Picked to finish third in the Big West preseason poll, Cal State Northridge (known more commonly as CSUN), is a much more formidable opponent than they may appear to the average spectator.
The Matadors return four starters and 92% of their scoring offense from a year ago, anchored by forward Lamine Diane, who last season was the only player in the history of the Big West Conference to claim Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards all in the same season. A native of Senegal and product of Findlay Prep High School, Diane has been one of the most transformative talents in all of mid-major basketball, who still somehow is sitting below the radar nationally.