Opening tip '09-10: No. 12 Simon Fraser Clan

• Top 100 returnees: G Matt Kuzminski (75th), G Sean Burke (84th)
  
• Other key returnees: G Kevin Shaw, F Tallon Milne, F Eric Burrell, F Greg Gillies
  
• Newcomers: F Tristan Gruenthaler
  
• Coach: Scott Clark (15th season)
  
• Offence and defence: 95, 92 (+3)
  
• Last year's results: 15-11 overall, 13th in RPI
  
• Looking ahead: Again, this is a bit of a flier. Wayne Thomas picked SFU for fifth in the Pac-D, behind UBC, Trinity Western and Fraser Valley (and don't forget UVic). That might be a sound call, since the Clan have a huge hole in the middle with the graduation of backboard-breaking Greg Wallis.
  
  By the same token, Burke is a proven leader at point guard and Kuzminski is very efficient at the two-guard spot. The Clan also returns 65% of its scoring (which might skew their ranking upward, admittedly), which is where Burrell, Gillies and Shaw among others have a chance to stand up and be counted. The bottom line is the Clan are capable, but that's a damn tough division.
  

Rob's explanation of Top 100 players by Player Efficiency Ratings (see last year's PER) and Net Efficiency may be found in the women's preview.