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49er Men Picked to Win Big West; Women Third
Exhibition Games Begin Next Week
October 25, 2006
IRVINE, CA – After concluding the annual Big West Conference Media
Day on Wednesday at the Irvine Hilton, the Long Beach State men’s
basketball team was picked to win the conference crown according to both
the media and coaches poll, while the women’s team was selected
third in both respective polls.
The men received 18 of the possible 20 first place votes in the media
poll, and captured three first place votes in the coaches poll to tie
Pacific for the top spot. The women’s team garnered three first
place votes in the media poll.
Entering his fifth season at the helm, Larry Reynolds’ 2006-07 team
features eight seniors, including the talented backcourt of Kejuan Johnson
and Aaron Nixon. Both Johnson and Nixon were selected to the Big West
Pre-Season All-Conference team as well. Nixon averaged a team-high 14.7
points per game last season, while Johnson averaged 11.5 points in just
23 games played. The 49ers had an amazing run in the conference tournament,
and reached the Big West Conference Championship game last season, before
falling to Pacific.
In her fourth season as head coach, Mary Hegarty has her youngest squad
in her short tenure at LBSU. However, the 2005-06 conference Coach of
the Year is quite optimistic with her 13 newcomers (eight freshmen) and
five returnees. One of the key returnees is sophomore Karina Figueroa.
The 5-8 guard will be called upon to lead the young squad. Figueroa, who
averaged 9.6 points per game last season, was selected to the Pre-Season
All-Conference Team as well. The 49ers were conference co-champions last
season.
The women’s team has its first exhibition game on Wednesday, Nov.
1, while the men open their exhibition game on Saturday, Nov. 4.
Media Poll Results
(x) First place votes
Men
1. Long Beach State (18)
2. Pacific (2)
3. CS Fullerton
4. Cal Poly
5. UC Santa Barbara
6. UC Irvine
7. CS Northridge
8. UC Riverside
Women
1. UC Santa Barbara (4)
2. UC Riverside (7)
3. Long Beach State (3)
4. CS Northridge
5. Cal Poly
6. CS Fullerton
7. 7. UC Irvine
8. Pacific
Coaches Poll Results
(x) First place votes
Men
1. Pacific (5)
Long Beach State (3)
3. CS Fullerton
4. UC Irvine
5. UC Santa Barbara
6. Cal Poly
7. CS Northridge
8. UC Riverside
Women
1. UC Riverside (5)
2. UC Santa Barbara (3)
3. Long Beach State
4. CS Northridge
5. UC Irvine
6. CS Fullerton
7. Cal Poly
8. Pacific
Pre-Season Media All-Conference Team
Men
Bobby Brown, CS Fullerton
Chris Devine, UCSB
Darren Fells, UC Irvine
Kejuan Johnson, Long Beach State
Aaron Nixon, Long Beach State
Derek Stockalper, Cal Poly
Women
Jessica Eggleston, Cal Poly
Karina Figueroa, Long Beach State
Jenna Green, UCSB
Angie Ned, UC Irvine
Kemie Nkele, UC Riverside
Ofa Tulikihihifo, CS Northridge
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