Nov. 7, 2013

DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis men's basketball will return to action on Friday, Nov. 8, in its first game of the season at Portland. With a victory over the Pilots, the Aggies will earn their first season-opening victory in the last five seasons and head into Monday's home opener against Holy Names with wins in both games played this week.

LISTEN LIVE TO UC DAVIS MEN'S BASKETBALL
For the third year, every UC Davis men's basketball game with the exception of the team's inaugural game of the Portland State Tournament will air on KSAC (105.5 FM). Play-by-play analyst Scott Marsh will begin his broadcast 30 minutes before tip-off with his pregame show; fans can also listen to Marsh online at ucdavisaggies.com on an internet broadcast for every men's basketball game this season.

GIVE ME SOME STATS, STAT!
Find out what is happening during every UC Davis men's basketball game by following the action with live stats. Links for every men's basketball contest are available by clicking "Gametracker"on your favorite team's schedule located on its homepage. Due to the increased use of smartphones and tablet computers, Gametracker has been redesigned for use on any mobile device.

SECURE YOUR SEAT(S)
Season tickets, mini-plans and single-game tickets can be purchased through the "Tickets" link at ucdavisaggies.com, in person at the UC Davis Ticket Office, or by phone at (530) 752 AGS1.

IT'S OK TO BE A FOLLOWER
UC Davis men's basketball fans can follow their favorite team, and all other Aggie intercollegiate athletics programs on Twitter at the handle @UCDavisAggies. In-game updates are also available on the department's secondary Twitter handle @UCDavisInGame.

WATCH THE AGGIES IN ACTION FOR FREE
Live streaming for all Aggie men's basketball Big West games are streamed for free at BigWest.TV. Basketball fans can also access the link needed to watch all UC Davis home games on BigWest.TV by accessing the link entitled "Live Stream Provided by BigWest.TV" on the sidebar of the men's basketball homepage on ucdavisaggies.com.

SCOUTING PORTLAND
As was the case with UC Davis, the Portland Pilots enter Friday's season opener after a resounding victory in exhibition action. On Saturday, Oct. 26, the Pilots defeated Concordia-Irvine 92-77. Portland's first appearance since that exhibition will take place against UC Davis.

In that exhibition, junior guard Kevin Bailey led all Pilots in scoring with 19 points, followed by sophomore guard Bryce Pressley who finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Like the four Aggie newcomers who dressed for last Monday's exhibition against Menlo College, every Pilot newcomer (four players) earned playing time against Concordia-Irvine.

Returning for Portland head coach Eric Reveno this season is his entire starting lineup and nine letterwinners.

Series Record: Portland leads 3-0
Last UC Davis Win: N/A
Last Portland Win: 75-60 (A) (11/11/10)
Current Streak: Portland +3

HELLO AGAIN AMERICA
The Big West released its schedule of televised men's basketball games this week, one that features a variety of UC Davis men's basketball games throughout the 2013-14 season. Of these events airing on either the Pac-12, Prime Ticket or the ESPN family of networks, The Pavilion may host as many as two games based on a "Wild Card" format.

UC Davis will make its first televised appearance at Utah, on Nov. 15, in the first of two non-conference games that will air on the Pac-12 Network. The Aggies will return to the network nearly one month later when the team returns to Palo Alto for the second time in as many years to face Stanford on Dec. 14. UC Davis will appear on Fox Sports Prime Ticket when the network airs its season finale on March 8, at UC Irvine.

Five regular season Big West contests will be aired nationally on ESPN2 and ESPNU. All matchups will be determined utilizing a "Wild Card" format in which ESPN will make its selections 3-4 weeks prior to the event. Four ESPNU games are slated for Jan. 16, Feb. 1, March 1 and 6, while ESPN2 will also host a March 1 game.

Road matchups at UC Santa Barbara (2/1) and UC Riverside (3/6) are two of four UC Davis games that are on ESPN's docket, also included are home games against UC Riverside (1/16) and UC Santa Barbara (3/1).

