CSUN UPDATE: KEEPING AN EYE ON OSU BRASWELL STILL SERIOUS CANDIDATE.

Byline: Chris Branam Staff Writer

Last year, Bobby Braswell had about a week to reflect on the Cal State Northridge men's basketball season before he was pulled into a job search at Washington State.

This time Braswell's window was a few hours.

Braswell, CSUN's successful coach who is a candidate for the Oregon State job, is becoming familiar with this postseason process.

``This happened quickly,'' Braswell said Friday. ``We got home (from the Big Sky tournament) about 2:30 a.m. Sunday and I got calls early the next morning.''

Braswell said he ``had a good conversation'' with OSU athletic director Mitch Barnhart on Thursday.

The Portland Oregonian has identified several candidates to replace the recently fired Eddie Payne, who had a 52-88 coaching record in four years in Corvallis.

San Francisco coach Phil Mathews, who once headed the Ventura College program, reportedly interviewed this week with Barnhart.

Expected to be interviewed by Barnhart over the weekend are Arizona assistant Jay John, who is in Salt Lake City with the Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament; Colorado State coach Richie McKay, who turned down the WSU job last year; and Boston Celtics assistant Lester Conner, a former standout guard for the Beavers.

While Barnhart travels the country, Braswell waits. He said the past few days have been ``nerve-wracking.''

``My main concern is this being a distraction to our players here,'' said Braswell, who was a finalist at WSU last year. ``I'm not out lobbying for jobs. After the year we've had, and the past couple years, people have expressed interest.

``That's the hardest part of this business,'' he said. ``When we recruit these (players) . . . the commitment we make to them.''

Braswell, 37, has the criteria most ADs look for in hiring a new men's basketball coach. He's a good recruiter who built the Northridge program from one of the worst in Division I (7-20 in 1995-96, Pete Cassidy's last season) to a postseason contender.

CSUN was 20-10 this season and played for the second time in the Big Sky tournament final. The Matadors were 17-12 in 1998-1999.

With four returning starters and transfer John Burrell expected to be an impact player, Northridge should be a favorite to win the conference next year. An NCAA appearance is no longer a pipe dream.

Oregon State has been a Pacific-10 doormat since the graduation 10 years ago of Gary Payton.

The Beavers were 1-11 against rival Oregon under Payne, and the Corvallis community will put the new coach under the pressure cooker to turn the team around.

Braswell was an assistant for four years at Oregon, so he knows the area.

However, so does McKay, who was Portland State's coach for two years, and Conner, who may become the alumni favorite.

``I'm not going to just go after anything,'' Braswell said. ``It has to be something that would be a good fit for my family. (Oregon) is very dear to us. It's like a second home to us.''

A major factor for Braswell is money. He receives a salary of $96,000 in one of the highest cost-of-living areas in the country, and he and his wife Penny have three children. Oregon State will probably pay its new coach $200,000.

``I'm very committed to (Northridge) and these players,'' Braswell said. ``It's never been an issue of me trying to run out and get the biggest payday.''

If Braswell gets the OSU job, potential candidates to replace him could include former Cal State Fullerton coach Bob Hawking, a CSUN graduate who went to Alemany High and coached at Simi Valley, and UCLA assistants Jim Saia and Michael Holton.

CSUN associate coach Mike Johnson could apply, but he would probably join Braswell at OSU.