Fans of Long Beach State got an inside look at the upcoming basketball season last night, as two very different coaches with two very different teams had one thing in common: an eagerness to get back to basketball. Overlooking the sunkissed waters of the Long Beach Marina at the restaurant Tantalum, third-year men’s coach Dan Monson and incoming women’s coach Jody Wynn mingled and talked shop with eager fans and supporters.

Coach Monson is eager, too; but he also wouldn’t mind a few extra weeks before the season begins, in order to fully heal some key players who are battling injuries.  Freshman Jules Montgomery is rehabbing a torn ACL, while junior transfer Tristan Wilson recently had reconstructive knee surgery and may not be available until January.  Returning forward Arturas Lazdauskas and reigning Big West Freshman of the Year Larry Anderson each suffered a broken hand.

“We’d like to really get after them right now, but we have to hold back until they’re healthy,” Monson says.

But the 49ers won’t have time to sulk. They start the season off with a bang, embarking on a preseason schedule that was assembled in order to prove that Long Beach State is here to compete with the best. That means road trips to Notre Dame, Texas, Duke and #1-ranked Kentucky.  It’s part of the master plan to build a nationally-recognized program, similar to the Gonzaga dynasty that Monson led in the 90s.

“The preseason is for improving your team, not winning games,” Monson says in defense of the heavyweight schedule.  “These kids believe that they can play with anybody in the country, so we give them a chance to do that. We owe it to them to give them that stage.”

Wynn also gave fans a sneak peak into her new team’s mentality.  Though coaches are only allowed to work with players in limited minutes at this point, the staff has already instilled a new attitude in the team that is evident in their motto: Bring it back.

“We want our women to understand what they are representing,” Wynn says. “It’s not just about this year; it’s all the great players and teams that came before them.”

That’s music to the ears of fans who remember the joy of two Final Four appearances, but still feel the sting of a combined .293 winning percentage in the past two seasons.  Wynn’s first chance to impress will come when the 49ers host Prairie View A&M, boasting head coach Cynthia Cooper – a two-time MVP of the WNBA and a former USC Trojan, like Wynn.  Emotions will be riding high for the first time head coach.

“I’m excited for the girls more than anything,” Wynn said.  “I want them to experience success, and be proud to wear the Long Beach State jersey.”

On the court, Wynn said to expect her team to play sound team basketball, utilizing versatility to spread the floor and create uptempo opportunities.  On defense, look for a variety of both man and zone defense, as well as several different kinds of presses – confirming rumors we’ve heard that 49er players have been doing their fair share of running thus far.

“For the most part, we play 94 feet,” Wynn says.  “Basketball is a full court game, and they need to be able to push it up and down the court. So yeah, we are running, but we’re not doing anything out of the norm.”

Normally, it takes depth to play at such a rate. The 49ers have that, but they’ll need to get healthy first.  Wynn says a few players are battling injuries, but overall she’s been encouraged by what she’s seen.  Fifth-year senior Karina Figueroa, one of the conference’s best guards since her freshman year, is feeling better after missing all of last season with foot problems that have plagued her throughout her 49er career.  Wynn is encouraged, but understands that fans have heard that before, only to lose Figueroa for long stretches at a time.  If this is the year that the Big West’s premier shooting guard is at full strength, it will make life much easier for the rookie coach.

Back on the men’s side, depth is also the key word on the court. Coach Monson says it will be his team’s greatest strength, with all returners coming back improved, and several newcomers ready to contribute early (junior transfer Lin Chang in particular excites Monson). 

But he’s also the first to admit that his team hit a wall late last season, causing them to lose sole possession of the conference title and drop their opening Big West Tournament game.  He blames the fatigue equally on youth and a draining schedule.  This year, the experience is there, but the opponents are even better.  The 49ers will need the depth that so excites Monson, in order to avoid a repeat of last year’s collapse.

Off the court, there couldn’t be more energy surrounding both basketball teams.  The men’s team will likely be picked by many to win the Big West Conference outright, while Coach Wynn’s enthusiasm has sparked new interest in a program that has struggled in recent years.  That’s in the past, she says, and is ready to prove it on and off the court.

“I feel comfortable on campus, walking around with recruits,” Wynn says. “It’s great when you can sell something that you believe in.”