SUU is picked to finish seventh in the Summit League according to a poll of conference coaches. The lackluster ranking doesn't bother second-year head coach Roger Reid - for now.

"Realistically, when looking at who we have back and who the other teams in the league have back, I can't argue with where we've been picked. This is a reality," Reid said. "On the other hand . . . our goal is to win the conference championship, and games are won on the court. By the end of the season we hope to prove a lot of voters wrong."

It's certain that Reid is acquainted with winning. Following his heralded eight-year coaching career at BYU from 1989-1997, Reid took the helm at SUU following a two-year stint at Snow College.

Last year, Reid led the struggling SUU team to its best conference record (9-9) since 2000. More importantly, the Thunderbirds finished the season winning six of its last seven games - an encouraging sign for the Thunderbirds' future.

With five players returning from last season, Reid is optimistic about this year's chances and the future of the program.

"It's always exciting heading into a new season. For me it's always like Christmas morning that first day," Reid said. "You've been thinking all summer about the team and the new recruits and you're excited about getting the guys together and getting to know who everyone is and how they will fit together."

The Thunderbirds will have to find a new offensive identity following the loss of last season's leading scorer Geoff Payne. Seniors Dave Marek, Tyler Quinney and John Clifford will offer the most experience to the Thunderbirds and hope to fill the shoes left by Payne.

With so many new players on the roster, Reid knows a focus on fundamentals will be key in the construction of what he hopes will ultimately be a conference championship-caliber team.

"I always like to start with the fundamentals, but with so many new guys we have to assume they don't know anything, so we start from the beginning," he said. "We're counting on our returning players, particularly early in the season, to give us leadership and to be the foundation of our team."

Reasons to like, or dislike T-birds

* Why they'll win: The Thunderbirds posted a big turnaround under the direction of first-year coach Roger Reid.

* Why they won't: SUU is young - maybe too young. Though Reid and staff have the tools to transform a large group of underclassmen into a championship caliber team, the loss of Geoff Payne may be too much for the Thunderbirds to overcome - this year.

* Players who matter and what they bring: Seniors Dave Marek, Tyler Quinney and John Clifford will bring much needed experience to a young SUU team. Marek scored in double figures in eight of the last 12 regular season games in 2007 and will be an offensive complement to junior Cory Davis who averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals at New Mexico Junior College.

* Key nonconference games: If last season is any indication, Boise State, Weber State , Utah State and Utah Valley University will give SUU all it can handle. The Thunderbirds narrowly fell to each of these teams last year.

* Bottom line: After winning six of its last seven games last season, SUU carries plenty of momentum into 2008. However, the Thunderbirds will need someone to step up quickly to fill the offensive gap left by Payne.

* Season opener: Mesa State at SUU, 7 p.m. Saturday.