BIG WEST'S PRIME PERFORMERS
Junior guard Corey Hawkins was one of six players to earn a spot in the 2013-14 Big West Preseason Media All-Conference Team as released by the conference office on Oct. 24. Comprised of two seniors and four juniors from six different institutions, Hawkins, UC Davis' inaugural, and defending conference scoring champion, is joined by Mike Caffey (Long Beach State), Will Davis II (UC Irvine), Chris Eversley (Cal Poly), Christian Stanhardinger (Hawai'i) and Alan Williams (UC Santa Barbara).

Every player, with the exception of Davis II, earned All-Big West first team honors last season.

ONE OF BULGARIA'S BEST
The only player to possess experience against international competition, freshman forward Georgi Funtarov competed for Bulgaria's national team on two occasions. A member of Bulgaria's U16 and U18 national team, Funtarov was a member of the U16 squad that captured an European Championship in 2009.

Prior to his arrival in Davis, Funtarov was invited to train with Bulgaria's U20 team.

WHAT ELSE IS LEFT?
Throughout his four years as a member of the boys' basketball team at St. Augustine (San Diego), Brynton Lemar compiled an 88-34 record. A California All-State first team recipient as a senior, Lemar helped the Saints capture a Division III San Diego CIF, Southern California Sectional titles prior to winning to CIF Division III State Championship. On an individual level, Lemar received Sectional Most Valuable Player, San Diego CIF Player of the Year, Postseason Player of the Year and All-CIF first team accolades.

A TRUE (ALL) AMERICAN
Junior guard Corey Hawkins received preseason all-American recognition by NBC Sports when the network added the reigning Big West scoring champion to its third team. NBC Sports was the second of two organizations to bestow all-American distinction on Hawkins as CollegeInsider.com included him on its Lute Olson Preseason All-American Team.

Joining Hawkins on College Insider's list from other mid-major teams are: Billy Baron (Canisius), Tyler Haws (BYU), Cleanthony Early (Wichita State), Jake Odum (Indiana State) and Kevin Pangos (Gonzaga).

HIS NAME IS ON THE LIST
In early October, CBSSports.com's Garry Parrish and his panel of college basketball pundits ranked Corey Hawkins as one of the top 100 players in college basketball for the 2013-14 season. Ranked No. 80 by Parrish and his colleagues, Hawkins is the only player from the Big West Conference to earn a ranking as one of the country's top talents.

In his article, Parrish and his colleagues Jeff Borzello and Matt Norlander collaborated to create a list of college basketball's top 100 players entering this season. Hawkins, one of the few mid-major players from across the nation that earned praised from the panel, was ranked higher than his peers who compete for various ACC, American Athletic (former Big East members), Big East, Big Ten, SEC and Pac-12 programs.

ESPN EYES HAWKINS...
Nationally renowned ESPN college basketball analyst Jeff Goodman is the latest pundit to add Corey Hawkins to his exclusive list of the country's top mid-major talents.

Goodman recently released a list of 20-plus players from mid-major programs containing players college basketball fans should keep an eye on throughout the 2013-14 season because each possesses the potential to become an NBA prospect. On this list were two Les recruits, one of which helped UC Davis record one of the biggest turnarounds in the nation last season.

In his first season as an Aggie, Hawkins earned UC Davis' inaugural Big West scoring title by finishing with a 20.3 points per game average, one of the top figures in the country, shot over 84 percent from the line and 40 percent from three.

... AND TABS LEMAR AS ONE TO WATCH
Freshman point guard Brynton Lemar has been selected as one of five freshmen to watch by ESPN's Myron Medcalf. The No. 41 point guard in the 2013 class per RecruitingNation, Lemar is joined by Saint Mary's Calvin Hermanson, BYU's Eric Kika, UC Irvine's Mamadou Ndiaye and Loyola Marymount's Patsone Siame.

PRESEASON ACCOLADES CONTINUE HAWKINS' WAY
In his annual list of the top 50 players in college basketball, junior guard Corey Hawkins received national recognition from Big Lead Sports/USA Today's Jason McIntyre as one of college basketball's best talents entering the 2013-14 season.

When compiling his list, McIntyre took a player's level of talent, defensive prowess, unselfishness, leadership skills and potential into consideration before he ranked student-athletes. Even though Hawkins was one of 13 players that narrowly missed the top 50 threshold, McIntyre still felt he deserved recognition for his individual success and influence in helping the Aggies record one of the biggest turnarounds in the country last season.

