won 20 games and most of the returning players coming back, it's a situation where we realize there's going to be targets on our backs,'' said CSUN coach Bobby Braswell. ``We've gotta be prepared for people playing their `A' game every night. Our guys know what's in front of them.

``A lot of them still have a bitter taste in their mouth because of last year's season - even though it was successful - losing in the championship game and (losing) the chance to go to the Big Dance.''

The CSUN women's team was picked to finish second by the media and third by the coaches. The Matadors received one first-place vote in the coaches poll. Montana is the preseason favorite in the coaches and media poll. The Matadors return one starter - guard LaShaunda Fowler - but have plenty of size in the frontcourt.

On paper, the men's team has all the tools to win the conference. CSUN finished 20-10 - a school record in wins since moving to Division I-A - but lost to Northern Arizona 85-81 in overtime in the Big Sky Conference Tournament.

Guards Markus Carr and Carl Holmes, center Brian Heinle and forward Jeff Parris return with plenty of experience. All are seniors, with the exception of Carr, a junior.

``One thing about us is we have a team of veterans,'' Braswell said. ``We have six seniors on this year's squad and some of these guys have played three years and some two years. They know what's to be expected in the Big Sky. I think the pressure is going to come from the fact that you know you've gotta play well every night. You have to be prepared to match the intensity of the people we play against.''

Carr shattered CSUN's all-time single-season assists record with 206, an average of 6.9 per game. Carr was 13th in the nation in assists and he added nine points per game. Heinle, picked to be the Big Sky's player of the year by The Sporting News, averaged 14.6 points per game and 6.4 rebounds. Parris averaged 11.9 points per game and Holmes 8.4.

The women's team finished 18-10 overall and 11-5 in the Big Sky. The media and coaches obviously were impressed with their newcomers. Ebony Davis, a 6-foot-2 center from Palmdale, will play after sitting out last year because of eligibility issues. Kristi Rose, a 6-4 senior, transferred from Utah and sat out last year. Fowler, a guard, averaged 6.1 points per game last season.