Getting to know: Long Beach State basketball

North Carolina's Kenny Williams, left, reaches for a loose ball with Long Beach State's Justin Bibbins during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. North Carolina won 93-67.

North Carolina's Kenny Williams, left, reaches for a loose ball with Long Beach State's Justin Bibbins during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. North Carolina won 93-67.

If the Kansas Jayhawks show the positives of a strong non-conference schedule each season, boosting their RPI and resume for the NCAA Tournament selection committee, Long Beach State proves there is a downside.

The 49ers are the preseason favorites to win the Big West Conference, but have sputtered to a 1-7 record against tough competition including road games at Wichita State, North Carolina, Louisville, UCLA and Washington.

LBSU is ranked 166th in the Kenpom rankings — the lowest mark for a KU opponent this year — but features the toughest schedule in the country.

“We should be better,” LBSU coach Dan Monson told the Grunion Gazette. “I’m disappointed I haven’t seen more growth.”

Despite losses against top competition, there’s still plenty of talent that helped LBSU become Big West preseason favorites. Junior forward Gabe Levin has registered three double-doubles in eight games, earning preseason all-Big West honors along with junior point guard Justin Bibbins.

Interesting note: The 49ers own an 18-87 record against ranked teams, losing their last 19 games against top-25 opponents. Their last win over a ranked opponent was in Dec. 2011 against No. 14 Xavier. Over the past six seasons, LBSU has ranked no lower than sixth in non-conference strength of schedule in the nation.

Series history: Kansas leads, 3-1. Jayhawks won the last meet, 88-80, in 2011.

LONG BEACH STATE STARTERS

No. 21 — G Justin Bibbins | 5-8, 150, jr.

• A preseason all-Big West selection, Bibbins is off to a very slow start shooting the ball, making just 28 percent of his shots (24-of-86) and 23 percent of threes (7-of-31). Last year, he shot 44 percent from the field and 44 percent from deep.

• Through eight games, he’s averaging 8.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 31 minutes per game. He has 31 assists compared to 27 turnovers along with a team-best 11 steals.

• According to hoop-math.com, he’s taking a lot of mid-range jumpers (making up 42 percent of his shots) and missing them (25 percent shooting percentage on them).

• QUOTE: “This is the first team I’ve been on here that has scorers like this,” Bibbins said. “I can get off the ball and trust people can get the ball in the basket. It makes me feel comfortable, relaxed and play my game.”

No. 11 — G Jordan Griffin | 6-3, 165, fr.

https://twitter.com/BallerVisions/status/681273077901070337

• Primarily a three-point shooter, Griffin is shooting a team-best 38.7 percent from behind the arc. He’s made at least one triple in the last seven games.

• A recent addition to the starting lineup, Griffin is averaging 7.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in 19.5 minutes a night.

• He knows how to play defense without fouling. He’s only committed one foul in 156 minutes, the fewest fouls per 40 minutes mark in the country. He’s recorded nine steals, which ranks second on the team.

• QUOTE: “Our three freshman have done well and are very coachable,” Monson said. “They’re not the problem. Some of the older guys are more worried about the expectations they have for themselves instead of the expectations we have for our team.”

No. 3 — G Noah Blackwell | 6-2, 190, soph.

• In eight games (three starts), Blackwell is averaging 5.8 points and 2.3 rebounds. He has 10 assists compared to 11 turnovers with six steals on defense.

• According to hoop-math.com, Blackwell has taken only seven percent of his shots at the rim. Instead, he opts to fire away from the three-point line or take mid-range jumpers.

• He’s shooting 35.7 percent from deep, connecting on 10 of his 28 attempts. But he made four threes in games against UCLA and Washington and is otherwise shooting 2-of-17 in every other game.

• QUOTE: “(Blackwell) will have a bigger role on offense and defense,” Bibbins said in the preseason. “He can be a spark for us.”

No. 00 — F Gabe Levin | 6-7, 215, jr.

North Carolina's Justin Jackson, left, defends against Long Beach State's Gabe Levin during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. North Carolina won 93-67.

• A preseason All-Big West pick, Levin is Long Beach State’s leading scorer (13.0 points per game) and rebounder (7.6 rebounds). He’s shooting 47 percent from the field (40-of-85) and 33 percent from deep (7-of-21). On defense, he’s added eight steals and six blocks.

