Below is a look at the Final Eight teams in this year's championship

Media Note: Records have been adjusted for Moorpark and Los Angeles Southwest.

(Orange Empire Conference Champion, 32-2)

Bill Brummel, head coach

Saddleback, which started the year 5-2, has won 27 straight games coming into the State Tournament. The Gauchos became the first Orange Empire Conference team to win the conference title undefeated under the current 14-game schedule. Saddleback's only losses this season were to Los Angeles Valley (Nov. 17, 89-84), who is in these state championships, but in the other bracket. The Gauchos also lost to College of the Desert (Nov. 30, 81-77). Since then it has been all "Ws." This is Coach Brummel's fourth trip to the state finals and he'll be going for career win No. 400 Thursday night against Diablo Valley. Under Coach Brummel, the Gauchos have been finalists once before, the 1993-84 season, but have never won a state men's basketball championship. Saddleback is led by conference co-MVP Mark Brown, a 5-11, guard, who is averaging 11.7 points prior to the playoffs; and Rahshaw McAfee, a 6-3, forward, who is averaging 16.4 points. Freshman Evan Aitkens is also averaging in double figures for the Gauchos. Aitkens, a 6-3, forward, is averaging 12.9 points.

How Saddleback got here: Saddleback 90, Mt. San Antonio 80; Saddleback 91, Mt. San Jacinto 78; Saddleback 72, Ventura 68

(Western State-Northern Division Champion, 25-6)

Remy McCarthy, head coach

Moorpark College comes into the state finals also red-hot, winning 13 straight games and 15 of their last 16 games. A mid-season slump saw the Raiders lose four of seven, but since then Moorpark has been rolling over the competition. A big reason has been the play of guard T.K. Reed. Reed, a freshman who ranks third in the state in assists at 8.5 a game. His big three targets are — Devin Montgomery, a guard, Trevor Lopez, a guard, and Lester Strong, a 6-7, forward. Montgomery ranks 15^th in the state with a 21.3 scoring average. Strong is 46^th in the state at 16.3 and Lopez is averaging 11.4 a game. Strong is also averaging double figures in rebounds at 10 a game, 15^th best in the state. Two of the Raiders' losses this season are to teams who also will be fighting it out for the state championship trophy this season. On Nov, 25^th Glendale College edged Moorpark, 79-76, and on Dec, 28^th, San Jose City College knocked off Moorpark, 65-53. The 53 points Moorpark scored in that loss was a season-low for the Raiders. Since then Moorpark has been held to fewer than 70 points just once. At the same time, Moorpark has defeated two other Final Eight participants — Los Angeles Valley (77-68) and Los Angeles Southwest (81-66). Moorpark is also trying to win its first men's basketball championship.

How Moorpark got here: Moorpark 98, Grossmont 75; Moorpark 81, Compton 74; Moorpark 88, Los Angeles Valley 74

(South Coast Conference-Southern Division co-Champions, 26-7)

Reggie Morris, head coach

Prior to the start of the Southern California Regionals, Los Angeles Southwest College had managed to score 100 points just twice. However, the Cougars have turned up the offensive power in the playoffs. In LA Southwest's three regional victories, the Cougars have scored 97, 98 and 100 points. At the end of the regular season, LA Southwest was averaging 84 points a game. The Cougars roar into Stockton having won 14 of its last 15 games. Three of LA Southwest's losses this season are to teams who are also in the playoffs and two others were at the hand of Los Angeles City College, a team every thought would be here. LA Southwest has two players in the state's top 100 scoring list.

Leading the list is Curtis Millage, a 6-2 guard, who ranks 7^th in the state in scoring at 22.8.

Eric Knight, a 6-2, guard, also ranks among the top 100 — at 89^th. Knight, a sophomore, averages 13.9 points a game. Devon Rice, a 6-5, forward, leads the state in field goal percentage at .820. He averages 8.5 points a game.

How Los Angeles Southwest got here: LA Southwest 97, LA Trade Tech 88; LA Southwest 98, Allan Hancock 80; LA Southwest 100, Bakersfield 76

(Western State-Southern Division Runner-up, 23-10

Brian Beauchemin, head coach

The 2000-2001 season was a year of milestones for Glendale College Basketball as Head Coach Brian Beauchemin guided them to their 13^th 20 win season in his 22 years as head coach and second appearance in the state tournament, the first since 1985. The team lost three starters to injuries but good team chemistry and contributions from all-conference players Tim Taylor, Marc Walters, Nate Johnson and all-WSC Southern Division MVP Mike Schnyder carried the team to nine wins in their last 10 games. The highlight of the season was not only the Vaqueros 76-70 upset of top-ranked Los Angeles City College on Saturday, but Glendale’s come-from-behind 53-52 win over Cerritos College Feb. 24 in a Southern California Regional first-round playoff game that was win No. 400 in Beauchemin’s coaching career at Glendale.

