Scenic West
In predicted order of conference finish:
SOUTHERN IDAHO GOLDEN EAGLES
1994-95 record: 32-5 overall (fourth nationally); 15-3 SWAC, first
Coach: Steve Irons, 3rd year
Top returners: Marcus Wallace, Rusty Yoder, George Brown, Mantia Callender
Newcomers: Abdul Brown, Andre Pleasant, Rich Brown
End lines: That’s right, CSI has three Browns on the roster, none related. “One of the last kids we recruited was named Brown,” Irons said, “but he went somewhere else.”
Coach’s comment: “I’m not trying to be egotistical, but as I look at our schedule, we’ve got a chance to win every game we play.”
Outlook: Sunny. CSI is loaded, even with the loss of Roberto Bergersen, who quit after the first game and might end up at Boise State.
DIXIE REBELS
1994-95 record: 23-8, 11-7, fourth
Coach: Dave Rose, 6th year
Top returners: Kevin Simpson, Kawika Akina
Newcomers: Eggie McRae, Moises Micael
End lines: Dixie should find out by this weekend whether 6-11 Keon Clark is academically eligible. It’s also possible he could return to UNLV, where he signed.
Coach’s comment: “Defensively, we’re a little better, but I don’t think we’re as potent offensively as we’ve been in the past.”
Outlook: Clark could change the SWAC landscape. The long-armed center could beef up Dixie’s interior.
NORTH IDAHO CARDINALS
1994-95 record: 18-15, 8-10, seventh
Coach: Rolly Williams, 35th year
Top returners: Troy Thompson, Roy Kruiswyk, Eric Sanchez, Steve Helm
Newcomers: Ajene Robertson, Darnell McCoy, David Cunningham
End lines: Longtime assistant coach Dale James has returned to assist Williams in his final year.
Coach’s comment: “I think we’re going to be among the leaders.”
Outlook: Cards are deep, experienced and have good chemistry. Expect Williams to sub players in and out to find who’s hot on a particular night.
UTAH VALLEY WOLVERINES
1994-95 record: 22-10, 11-7, fifth
Coach: Jeff Reinert, 2nd year
Top returners: Scott Benson
Newcomers: Derrick Elliott, Brad Willden, Brent Hawkins
End lines: Elliott is the former NIC point guard who left after the 1993-94 Cards bowed out meekly at regionals. He had 39 points in a game earlier this year, nearly eclipsing the school record.
Coach’s comment: “We’re real similar (to North Idaho).”
Outlook: Wolverines kept busy by playing summer ball. They may be more advanced than SWAC foes early on.
SNOW BADGERS
1994-95 record: 15-16, 7-11, eighth
Coach: Jon Judkins, 3rd year
Top returners: Andrew Mavis
Newcomers: Pat McGrath, Neal Geddes
End lines: McGrath (Utah) and Geddes (Weber State) are Division I transfers. Along with Mavis, the threesome creates scoring opportunities for each other.
Coach’s comment: “It depends on which (Snow) team shows up.”
Outlook: A potential spoiler, Snow needs inside players to develop to become an upper-echelon team.
EASTERN UTAH EAGLES
1994-95 record: 24-7, 13-5, second
Coach: Guy Beach, 1st year
Top returners: Tyler Newton
Newcomers: Versile Shaw, Ime Udoka, Noel Jackson
End lines: Former coach Ronnie Stubbs is an assistant at Midland (Texas) JC.
Coach’s comment: “We obviously have one fantastic player (Shaw) and we need some younger guys to step up.”
Outlook: CEU could be a factor in league. Shaw is a prolific scorer and guards are fast.
RICKS VIKINGS
1994-95 record: 21-9, 13-5, second
Coach: Clyde Nelson, 3rd year
Top returners: Travis Tollestrup
Newcomers: Kris Cox, Dave Isaacson
End lines: Former Viking Ben Caton is starting and scoring big for Utah.
Coach’s comment: “We’re not very good. We’re young, inexperienced and it’s showing.”
Outlook: Vikings may struggle early, but they have talent and could be late-arriving power.
SALT LAKE BRUINS
1994-95 record: 22-10, 9-9, sixth
Coach: Norm Parrish, 5th year
Top returners: Greg Blake, Matt Pinkney
Newcomers: Ryan Addison, Jeremy Jeppesen
End lines: Addison, one of league’s top scorers and 3-point shooters, has a sprained ankle and his status is uncertain for NIC game on Saturday.
Coach’s comment: “We’re as big as we’ve ever been, but we need to get more physical. We’re Ricks-ish.”
Outlook: Might be a down year for the Bruins, who shoot well enough to give anybody trouble on given nights.
COLORADO NORTHWESTERN SPARTANS
1994-95 record: 4-25, 0-18, tenth
Coach: Paul Conrad, 29th year
Top returners: Adam Apodaca, James Barnett, Heath Jolley
Newcomers: Cliff Hart, Mike Geiger
End lines: The Spartans have 10 sophomores, almost unheard of in JC basketball.
Coach’s comment: “Practice is a lot easier. We’re a lot better.”
Outlook: Better, but probably not good enough to make top eight and Region 18 Tournament. Spartans’ best shot at making the tourney was shot down when a proposal to expand tourney to 10 teams was voted down at league meetings.
TREASURE VALLEY CHUKARS
1994-95 record: 8-21, 2-16, ninth
Coach: Drake Wallick, 8th year
Top returners: Darin Anderson, Ryan Hinckley, Sidikie Kamara
Newcomers: Mark Ambers, Scott Baird
End lines: The last two years, Wallick has guaranteed Chukars would qualify for the tourney. He chomped on crow. This year: “Call me in another two weeks and I’ll tell you what my prediction is.”
Coach’s comment: “We’re hungry.”
Outlook: There haven’t been many wins to treasure. Ambers is a solid guard, but Chukars probably don’t have talent to escape bottom rung. , DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PLAYERS TO WATCH Kevin Simpson, 6-foot-4, guard, Dixie. May be premier player in league, big-time scorer, Providence-bound Scott Benson, 6-6, forward, Utah Valley. Versatile, should flourish as Wolverines’ three-man, as Bryon Ruffner (now at BYU) did last year Troy Thompson, 6-4, forward, North Idaho. Agile, major scoring capability if he’s hitting outside shot Abdul Brown, 6-8, forward, Southern Idaho. Inside threat, prepped with Dixie’s Simpson in Baltimore. Also Providence-bound Andrew Mavis, 6-6, wing, Snow. Deadeye 3-point shooter Versile Shaw, 6-6, forward, Eastern Utah. Transfer from Western Carolina, piles up points without taking lots of shots (71 percent FG) David Isaacson, 6-7, forward, Ricks. Inside-outside ability, pumped in 40 points in a game earlier this year Marcus Wallace, 6-2, wing, Southern Idaho. Muscular force in the paint, going to San Diego State to play for former CSI coach Fred Trenkle