CSUN NOTEBOOK: CSUN STARTS CHAMP TALK.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

They think about being champions every day.

That's the way Markus Carr wants it. Carr, Cal State Northridge's junior point guard, asked basketball coach Bobby Braswell whether the team could shout `Champions!' after breaking huddles. Braswell gave his OK.

``(Carr) is one of the leaders of the team and I told them it was fine as long as they knew what it meant and what it takes to achieve that,'' Braswell said.

CSUN, which finished 20-10 last season, is the preseason favorite to win the Big Sky Conference. With four returning starters and key reserves back, the Matadors look like the championship team just about everyone expects them to be.

They remind themselves of that constantly.

``It starts everybody's mind thinking about how we need to practice,'' Carr said. ``It crosses my mind every day. It's been a goal of mine since I came here in '97.''

Last season, CSUN finished tied for fourth in the Big Sky regular-season standings, then rolled through the conference tournament. They lost to Northern Arizona 85-81 in overtime in the championship game. Center Brian Heinle, guards Carl Holmes and Marco McCain, Jeff Parris and others remember it well.

That's probably why, despite lofty preseason rankings, the Matadors aren't cutting any corners in practice. Braswell, who begins his fifth season, can't remember the Matadors looking any better in the preseason.

``The guys have worked extremely hard, harder than any team I've had here'' Braswell said. ``The veteran guys are showing great leadership. The other guys don't have a choice but to put that intensity up there.''

--Injury report: Freshman guard Keith Jackson, a walk-on, separated his left shoulder in Tuesday's practice and is expected to be out two to three weeks. . . . Heinle sat out most of Wednesday's practice for precautionary reasons because of a strained right shoulder. He returned to practice Thursday. . . . McCain was kicked in the right shin during Wednesday's practice, but he also practiced Thursday.

--New faces: The CSUN women's basketball team has a new look with just one starter, LaShaunda Fowler, returning from last season. But it seems as if the players have become fast friends.

``This year, the new beginning is something to be ecstatic about,'' ReShawnda Richardson said. ``(It's) the family setting. It's not sectioned off into groups. I can hang with Kristi (Rose) today. I can hang with Kameelah (Purdom) another day.''

--Class of one: Jennifer Shetters is the lone freshman on the women's basketball team this year. The 6-foot-3 post player from Wilson High in Portland, Ore., is expected to contribute once she learns the offense. Neither of the two other freshman recruits - Chenne Tuimoloau and Chrstyal McCarthy - were admitted to the school because of academic problems.

``It (hurts) for the future,'' CSUN coach Frozena Jerro said.