2015-16 Men's Basketball Preview: Nothing to Lose

CARSON -- In a league that boasts perennial national powers in Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino, the 2015-16 Cal State Dominguez Hills men's basketball team was picked to finish dead last in a poll of CCAA head coaches. But led by returners in Honorable Mention All-CCAA selection Justin Sadler and the team's top scorer in senior Ivan Dooley, the Toros squad isn't phased by these predictions.

In fact, interim head coach Steve Becker welcomes them.

"I expect us to be a tough, hard-working group," he begins. "We're pretty athletic and have some guys who can drive it and make some plays off the bounce, and we're going to be a tough group of guys who compete and get after it."

With five returning seniors in the mix in Dooley, Chris Carvin, Brandon Woods, Shaquille Hunter and Darius Butler who all have at least one year of CCAA experience under their belts, as well as Sadler, uber-athletic sophomore Jonathan Nichols and newcomers Vincent Golson and Arthur Caldwell, the Toros have nothing to lose starting tomorrow as they take on No. 11 Cal Baptist in the CCAA/PacWest Tournament, set for a 7 pm first tip.

Here's Becker on his team, what he expects from them, as well as his thoughts on the season.

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Players Mentioned

#31 Darius Butler: G; 6' 4"; Senior

#4 Ivan Dooley: G; 6' 3"; Senior

#11 Shaquille Hunter: G; 6' 3"; Senior

#24 Jonathan Nichols: G; 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore

#21 Justin Sadler: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#5 Brandon Woods: G; 6' 2"; Senior

#2 Vincent Golson: G; 5' 8"; Junior

#32 Arthur Caldwell: F; 6' 6"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#31 Darius Butler
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

#4 Ivan Dooley
: 6' 3"; Senior
: G

#11 Shaquille Hunter
: 6' 3"; Senior
: G

#24 Jonathan Nichols
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G

#21 Justin Sadler
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#5 Brandon Woods
: 6' 2"; Senior
: G

#2 Vincent Golson
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G

#32 Arthur Caldwell
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F