Oct. 29, 2008

Irvine, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton was projected as a fourth-place team in the Big West Conference men's basketball race by both members of the media and the head coaches in polls conducted at Wednesday's annual pre-season media day.

Cal State Northridge, a tri-champion with Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara last year, was the consensus pick to win the 2009 title, getting 14 of the 20 media first-place votes and 8 of the 9 coaches' votes. UCSB and Pacific were runnersup in both polls ahead of Fullerton. UC Riverside was a consensus No. 9 but the polls were scrambled for spots 5 thru 8.

Fullerton senior guard Josh Akognon was one of six players selected to the pre-season all-conference team.

Fullerton opens the season with an exhibition game on Nov. 6 vs. Carroll College of Montana.

MEN'S COACHES POLL RESULTS

1. Cal State Northridge 64 (8)
2. UC Santa Barbara 56 (1)
3. Pacific 48
4. Cal State Fullerton 42
5. UC Davis 28
6. Cal Poly 23
UC Irvine 23
8. Long Beach State 21
9. UC Riverside 19

MEN'S MEDIA POLL RESULTS

1. Cal State Northridge 173 (14)
2. UC Santa Barbara 156 (3)
3. Pacific 127 (2)
4. Cal State Fullerton 107 (1)
5. Long Beach State 96
6. UC Irvine 73
7. UC Davis 65
8. Cal Poly 54
9. UC Riverside 49

MEN'S PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

Josh Akognon, Cal State Fullerton
Anthony Brown, Pacific
Chris Devine, UC Santa Barbara
Donovan Morris, Long Beach State
Tremaine Townsend, Cal State Northridge
Deon Tresvant, Cal State Northridge