Season opener is also CCAA opener for Wildcats

Ten returning Wildcats lead team into Turlock 

Teams usually prepare for the meat and potatoes of their schedule by playing at least one turkey before hand. Not this season. The Chico State men’s basketball team will open its season on the road in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) game at Cal State Stanislaus Thursday. Tipoff at Fitzpatrick Arena is scheduled for 7 PM.

The Wildcats, coming off a 16-13 season, fifth-place finish in the CCAA standings at 11-11, and first-round upset of Cal State Dominguez Hills in the CCAA Championship Tournament, return four starters and 10 lettermen. Roderick Hawkins, Terence Pellum, Jay Flores and Zach Graves all started last season. Sophomores Jason Conrad and Damario Sims, important pieces off the bench last year are also back.

Two players who missed last season due to injury – junior Josh Jackson and senior Chris Sharp – will make their returns as well. Only redshirt freshmen Sean Park (6-foot-4 guard), Rashad Parker (6-0 guard) and Amir Carraway (6-6 forward) are the new to the roster.

Cal State Stanislaus returns two starters and six letter winners from its 10-17 (6-16 CCAA) 2009-10 team. Frank Monge, a 6-foot-11 senior heads that list. Co-California Community College Player of the Year Reggie Jones, Monge’s predecessor at Ohlone Community College, head a group of four junior college transfers joining the Warriors this season.

The teams use different tactics to prepare for the season. Chico State faced Division I University of Pacific in an exhibition game and led at the half before dropping a 59-44 decision to the Tigers in Stockton.

Meanwhile, Cal State Stanislaus drubbed the club team from UC Merced 112-58 before pasting Pacific College 97-46 in their final tune-up last Thursday.

Chico State dropped a 66-56 decision in Turlock last Jan. 19 before bouncing back to snap a three-game skid against the Warriors with a 72-64 win in Chico on Feb. 9.