Get ready, get set. Two polls down, two preseason games pending and another 27 regular season games to go for the Seattle Pacific University men's basketball program. The Falcons, preparing to reclaim their conference crown and return to the NCAA Division II tournament for the fifth successive year, host a pair of exhibition games next week in Brougham Pavilion. Two teams comprised primarily of ex-college stars from around the Northwest­-The Son's Blue Angels and the Northwest All-Stars­-meet SPU Tuesday (Nov. 6) and Friday (Nov. 9), respectively.

Tournament for openers. As for the regular season, the Falcons are set to host the 10th annual Vitamilk Tip-Off Classic Nov. 16-17. They will face Indianapolis on opening night, followed by Lock Haven (Pa.). Seattle University completes the four-team field. Great Northwest Athletic Conference play begins Dec. 6 at Central Washington.

Pick of the litter, nearly. Once again coaches from around the nation as well as the Great Northwest have predicted a strong season for Seattle Pacific. The team is ranked No. 16 in the national preseason poll conducted by The Division II Bulletin and the GNAC coaches picked the Falcons at No. 2. Western Washington is the conference favorite and No. 4 nationally. SPU will face Western twice during the regular season. The other currently ranked team on the schedule is No. 17 Henderson State (Ar.), which it meets Dec. 15 in Las Vegas at the High Desert Classic.

A preseason All-America. Faith in the Falcons is well-founded since they return four starters, including two all-conference selections. Brannon Stone (Sr., 6-9, Oak Harbor, Wa.) earned a place on the preseason All-America team, and he is perhaps the most skilled player in the region. Stone, a three-year starter at forward, led the team in assists (3.4), rebounds (6.4), blocked shots (2.0), free throw accuracy (.818) last season while averaging 15.6 points and hitting 52 3-pointers. Already the owner of all records for blocks, he will likely finish his career among the top five in both scoring and rebounding.

Two more stalwarts. The other all-conference returnee is Nick Johnson (Sr., 6-3, Burlington, Wa./Burlington-Edison), an energetic, multi-talented guard. Johnson is as effective driving as shooting beyond the arc, where he made 50 percent of his 3-pointers. He averaged 13.8 points and 4.7 rebounds while playing intense, hounding defense. Center Eric Sandrin (Sr., 6-10, Bothell, Wa./Shorecrest-Portland) got off to a strong start last season before being plagued by tendonitis in his knee. He averaged 12.4 points, 6.1 boards and shot 54 percent.

Job openings. Coach Ken Bone did lose a prolific scorer in John Hubbard (19.2) but transfer Yusef Aziz (Jr., 6-4, Tukwila, Wa./Foster-Highline CC) or returnee Gene Woodard (Jr., 6-4, Edmonds, Wa./O'Dea) should improve the team's defensive and rebounding abilities and both are solid scoring threats from mid-range and inside. Aziz earned all-league honors after leading Highline CC in scoring (19.1) and rebounding (6.6). Woodard averaged 4.5 and 13.5 minutes as a sophomore. Aaron Bellessa (So., 6-2, Federal Way, Wa./Decatur) will be pressed by another transfer, Maurice Cato (Jr., 6-0, Fairfield, Ca./Fairfield-Skyline JC) , for the starting point guard position. Bellessa started 24 games and averaged 2.8 assists last season. Cato hit 73 treys while averaging 14.7 points and 3.7 assists a year ago.

Put-backs. Following three seasons of dependency on the trey, Bone plans to reemphasize defense. SPU has averaged over 83 points per game in but the coach expects that to slip under 80 and, with renewed emphasis on defense, the goal would be to hold opponents under 70...Bone says Jesse Keely (Jr., 6-7, Fircrest, Wa./Bellarmine-Portland) is his most improved returnee, with Keely likely to backup Sandrin in the middle. Among the other top nonstarters will be Daniel Sandrin (Jr., 6-7, Bothell, Wa./Bothell-Portland), Adam Harris (Jr., 6-0, Fox Island, Wa./Gig Harbor) and Chris Cohen (So., 6-8, Saint Helens, Or./Saint Helens)...Redshirt Jordan Lee (Fr., 6-0, University Place, Wa./Life Christian) is the only freshmen expected to see action this season...Another transfer in the backcourt mix is Joe Sundberg (Jr., 6-1, Longview, Wa./Mark Morris-Skagit Valley CC)...Promising new recruits Jeff Knudson (Fr., 6-6, Mukilteo, Wa./Kamiak) and Mike Bushmaker (Fr., 6-7, Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) will likely redshirt.

Tickets, please. Reserved ticket prices for all SPU home games are priced at $7 and $6. General admission prices are $5 with students, youth and senior citizens $3 with proper identification. Teams or groups can qualify for discount rates by call (206) 281-2085 in advance.

SPU Coaches. In his 11 years as coach of his alma mater, Ken Bone has directed the Falcons to seven NCAA tournament berths, five conference titles and 11 consecutive winning records. His winning percentage of .712 is the best in school history, surpassing even the legendary Les Habegger. From 1995-2000 Bone's teams advanced to the regional championship game five times, including a record 27 wins and Final Four appearance in 2000. Jeff Hironaka is in his 11th year as associate head coach. Jarrett Mentink returns to the staff after a four-year absence this season. George Parker who first served as an assistant in 1986, returns for his 13th year on the staff. Former all-conference forward Reggie Paul joins the staff after five seasons of playing professionally in Europe and Asia.