CSUN REACHES FOR SKY.

Byline: Chris Branam Staff Writer

Beating Oregon in one of the most hostile arenas in the country was difficult for the Cal State Northridge men's basketball team - but the Matadors did it. Winning at Fresno State, in front of 10,000 screaming fans, was just as hard, but CSUN did that, too.

Those wins in December have helped Northridge to an 8-3 start and the school's best Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) ranking since the program went to Division I 10 years ago. Now they don't mean anything.

The Big Sky Conference season starts for CSUN on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. when the Matadors host Northern Arizona at Matador Gym. Two wins last month over Oral Roberts, which handed No. 22 Tulsa its only loss, aren't going to matter against Big Sky opponents.

``The preseason is over,'' CSUN coach Bobby Braswell said, ``I told the guys to enjoy it. Now the second season begins. This is the most important part of the year for us.''

Northridge, which returned four starters, was picked to finish third in the Big Sky in both the coaches' and media preseason polls. After Sunday's 94-86 win over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CSUN was tied with favorite Weber State (8-3) for the conference's best record.

On Monday, the Wildcats had an RPI ranking of 71, but CSUN was next at 85 and NAU, picked to finish second, was at 150. But the Matadors aren't satisfied.

``We still need more work,'' CSUN guard Markus Carr said. ``These first 11 games, we've learned something from every game.''

Junior guard Carl Holmes, one of three team captains, also remembers last year's lesson. Some players, delighted with CSUN's 8-4 start, proclaimed Northridge the Big Sky team to beat.

``We were pretty high on ourselves,'' Holmes said, ``and we went to Northern Arizona and lost. Right now, we're playing well. We're not going in (to Big Sky play) overconfident. We're not in the top 25 yet.''

But positive signs are there, especially a 5-0 home record.

``So far, our guys are doing what they need to do to be a good basketball team,'' Braswell said. ``Our guys have really grown up and matured.''

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG SKY

EASTERN WASHINGTON

--Record, RPI rank: 3-7, 166

--Update: All-conference G Shannon Taylor graduated, but three starters returned for the Eagles, including PG Deon Williams, who has been hurt and now splits time with junior transfer Aaron Olson. Only one player - senior G Ryan Hansen - scores more than 10 points per game (10.9). EWU has only two wins over Division I opponents.

--Fast fact: Williams was a high school teammate of CSUN senior forward Andre Larry at Verbum Dei of Los Angeles.

IDAHO STATE

--Record, RPI rank: 5-5, 231

--Update: After two consecutive years near the bottom of the Big Sky, the Bengals are one of the conference's most improved teams and already have almost as many wins as last season (6-20). They beat Santa Clara 72-57 on Dec. 18. Senior G Stephen Brown, one of three returning starters, is averaging 15 ppg and had a career-high 25 at Portland on Dec. 11.

--Fast fact: ISU coach Doug Oliver was an assistant at Stanford for 12 seasons prior to going to Pocatello, including when the Cardinal went to the Final Four in 1998.

MONTANA

--Record, RPI rank: 5-6, 250

--Update: Senior F Matt Williams is doing it all for the Grizzlies. Williams, who was first-team all-conference last year, leads the Big Sky in scoring (18.9 ppg) and is just ahead of CSUN's Hewitt Rolle for first place in rebounding (8.7). Other than Williams, the Grizzlies are just average. They are fifth in the conference in scoring (71.1).

--Fast fact: Montana failed to qualify for the Big Sky Tournament last year for the first time in the tournament's 22-year history.

MONTANA STATE

--Record, RPI rank: 7-5, 122

--Update: The Bobcats, who eliminated CSUN 91-90 in the Big Sky Tournament last year, are No. 1 in the conference in scoring (82.5 ppg) and worst in scoring defense (75.9). They're leading the Big Sky in shooting (48.6 percent). Junior F Jason Lazosky is third in the conference in scoring (15.2).

--Fast fact: The Bobcats have had five consecutive winning seasons, the school's best streak since the 1920s.

NORTHERN ARIZONA

--Record, RPI rank: 6-5, 150

--Update: The Lumberjacks lost three starters from last year's 21-8 team and have been so-so under first-year coach Mike Adras. Included among their losses was a 91-54 embarrassment at Oregon. Senior G Ross Land is averaging 14.9 ppg and is No. 1 in the Big Sky in free-throw percentage (90 percent).

--Fast fact: NAU had three consecutive 21-win seasons under former coach Ben Howland from 1996-99. Howland left after last season to take the job at Pittsburgh.

PORTLAND STATE

--Record, RPI rank: 8-4, 178

--Update: Only two starters return for the Vikings, but they've been lifted by the play of senior G-F Ime Udoka, who redshirted last season. Udoka is averaging 15 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Opponents are shooting 46 percent against PSU, and the Vikings are last in the Big Sky in rebounding (33.3 per game).

--Fast fact: PSU has improved its victory total every season it's been in the Big Sky, from nine in 1996-97 to 15 in '97-98 to 17 last year.

SACRAMENTO STATE

--Record: 6-5, 196

--Update: The Hornets are the conference's most improved team. They already have twice as many wins as last year and their 3-0 start was the school's best since the 1974-75 season. Senior F Anthony Flood, who only started 10 games last year, is leading Sac State in scoring (14.0 ppg) and rebounding (7.5). Junior F Pablo Gonzales, a 6-4 transfer, is averaging 10.3 ppg.

--Fast fact: The Hornets ended a 41-game road losing streak in December with a 65-57 win at Nevada.

IDAHO STATE

--Record: 8-3, 71

--Update: The Wildcats, buoyed by the return of Big Sky MVP Harold Arceneaux, were the overwhelming favorite to repeat as champion. WSU beat Utah 84-72 on Dec. 1, but is 0-3 on the road. Arceneaux, a 6-6 forward who almost made himself available for the NBA Draft after last season, is averaging 16.6 ppg. Senior G Eddie Gill is second in the Big Sky in assists (6.5 per game).

--Fast fact: Even though WSU won 25 games last year and upset North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, coach Ron Abegglen didn't have his contract renewed.

- Chris Branam

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo: CSUN's Andre Larry dunks during the first half of the Matadors' victory over Cal Poly on Sunday.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

Box: A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG SKY (see text)