After making it to the Big West Conference finals last year, the Cal Poly men’s basketball team, picked to finish second in conference by both the media and coaches at the Big West Conference’s annual Basketball Media Day, stares confidently into the future.
“Previous polls have not reflected how the year’s been for us. It does give us peer respect, but I would like to be given No. 1 and stay No. 1,” seven-year head coach Kevin Bromley said.
Last year the Mustangs were forecasted to finish eighth in conference but ended up clinching fourth, before making it to the final of the conference tournament.
“Our expectations are high this season. We are very confident we will do well. We also have a lot of veterans that will be leading the team,” assistant coach Tim Murphy said.
Along with having high expectations for rankings this season, Bromley believes all players on the squad can be team leaders.
One of those prospective example-setters is senior guard Dawin Whiten, who was on the all-conference Second Team last season. He has been named a preseason all-conference player this year.
Trae Clark was an All-Conference honorable mention last year and the coaching staff also expects him to do well this season.
“He really is a vocalized leader and the team has really rallied around him,” Murphy said.
The Big West Conference always provides stiff competition for the Mustangs but the squad will also play top teams in the preseason such as USC, which went to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament last year but lost to North Carolina, 74-64.
“I feel like the (schedule) has a lot to offer and is challenging enough. Also, this summer we traveled to Australia and played great teams,” Clark said.
The Mustangs’ first exhibition game of the season will be against Cal State Stanislaus on Nov. 3 in Mott Gym. The Mustangs beat Stanislaus 91-72 last season.
“We strive for the best competition and love making somebody who is ranked high look like they are not that impressive,” Whiten said. “We have strength and dynamic guards who create the best shots and three-pointers with regularity. We are also becoming more consistent on the defensive side.”
Poly will contend with Massachusetts, Northern Arizona and Northern Illinois to begin the regular season at the BTI Tipoff Tournament hosted by Northern Iowa on Nov. 9 to 11. They will play Utah State at home on Nov. 15.
Of the home game against Utah State, Clark said, “We have never played against Utah State since my time here at Cal Poly. Our record against them is 1-12 and I hope to make it 2-12.”
Whiten anticipates the crowds will be larger this year, especially with the Utah State game.
“I hope people will come out. We have never done that well against Utah State, we have to pay it back,” Whiten said.
Tip-off against Stanislaus will be at 7 p.m.