• Recorded double-doubles against North Carolina, Louisville and Binghampton. According to hoop-math.com, he’s made 71 percent of his shots at the rim, which helps his efficiency.

• At his third school in four years. He played his freshman season at Loyola Marymount, opted to transfer to Marquette, then transferred without playing a game for the Golden Eagles to Long Beach State. He averaged 11.1 points and 7.2 rebounds at Loyola Marymount in 2013-14.

• QUOTE: “He came in, he put the weight of the world on his shoulders when he first got here.” Monson said. “He didn’t give it time to figure out his role, he just came in thinking he had to do everything.”

No. 4 — F Temidayo Yussuf | 6-7, 250, soph.

Long Beach State's Temidayo Yussuf (4) attempts a shot over the defense of Louisville's Jaylen Johnson (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Nov 17, 2016, in Louisville, Ky.

• Received a medical redshirt last season after suffering a season-ending foot injury in the first game of the year.

• Back from his foot injury, he’s played limited minutes. In fact, his 34 minutes against Florida Gulf Coast on Friday was the first time he’s played more than 16 in a game this season. He’s averaging 6.1 points and 3.1 rebounds.

• Pronounced: tem-uh-DIE-oh YOU-seff. He shoots well at the free-throw line for a big man, making 19 of his 25 attempts this season.

• QUOTE: “It’s great to see him back,” Monson said. “Not only because he’s a great kid, but he’s also a great leader. He’s so solid for us.”

LONG BEACH STATE BENCH

No. 1 — G Evan Payne | 6-1, 190, jr.

• He’s played the last three games off of the bench, and it looks like the move has paid off. He’s averaged 14 points on 46 percent shooting during that span. On the season, he’s averaging 11.5 points on 37 percent shooting from the floor.

• Payne is the best free-throw shooter on the team, making 92 percent of his attempts (23-of-25).

• The Akron, Ohio native played his first two seasons at Loyola Marymount before opting to transfer. He sat out all of last season after averaging 18 points per game as a sophomore.

• QUOTE: “He’s a proven scorer at this level,” Monson said. “We’re really trying to make him more of a basketball player than just a scorer. But he’s got the hardest part down. … I mean, he’s as good a scorer as I’ve coached.”

No. 2 — G Loren Jackson | 5-8, 145, fr.

Long Beach State's Loren Jackson goes for a layup around UCLA's Aaron Holiday during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. UCLA beat Long Beach State 114-77.

• The speedy freshman is averaging 5.3 points and 1.5 assists through eight games. He’s dished 12 assists compared to 17 turnovers.

• He was a strong three-point shooter in high school but is off to a slow start, making just 2 of his 15 attempts from behind the arc.

• According to hoop-math.com, he’s only making 37.5 percent of the shots that he’s taking at the rim. Instead, he’s much more effective shooting mid-range jumpers.

• He led Victory Rock (Fla.) Prep to a Grind Session national title last season, scoring a game-high 32 points in the championship game with seven three-pointers. The championship game was played at Lawrence Free State in March.

No. 5 — F Mason Riggins | 6-8, 255, soph.

North Carolina's Isaiah Hicks reaches for the ball past Long Beach State's Mason Riggins (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016.

• After starting 23 games last year, Riggins has worked mostly off of the bench this year. He’s averaging 2.8 points and 2.8 rebounds, shooting 50 percent from the floor in limited action.

• Mostly a slasher, Riggins takes two-thirds of his shots at the rim, according to hoop-math.com.

No. 35 — F Javonntie Jackson | 6-6, 190, fr.

• After playing at least 14 minutes in the first three games, Jackson’s minutes have dwindled. He’s played at least 10 minutes only once in his past five games. He’s averaging 2.9 points and 1.8 rebounds.

• From Compton HS, he led his school to a league title, its first since Toronto Raptors All-Star DeMar DeRozen played there.

• QUOTE: “This team is probably as good offensively as I’ve had for a while,” Monson said. “But it needs some guys to do the dirty work and it needs some guys to rebound and defend and do some other things. Javonntie’s one of those guys. He’s a junkyard dog.”

No. 23 — F Roschon Prince | 6-6, 235, jr.

• Only played one minute against Florida Gulf Coast on Friday after playing double-digit minutes in the previous seven games.

• Prince is averaging 4.1 points and 2.9 rebounds.

• Played his freshman season at USC before opting to transfer to Long Beach State. He averaged 4.2 points and 2.7 rebounds with the Trojans in 2013-14.