How Glendale got here: Glendale 53, Cerritos 52; Glendale 86, San Bernardino Valley 76;,Glendale 76, Los Angeles City 70

Percy Carr, head coach

San Jose City College will be trying to win its first men's basketball championship since 1960. A familiar face at these state championships, San Jose City brings a 12-game winning streak into Stockton. The Jaguars have also won 19 of their last 20. Who was that lone loss to in that streak? To Foothill College, who is a possible semifinal opponent come Friday night. San Jose City College is one of the more balanced teams in these championships, ranking 21^st in the state in team defense and 17^th in team offense. In two of their three playoff victories, San Jose City managed 100 points or more, including 114 in the regional final. San Jose City's success has been as a team. The Jaguars have just one player — Antonae Roberson — in the top 100 in the state. Roberson, a 6-5, sophomore, is averaging 19.9 points a game, while also ranking 10^th in the state in field goal percentage. With Roberson working inside, Dallas Jensen and Eric Swan are the Jaguars' deep threats. Jensen ranks 18^th in three-point percentage (49 of 112) and Swan ranks 30^th (50 of 126).

How San Jose City got here: San Jose 100, Yuba 73; San Jose 90, Sacramento City 79; San Jose 114, Shasta 81

(Bay Valley-East Conference Co-Champions, 29-7)

Mark Giorgi, head coach

American River comes into these state championships also looking to lay claim to its first-ever men's basketball state championship. The Beavers are on a roll, having won 15 of their last 17. American River's winning average in its three regional games was 26 points. American River's only common opponent in these championships is Diablo Valley, which gave the Beavers their first loss of the season, 61-57 back in mid-November. If they meet here it will come Saturday night in the state championship game. Like San Jose City, American River is a balanced basketball team, ranking eighth in total offense and 13th in total defense. The Beavers are paced by sophomore guards Ron Barrow and Joshua Winston, both who rank in the top 100 scoring leaders. Barrow ranks 62nd at 15.4 and Winston, who averages 14.3, ranks 82nd. Winston also leads the state in steals. In fact, American River has three players in the top 50 in steals - joining Winston is Stephen Walton (23rd) and Roy Stigall (25th).

How American River got here: American River 85, Butte 56; American River 113, Chabot 83; American River 83, Merritt 64

Todd Petersen, head coach

Just getting to these state championships was nerve racking for Foothill College. Consider that the Owls' winning margin in its three regional playoff games was less than five points. In one game, against Reedley College, the Owls needed overtime to advance and their four-point regional final victory was the closest in the Northern Regional. But that is how the Owls season has flown this season. Consider Foothill comes into the state finals not on a 10-game win streak, not even a five-game win streak, but on a three game win streak (all of the wins coming in the regional). In fact, Foothill lost three of their last five regular-season games. But don't count out these Owls. Foothill has victories this season over San Jose City (74-65) and Los Angeles Southwest (67-61). The Owls rank 34^th in team offense and 31^st in team defense. Foothill also comes to these finals looking for the schools' first men's basketball championship trophy.

How Foothill got here: Foothill 78, Cosumnes River 71; Foothill 76, Reedley 73, OT; Foothill 58, Lassen 54

Steve Coccimiglio, head coach

Labeled by some coaches as the scariest team in the tournament. The Vikings come into the tournament on a 15-game win streak, including a victory over Skyline College, the North's No. 1 seeded team. Why is Diablo Valley possibly the scariest team in the tournament? The Vikings are known to run a complex offense at its opposition, which at times could mean 10 different plays on 10 trips down the floor, said one northern coach. They're a scary team to have to defend. Diablo Valley started the year 7-6, but since then are 19-3. The Vikings are also the best defensive team in the state tournament. Diablo Valley is allowing the opposition 59.59 points a game, second only to West Valley College. Offensively, Diablo Valley, who doesn't have a player making the state top 100 scoring list, averages just 67 points a game — 78^th out of 92 teams competing in men's basketball in the state. The Vikings have managed 80 points or more this season just six times, but at the same time its opposition has managed over 80 points just once. It held its regional opposition to 66.3 points a game. The Vikings also come to these championship looking for its first men's basketball championship.

How Diablo Valley got here: Diablo Valley 83, San Francisco 73; Diablo Valley 75, SJ Delta 67; Diablo Valley 70, Skyline 59