In a Bleacher Report column by Doug Brodess, the junior is heralded as one of the 10 most underrated guards in the nation entering the 2013-14 season. Brodess also encourages college basketball fans to keep an eye on Hawkins throughout his two remaining years as an Aggie due to his successful sophomore campaign. Last season, Hawkins averaged 20.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game. On 15 occasions, he scored 20 or more points; in five games he scored 30 or more.

THINK GLOBALLY, COMPETE LOCALLY
UC Davis will field one of its most internationally diverse rosters this year as four players from outside the United States will don a UC Davis uniform this season. Returning to action for head coach Jim Les is Olivier-Paul Betu, a native of Montreal, Canada. Hailing from Perth, Australis, and forced to redshirt the 2012-13 year due to NCAA transfer regulations, Iggy Nujic's first opportunity to compete for the Aggies will take place this year.

Joining the program as incoming freshmen are two players with European backgrounds. Arriving to Davis from Sofia, Bulgaria, and London, England, respectively are Georgi Funtarov and Ivan Nikolic.

DISSECTING UC DAVIS' ROSTER
In addition to four newcomers and three players who redshirted the 2012-13 season, six letterwinners complete UC Davis men's basketball's 2013-14 roster. Included below is a roster breakdown:

BY POSITION
Guards (8)
Olivier-Paul Betu, Darius Graham, Corey Hawkins, Avery Johnson, Brynton Lemar, Tyler Les, Carlos Mancasola, Ryan Sypkens,

Forwards (6)
J.T. Adenrele, Clint Bozner, Justin Dueck, Georgi Funtarov, Ivan Nikolic, Iggy Nujic

BY CLASS
Seniors (3)
Tyler Les, Josh Ritchart, Ryan Sypkens

Juniors (5)
J.T. Adenrele, Clint Bozner, Corey Hawkins, Avery Johnson, Iggy Nujic

Sophomores (2)
Olivier-Paul Betu, Darius Graham

Redshirt Freshmen (1)
Darius Graham

Freshmen (4)
Georgi Funtarov, Brynton Lemar, Carlos Mancasola, Ivan Nikolic

FROM THE PAST TO THE PRESENT
The 2013-14 season is the seventh for UC Davis athletics as a member of the Big West Conference. Previous conference affiliations include:

Far West Conference
1925-1982

Northern California Athletic Conference
1982-1998

California Collegiate Athletic Conference
1998-2004

Division I Independent
2004-2007

Big West Conference
2007-present

NOTE: The Far West changed its name to the Northern California Athletic Conference in 1982

ONE FINAL LOOK AT THE 2012-13 SEASON
Broken records, a remarkable turnaround and a memorable evening in front of a nationally televised audience are just a few of numerous highlights that took place throughout the 2012-13 season, the most successful one for UC Davis since its transition to Division I competition.

In addition to its +10 Division I win differential, one of the top turnarounds in the nation, last year's team captured 14 overall, nine conference and six road victories - all program highs. That roster also posted the program's highest field goal (.473) and three-point shooting percentages (.405) in the Div. I era and ended the 2012-13 season with national distinction in five categories:

No. 3 in three-point field goals made per game (8.3)
No. 17 in three-point field goal percentage (.405)
No. 18 in field goal percentage (.473)
No. 44 in assists per game (14.8)
No. 80 in scoring (71.3)

In his first season at UC Davis, guard Corey Hawkins captured the program's first Big West scoring title, was named to the Lou Henson Mid-Major All-America team, ended his season ranked No. 13 in the country and No. 1 in the Big West Conference in scoring (20.3), received Big West Newcomer of the Year and All-Big West first team honors, broke a 34-year-old school record by scoring 40 points and set a new program record by scoring 569 points, the highest single-season total ever recorded by a sophomore.

Hawkins was not the only player with a record-setting season as guard Ryan Sypkens set two new school records -- most three point field goals made in a single season (106) and career (220) -- ended his season ranked No. 2 in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (.461) and No. 4 in three-point field goals made per game (3.66) en route to earning all-conference honorable mention for the first time as an Aggie.