One thing is certain about the Chaminade men's basketball team: By the end of the 2008-09 season, the Silverswords will be in marathon-caliber shape.

The defending PacWest Conference champions will make do with just nine players on their roster for the upcoming year, a challenge coach Matt Mahar didn't desire but will now embrace.

“;We're doing a lot of 4-on-4 stuff, getting up and down the court, so hopefully we'll be in good condition,”; Mahar said. “;It is hard, but the thing I've noticed is they're really close, and that's going to help us because they're all new, they're all in it together. We're gonna get on 'em, but they'll try to stay together as a group.”;

Chaminade was selected by the seven PacWest coaches to finish second behind Brigham Young-Hawaii, which knocked the 'Swords out of the NCAA Division II tournament in the regional semifinals last year.

Mahar considers working with seven newcomers (plus redshirt returnee Darrell Birton) ready to play one of his biggest tests as he enters his fourth year as head coach.

The 'Swords' leading scorer from last year, junior Rodrick Johnson (13.5 points per game), left the team because of a family situation and the nightly double-double of graduate Marko Kolaric (12.6 points, PacWest-best 10.0 rebounds) will be sorely missed. Lamar Hunt would have been in the rotation this year but retired after a second severe knee injury.

To add to the difficulty, Silverswords guard Patrick Collier—the only player to get in the court last year—is expected to miss time with a torn meniscus. That puts Mahar's available men down to seven as the 'Swords open exhibition play against the University of Hawaii on Friday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

“;Yeah, (we'll be) pretty much iron men,”; said Birton, a possible starter who earned playing time two years ago and is one of two seniors along with Collier. “;It's gonna hurt, but it's gonna help us because it makes everyone step up. It definitely could be a blessing.”;

The challenge ramps swiftly after the UH exhibition as Chaminade plays host to top-ranked North Carolina in the first round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational on Nov. 24.

Chaminade didn't place any players on the PacWest preseason all-conference team, but Mahar's peers agreed that the 'Swords could be potent with three Division I transfers—6-4 guard Joel Smith (Washington), 6-6 forward Shane Hanson (UC Davis) and 6-8 center Mohamed Tangara (Arizona).

“;It's gonna take a lot more learning this year, especially the guys coming from D-I—they do things a little bit differently than we do here,”; Mahar said. “;We were kind of spoiled (in past seasons), having guys around that we've had for a few years who know exactly what you want in any given situation.”;

The coach sees high potential in 6-10 freshman center Chris Smith of Australia, and 6-4 forward Rickey Clayborn can step in right away along with JC transfer guards Jamar Berry and Noah Gottlieb.

BYU Hawaii (20-8, 13-5 last year)

Lucas Alves, the reigning PacWest player of the year, returns for his junior season and was tabbed yet again to take the conference's top individual honor. The 6-9 forward is a large part of why the Seasiders were tabbed to win the conference. He posted a league-best 20.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game last year, and carried BYUH past Chaminade into the NCAA Division II West regional final.

“;I've tried to work more on my outside game, and try to get tougher inside,”; Alves said. “;(Last year) I'd get double-, triple-teamed all the time, and I wasn't ready for that. I've been working on that, getting ready to deposit the ball outside.”;

Chaminade (21-8, 15-3)

The scoring of Rodrick Johnson (13.5 points per game) and Marko Kolaric (12.6 points, 10.0 rebounds) must be replaced by seven newcomers, including three Division I transfers. Patrick Collier, the only returning player to see action last year, will miss time early in the season with an injury, forcing the Silverswords to run with only eight players.

Coach Matt Mahar will call upon the team's solid chemistry to carry the Silverswords through games early in the season, including the stacked EA Sports Maui Invitational.

“;We got a really good group of guys,”; Mahar said. “;They're very, very close. It's the first time I've had a team where you don't see guys walking alone.”;

Hawaii-Hilo (13-13, 8-10)

Seniors John Smith and Jay DeMaestri were both picked to the PacWest preseason all-conference team.

Smith averaged 11.1 points and dished 82 assists for the season last year, while DeMaestri posted 12.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. The latter will play a big role in a front line that stands only 6-7, 6-6, and 6-6.

“;We're a senior-oriented team, basketball IQ is pretty high,”; coach Jeff Law said. “;But our size and the muscular stuff ... we're a little on the small side.”;

Hawaii Pacific (8-19, 5-13)

Legendary coach Tony Sellitto has returned to lead the Sea Warriors and will run his offense through senior guard Jason Curtis (a preseason all-conference pick), who averaged 14 points and 2.5 assists last year.

“;One of the reasons that I really came back is because I feel that this young man, Jason Curtis ... I've had some truly outstanding All-American point guards, he's easily as good as any of them. We expect a lot of good things out of him.”;

HPU also has size in the post with a 6-10 Miodrag Radojevic and 6-9 Adrian den Dulk.