CCAA men’s basketball teams may be just seven games into a 22-game conference schedule but it is clear that there is no one dominant team.

Cal Poly Pomona was 8-0 and 5-0 in CCAA play before being throttled by Cal State East Bay 57-54 on Thursday. That put the Broncos and local rival Cal State San Bernardino in a tie for first place. Then the Coyotes lost to Chico State in ugly fashion 63-56 on Friday.

No game is a gimme in this conference and there doesn’t seem to be a team to beat. Humboldt State was the coaches pick for the top spot but the Lumberjacks are, ugh, well, lumbering. They have already lost four conference games. Not close enough to that team to know what the problem is.

As for the two locals, well the Coyotes offense seems just chaotic since point guard Nate Roth went down with a knee injury a week ago in the opening minutes against the Broncos. It is point guard by committee right now. What the best option is right now depends on the night.

Then D.J. Shumpert injured a knee midway through the second half at Chico on Friday. He tried to shake it off and go back in but had to come right back out. The extent of that injury has yet to be determined. Not what the Coyotes need!

Cal Poly Pomona was ranked No. 6 going into Thursday’s game. I think that was a bit much, but likely based on reputation. The Broncos hadn’t lost yet but they really hadn’t been tested. Yes they beat San Bernardino but neither team played well in that one and both tried to give it away.

Dominguez seems a bit down too. LA. looks like it has talent but we say that every year about the Eagles and they never seem to live up to billing.

But look out for East Bay. The Pioneers have already beaten Humboldt and now Pomona. That’s a team on the rise that can play with no pressure since all eyes seem to be focused on the traditional powers.

It’s going to be survival of the fittest in this conference this year.

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