Nov. 7, 2003

DAVIS, Calif. - The 2003-04 season of UC Davis men's basketball will be a season of change on many levels. Last spring, UC Davis announced its intention to reclassify from NCAA Division II to Division I status and move into the Big West Conference. The reclassification includes a four-year transition process as the Aggies come into compliance with NCAA Division I regulations.

The second major change in the basketball program occurred on April 24, 2003 when Gary Stewart was named head coach following the resignation of Brian Fogel at the conclusion on the 2002-03 season. Stewart became the 22nd head coach at UC Davis, dating back to the 1910-11 season when Howard Phillips guided the Aggies to a 2-4 record in their inaugural season.

For Aggie fans, the start of the men's basketball season is November 24, when the team hits the floor for its season opener against Western Washington. For the players, the 2003-04 season began the day Stewart was named head coach. Almost immediately following his press conference, a new level of commitment and discipline was instilled in the program. Stewart implemented a rigorous early-morning performance enhancement program which included weightlifting, running and aquatic exercises. The tone was set.

The Aggie players were already aware of Stewart's reputation as a meticulous and passionate teacher. What they found was a coach who walks the fine line between discipline and compassion. He possesses a unique ability to drive athletes to their limits, while showing them the care and concern of a family member.

Leading the Aggies into the Division I-era is a challenge Stewart has approached head on and at full speed. After spending last season on the UCLA men's basketball staff and the previous three seasons as an assistant coach at Washington State University, the 41-year-old Stewart hit the ground running last April and hasn't stopped.

"Our number one priority coming in was to establish a work ethic and create both an academic and athletic culture from which we want to operate," said Stewart, who spent the first nine years of his coaching career as head coach at his alma mater, La Verne.

"There are three areas we are focusing on: academics; a performance-enhancement program through weight training, cardio training, running and aquatics; and a physiological component to better understand the mental approach needed to succeed," he added.

UC Davis enters the season with a majority of new faces as only five letterwinners return from last year. Gone are two-time All-West Region selection Dominic Callori and two-year starter Danny Workman, both lost to graduation. In all, seven letterwinners from last season were lost, leaving the door open for incoming players to contribute right away.

"We are bringing in a group of players who, along with our core group of returnees, have similar traits of being committed to the program's philosophies and competitive in their approach," Stewart said. Leading that group of returning players is junior forward Ryan Moore (6-5, 220). Moore played just nine games last season before sustaining a season-ending injury, but in that short time gave a glimpse of future promise. He averaged 16.6 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting .626 from the field and .852 from the free throw line.

Junior guard Fowzi Abdelsamad (6-2, 175) returns and, along with Moore, gives the Aggies arguably the top 1-2 scoring punch in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Abdelsamad had back-to-back 30-plus scoring games last season as he was an All-CCAA second team selection.

Senior Gus Argenal (6-0, 180) will direct the Aggie attack from his point guard position. Argenal is the prototypical point guard, leading the CCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio last season after finishing second in his first two years.

Junior guard Robert Ehsan (6-1, 170), whose strength lies in his ability to shoot from the perimeter, will share time with Abdelsamad at the shooting guard position. Ehsan averaged 5.0 ppg last season, including 7.0 ppg over the last five contests.

Sophomore center Madison Butts (6-7, 220) played in 25 games last season, starting three, while averaging 2.9 ppg and 2.4 rpg. Butts has added 10 pounds since last season and should see his playing time increase with a season of experience under his belt.

Freshman guard Rommel Marentez (5-11, 175) returns after redshirting last season. Marentez played in the first two games before suffering a season-ending injury during the opening weekend. He should share time with Argenal at point guard.

Freshman forward Ari Warmerdam (6-4, 200) will add depth to the Aggie front line after spending the 2002-03 season as a redshirt.

UC Davis will bring six new faces into the fold this season. Sophomore Phil Rasmussen (6-7, 210) will begin the season at the forward position after transferring from Fresno State where he played one year. An All-Sacramento selection as a senior at Jesuit High School, Rasmussen averaged 19 ppg and 8 rpg in leading Jesuit to the NorCal Championship and a final No.3 ranking in California.

Freshmen Ryan Schwarz and Ryan Symes will add size and strength to the Aggie front line as both will look for playing time as they adjust to the collegiate game. Schwarz (6-7, 238), out of John F. Kennedy HS in Littleton, Colo., gives the Aggies a presence at the low post at both ends of the floor. A first-team All-City (Denver) selection as a junior and senior, Schwarz averaged 19 ppg and 9 rpg as a senior.

Symes (6-5, 200) led Palo Alto HS to the Central Coast Section title as a senior last season. Most comfortable scoring on the perimeter, Symes will look for playing time at the forward position.

Junior JaQay Carlyle (6-6, 210) will begin his first year as an Aggie after spending the last two seasons at Los Angeles City College. Carlyle, who helped LACC to a 36-2 record and the California Community College State Championship in 2003, is a versatile defender and will help the Aggies in the shot-blocking department.

Freshmen Anthony Esparza (6-5, 175) and Thomas Juillerat (6-5, 215) will give the Aggies depth at the forward position. Esparza played last season at Garces Memorial High School while Juillerat played at Amador Valley High School.

While the Aggies enter the 2003-04 season with change all around, what has remained constant is a difficult schedule. In addition to the rigors of a demanding CCAA schedule, which features perennial national powers Cal State San Bernardino and Cal State Bakersfield, the Aggies have preseason contests at Western Washington and Division I Nevada. Nevada won 18 games last season and advanced to the N.I.T. Tournament.

While it might be easy for outsiders to judge the success of the 2003-04 season by its record, Stewart doesn't believe the year's expectations translate directly into wins and losses.

"I want to develop a nurturing environment predicated on the development and growth of the student athlete," he said. "How cohesive we become, how hard we play, the fact that we get better everyday, that's what 's important."