Defending champion Seattle Pacific University, which added four Division I transfers, is the favorite to repeat as Pacific West Conference men's basketball champions this winter.

The Falcons, who advanced to the semifinals of the Elite Eight with a 27-5 record last season, received seven of 16 first-place votes and 33 ballot points in the PacWest Coaches annual preseason poll and easily outdistanced runner-up Brigham Young-Hawaii. The Seasiders, who lost to SPU in last year's PWC title game, received three first-place votes and 20 ballot points, just one ahead of Central Washington and Western Washington.

SPU opens preseason play by hosting Washington Nov. 10. The regular season begins Nov. 17 at home against Cal State San Bernardino.

Though SPU won the overall balloting, Western Washington nipped the Falcons by one point in the separate West Division Coaches poll.

Seattle Pacific lost four starters from the squad which fell to Kentucky Wesleyan in overtime in the 2000 Final Four. But Coach Ken Bone returns all-conference forward Brannon Stone (6-7, Jr., Oak Harbor) and top sub John Hubbard (6-5, Sr., Inglewood, Ca.).

Stone led the Falcons in rebounding, assists and blocks, while averaging 12.6 points per game. Hubbard averaged 13.7 points in a sixth-man role. Also back is point guard Aaron Bellessa (6-2, So., Federal Way, Wa.), who returns after a two-year church mission.

Bone reloaded by signing University of Portland transfers Eric (6-9, Jr., Bothell, Wa./Shorecrest) and Danny Sadrin (6-7, So., Bothell, Wa./Bothell HS) and Jesse Keely (6-2, So., Tacoma, Wa./Bellarmine) and Darrell Walker (6-0, Sr., Marysville, Wa.) from Eastern Washington.

The PacWest has dropped its men's postseason tournament in 2001. The first of 18 conference games for SPU is Nov. 30 at Western Washington.

BYU-Hawaii visits Brougham Pavilion Feb. 3 for the annual homecoming game.

2000 PacWest Men's Basketball Conference Poll
1st 2nd 3rd Pts
1. Seattle Pacific 7 4 3 - 33
2. BYU-Hawaii 3 3 5 - 20
3. Western Washington 3 3 4 - 19
3. Central Washington 2 5 3 - 19
5. Alaska Fairbanks 1 0 0 - 3
6. Alaska Anchorage 0 1 0 - 2
7. Hawaii Pacific 0 0 1 - 1
(Each of the 16 coaches in the PacWest ranked the top three teams. Points awarded on 3-2-1 basis).

PacWest West Division Coaches Poll
1. Western Washington (4) 61
2. Seattle Pacific (3) 60
3. Central Washington (1) 55
4. Saint Martin's 34
5. Western Oregon 28
6. Northwest Nazarene 22
7. Humboldt State 19
8. Seattle 17

PacWest Pacific Division Coaches Poll
1. BYU-Hawaii (6) 68
2. Alaska Anchorage (1) 53
3. Alaska Fairbanks (1) 38
3. Hawaii Pacific 38
5. Montana State-Billings 37
6. Chaminade 26
7. Hawaii Hilo 24
8. Western New Mexico 12
(Each coach ranked all 8 teams in their own division. Points awarded on 9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis).