Seven of this week's nine games take place prior to Christmas Day as Big West teams hope to stuff the standings with some non-conference victories.  
   
The Big West's top team, UC Riverside, is positioned to match last year's win total before the start of conference play, provided the Highlanders pick up two road victories this week against Hawai'i and Denver.  The Highlanders posted an 9-21 overall record last season.
   
UCR is off to the best Division I start in school history at 7-2.  A win over Hawai'i would move the Highlanders six games above .500 for the first time since 1998-99 when they were 10-4 midway through the campaign.  The Highlanders also would collect their third non-conference road win, a first in Division I program history.    
   
Pacific looks to make it four for four against West Coast Conference opponents when it battles Saint Mary's Tuesday.  The Tigers have won three straight against the likes of San Francisco, Pepperdine and Santa Clara.  However, the competition gets more difficult against a Gael team that is earning votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN polls.
   
Cal State Fullerton returns to the court after an eight-day break for finals to host Montana State Monday.  The Titans need a victory to get back to .500 heading into next Monday's Big West opener against Cal State Northridge.  The Titans are 3-0 at home this season.
   
Looking to extend its winning streak to three is Cal State Northridge.  After a six-game skid, the Matadors have rebounded with home wins against Denver and Pepperdine.  Now they look to win on the road for the first time this season.  CSUN gets that chance against San Diego State Monday.
   
Long Beach State looks to get untracked at home against Atlantic 10 Conference foe Temple Monday.  The 49ers have lost four straight games, including their first home setback on Saturday against Montana State.
   
Cal Poly joins Cal State Northridge as the only two Big West squads without a road win in 2008-09.  The Mustangs have an opportunity to end that distinction when they travel to Cal State Bakersfield Tuesday.  A triumph would give Cal Poly back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
   
A struggling UC Irvine squad plays twice this week.  The Anteaters finish up against Norfolk State in their third game of the Basketball Travelers Tip-Off Tournament in Springfield, Mo. on Monday.  UCI has dropped games to Middle Tennessee and host Missouri State in the tournament so far.  The Anteaters then return home to face Utah on Saturday.  UCI is winless at home (0-3) in 2008-09.
   
Two dormant schools this week are UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara.  The Aggies stand at 4-8 with one more non-conference game to go, as they take on Dartmouth on Tuesday, Dec. 30.  The Gauchos (5-6) attempt to return to the .500 mark when they host Ball State on Monday, Dec. 29.  UCSB opens up league play with five of its first seven games on the road.