Men’s Basketball: 2015 Conference Preview

The 2015 Western State Conference North and South Divisions begin play this evening, and the races for the conference crowns may be as wide open as they have ever been. There are some familiar names, who are arguably considered the favorites, but also some newbies who will have a say before it's said and done.

In the Western State Conference North Division, there are the usual suspects in Cuesta College (10-6) and Ventura College (7-9). The Cougars started out the 2014-2015 season 8-1, including winning the 2014 Neil Edwards Classic Tournament hosted by Citrus College. Since then though, the Cougars are just 2-5 in their last seven. Cuesta is paced by the conference's leading scorer in Rafael Casanova, who is averaging 20.1 points per game. Cuesta is the highest ranked WSC North team in the Massey State Ratings (#27), and the State RPI Ratings (#31).

Much like Cuesta, Ventura got their campaign off to a quick start, going 5-3 in their first eight, but have since gone 2-6 in the second half of their pre-conference schedule. The Pirates always find a way to rally come conference time, and on the strength of the play of freshman Robert Hunt (15.7 ppg) and sophomore Vondel Faniel (10.4 ppg & 8.3 rpg), Ventura will no doubt find a way to make themselves a part of the conversation.

One team who will almost assuredly be a part of the conversation this year is Moorpark College (10-7). The Raiders got off to a good start, and then stumbled midway through, before regaining some of their mojo as they head into conference play on a three game winning streak. Moorpark is the only WSC North team that starts conference play on a multi-game winning streak, and the Raiders are the second highest rated WSC North team in the Massey Ratings, checking in at #32 in the State. Freshman Joshua Brooks has been Moorpark's go to scorer thus far this year leading the team with 15.6 points per game, but the Raiders aren't a one man show as they have four players averaging double-digit scoring nights.

Los Angeles Pierce College (8-9) and Allan Hancock College (5-9) could also be in the mix come March. The two schools are some of the most talented in conference, it'll just be whether or not they can put it all together for a big run in February. The Brahmas and the Bulldogs have both lost four straight as conference play begins, but they also have capable scorers at their disposal in the form of Pierce's freshman Devron Reynolds (12.4 ppg) and Hancock's sophomore Lavell White (14.9 ppg).

Not to be counted out are Santa Barbara City College (4-8) and Oxnard College (1-9). While both squads struggled during the pre-conference phases of their schedules, they still possess the talent to come up and nip any school on any night. The Vaqueros are led by sophomore big man Thomas Walker (11.2 ppg & 5.8 rpg), while Oxnard, who is in its first year back in competition after having to shut the program down due to budget cuts the past few years, is home to one of the top scorers in the conference in freshman Terrance Nunnery (17.5 ppg).   

The South side, meanwhile is shaping up to be one of the toughest conference's in the State.  Five of the eight teams on that side of the conference have winning records as conference play begins, and four are rated in the Massey State Top 25. The Massey Ratings have the WSC South pegged as the third toughest conference in the CCCAA, and the second in the South, just .09 points behind the Foothill Conference.

Antelope Valley (12-4) is arguably the favorite in the division. The Marauders have won six straight headed into tonight, are rated #7 in the SoCal RPI rankings, and #6 in the entire CCCAA in the Massey Ratings. AVC has six players averaging at least six points a game, and have Shelton Boykin (17.2 ppg) at their disposal, who is probably the most explosive player in the conference.

While the Marauders are the favorites, there's a glut of teams who will have a say in the race behind them. Bakersfield College (10-4), College of the Canyons (8-5), Citrus College (7-5), and West Los Angeles College (9-2), all will have legitimate shots at the conference crown. The Renegades are off to arguably their best start in seven years. Bakersfield is just outside the Massey Ratings State Top 30 at #31, and have, who many would consider to be the best freshman in the conference on their squad in Deandre Dickson (18.2 ppg, 12.9 rpg, and 2.4 bpg).

Canyons meanwhile is #24 in the Massey State Ratings, and have a tournament championship under their belt this year, when they won Santa Rosa Junior College tournament just before Christmas. The Cougars have won four of their last five, and are paced by sophomore Coley Apsay, who is averaging 18.8 points and 4.8 assists per game.

Citrus got off to a tough start in 2014-2015 going 2-4 in their first six. The Owls have since turned it around though, winning five of their last six, including victories over ranked teams in Chaffey, Southwestern, and previously State #1 and undefeated Mt. San Antonio College on New Years Eve. Citrus is rated #13 in the State Massey Ratings, and #11 in the SoCal RPI. According to the Massey Ratings, the Owls have played the 5th toughest schedule in the entire CCCAA, and that will no doubt help come crunch time. Citrus boasts one of their deepest squads in recent memory with four players averaging double-digit scoring nights, and seven averaging over six a game.

West Los Angeles College is arguably the biggest surprise of the 2014-2015 pre-conference season. The Wildcats started off 9-0 and won the Grossmont College Tournament. West LA has stumbled in their last two, but the Wildcats are a talented bunch that will play a part in the conference race. Massey has the Wildcats rated #10 in the State.  A pair of sophomores spearheads West LA. Brandon Hood leads the team at 16.3 ppg, while Darius Middleton is averaging 14.7 ppg.  

If those five schools are the favorites, Santa Monica College (5-7) and Los Angeles Valley College (6-7) aren't far behind. Santa Monica is young and wildly talented, led by freshman Brandon Baker (16.2 ppg). Of the Corsairs' seven losses, only two were to teams not ranked in the most recent coach's poll. LA Valley meanwhile maybe finding their groove at just the right time. The Monarchs have won three straight headed into tonight, including an impressive one point win over Irvine Valley this past Saturday. Monarch freshman forward Joshua Brown is the second leading scorer in the entire WSC, averaging 19 points a game.

Though they won't be the favorites, Glendale College (1-10), can't be discounted night in and night out. The Vaqueros are young, with just one sophomore on their roster, and freshman guard Juwan Thomas has the ability to go off on any given night, as he leads the team with a 15.7 ppg average.