Scenic West Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball

In predicted order of finish

Southern Idaho (8-0 this year)

1996-97 record: 18-13 overall, 8-10 SWAC, eighth place.

Coach: Jim Thrash

Years coaching, record: 2nd, 26-13

Top returners: Greg McQuay, F; Jarvis Mullahon, G/F; Floyd Farrow, F. Newcomers: James Stokes, G; Carlos Gay, G; Joe Marshall, G; Adrian McCullough, G. Bonus shot: Former Colorado State and Fresno State coach Boyd Grant has been on the bench helping coach.

Coach’s comment: “We have a lot more good players and we also have better people than last year.”

Outlook: Big, physical, deep. To the dismay of SWAC opponents, Thrash is letting CSI run the floor more this season. As always, defense is suffocating.

Utah Valley (8-0)

1996-97 record: 24-8, 12-6, tied for fourth

Coach: Jeff Reinert

Years coaching, record: 4th, 83-24

Top returners: Silester Rivers, F; Darius Beard, C; Frank Afa, F. Newcomers: Beau Archibald, G/F; Nate Chappell, G; Jordan Mulford, G. Bonus shot: The versatile Archibald, bothered by tendinitis in his knees, will play anywhere from point to power forward.

Coach’s comment: “Our weakness is we haven’t been tested. When you get into league, you always get tested.”

Outlook: Another title contender. Rivers is a dandy and Beard is emerging. Guard line bolstered by Chappell’s transfer from Dixie, but team still must prove it can handle pressure defenses.

North Idaho (5-1)

1996-97 record: 30-6, 14-4, second

Coach: Hugh Watson

Years coaching, record: 2nd, 35-7

Top returners: Steven Ryan, F; Travis Houston, F. Newcomers: Nate Bailey, G; Johnny Goodman, F; Brad Fields, F. Bonus shot: Eihab Al-Arorey, a 7-footer, is expected to become eligible after Christmas.

Coach’s comment: “Right now, we’re not together and I have a tendency to forget how we struggled early last year.”

Outlook: Cardinals could challenge, but don’t have last year’s depth. Caution: That could change if injured Jovann Johnson returns and Al-Arorey emerges as a force.

Dixie (9-0)

1996-97 record: 16-15, 9-9, tied for seventh

Coach: Jeff Kidder

Years coaching, record: 1st, 9-0

Top returner: Demarlo Slocum, G. Newcomers: Anthony Dent, C; Rudy Williams, F; Shawn Langellier, F; Seth Williams, F. Bonus shot: Dent has signed atOklahoma State. Langellier, who should become eligible next week, transferred from UTEP. Coach’s comment: “I like our chances. The winner of this thing is going to have to pretty much go undefeated at home and steal a couple on the road.”

Outlook: A mirror of CSI, the Rebels have perhaps the SWAC’s best interior with Dent, Rudy Williams and Seth Williams. If guards produce, Dixie could take SWAC.

Salt Lake (9-1)

1996-97 record: 21-10, 9-9, tied for seventh

Coach: Norm Parrish

Years coaching, record: 6th, 128-74

Top returners: Chuk Neboh, C; Jason Hastings, F. Newcomers: Lamar Wright, F; Eddie Gill, G; Nathan Miller, F. Bonus shot: Neboh, a Nigerian, who took up basketball late, barely played last season, but has already signed with Portland. Why? He’s 6-11.

Coach’s comment: “We’re opposite of last year. Last year we could shoot it and couldn’t go to the basket. This year we’re more athletic.”

Outlook: A darkhorse with a potential star in Wright. Said Parrish of Wright: “When he sweats, he plays good.”

Ricks (8-2)

1996-97 record: 25-7, 12-6, tied for fourth

Coach: Clyde Nelson

Years coaching, record: 5th, 94-42

Top returner: Seth Dahle, F. Newcomers: Ricky Bower, G/F; Shawn Moore, G/F; Ty Church, G. Bonus shot: The Vikings have three of the top 10 3-point shooters in the league, led by Bower’s 53 percent.

Coach’s comment: “I don’t know how good we are in the league, but I know we’re going to get better and we can cause some problems.”

Outlook: Per usual, dangerous from the perimeter and well coached. Ricks will be difficult to beat at home, but could struggle on the road.

Eastern Utah (8-1)

1996-97 record: 28-5, 15-3, first

Coach: Pat Klingler

Years coaching, record: 1st year, 8-1

Top returners: None.

Newcomers: Pete Mauro, G; Dewayne Johns, C; Michael Marion, F; Hayden Prescott, F. Bonus shot: The 7-1 Johns is considered more of a shot-blocker and rebounder than a scorer.

Coach’s comment: Klingler didn’t return phone messages.

Outlook: Could finish anywhere in top eight. Eagles possess talented athletes, but haven’t been dominating in pre-conference wins.

Snow (9-1)

1996-97 record: 21-10, 9-9, tied for seventh

Coach: Jon Judkins

Years coaching, record: 4th, 86-48

Top returners: Brandon Fries, G; David Fife, F.

Newcomers: Tyson Hancock, F; Steve Grant, C; Bryan Gardere, G. Bonus shot: At 6-7, Hancock transferred from Utah and is a tough matchup for enemies on the wing.

Coach’s comment: “We’re exactly the same - pretty good shooters, we don’t have great athletes but we’re pretty smart.”

Outlook: Badgers lack athleticism, but will knock off several contenders before season’s end.

Treasure Valley (6-1)

1996-97 record: 10-20, 2-16, ninth

Coach: Drake Wallick

Years coaching, record: 9th, 79-193.

Top returner: LaMark Judkins, G.

Newcomers: DeMarques Lakes, G/F; Mike Jones, F; Luke Magnusson, F. Bonus shot: Former Chukar and Idaho Vandal Bjorn Magnussen is playing at St. Martin’s.

Coach’s comment: “We’re real athletic for the first five, but we’re not extremely deep. I think we’ll be middle of the pack.”

Outlook: Chukars have been playing well, but it would be a surprise if they made top eight and qualified for regional tournament.

Colorado Northwestern (3-5)

1996-97 record: 6-24, 0-18, 10th

Coach: Paul Conrad

Years coaching, record: 29th, 363-528.

Top returners: Steve Bentz, G; Steve Cox, F.

Newcomers: Jered Borup, C; Brady Farr, G. Bonus shot: Conrad, by far, is the SWAC’s dean of coaches. Yes, he still drives the team bus.

Coach’s comment: “Sometimes we’re good, sometimes we’re not.”

Outlook: Bentz and Cox are legitimate, but rest must prove themselves. Spartans appear destined to battle Treasure Valley for ninth.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Players to watch James Stokes, 6-5, G, CSI, transfer from Hagerstown, Md., JC Silester Rivers, 6-7, F, Utah Valley Beau Archibald, 6-6, G/F, Utah Valley, transfer from Washington State Anthony Dent, 6-9, C, Dixie Pete Mauro, 6-2, G, Eastern Utah Eddie Gill, 6-0, G, Salt Lake, transfer from Eastern Utah Johnny Goodman, 6-5, G/F, North Idaho Nate Bailey, 5-10, G, North Idaho, transfer from Odessa (Texas) JC