Remember Stanford? The Cardinal reached the Final Four last season and enters this season ranked No. 3 among Division I teams.

What a way to start for the Aggies, who won the NCAA Division II championship last winter.

"It's a huge challenge for us," UC Davis coach Brian Fogel said. "But we are going to have fun with it."

Fogel, a former assistant in his first game as head coach, hopes to find out what his team is made of when the Aggies travel to Maples Pavilion.

Davis is ranked No. 4 in the Division II Top 25 and returns three starters -- Jason Cox, Dante Ross and J.C. Timmons. Still, the Aggies have many holes to fill against one of the nation's powerhouse teams.

The Aggies, who finished last season 31-2 with 22 consecutive victories, are small in the post and lack bulk to bang with the Cardinal.

But Fogel won't concede.

"It was a few years ago when little Chaminade knocked off mighty Virginia and Ralph Sampson," the coach said. "And who can forget UC Riverside beating highly ranked Iowa? Anything can happen, and that's the approach we're taking."

Ross (5-foot-9, 155 pounds) is a preseason All-America point guard. He can shoot and beat defenders off the dribble. Timmons (6-2, 190) averaged 8.9 points and made nearly 40 percent of his three-point attempts.

Cox (6-7, 200) will long be remembered in Aggies lore for his three-point basket late in the NCAA final that propelled UC Davis to its first national championship.

"He's more of a slasher," Fogel said. "Meaning he can step to the perimeter and then take the ball from the perimeter to the basket."

The Cardinal returns all five starters from last season's 30-5 team that finished No. 4 in the final national USA Today/ESPN poll. Leading the way are All-America candidates in point guard Arthur Lee (6-1, 185), forward Mark Madsen (6-9, 235) and center Tim Young (7-2, 250).

Madsen was a key reason the Cardinal advanced to the Final Four. He averaged 15.2 points and 12.2 rebounds in five NCAA Tournament games. Young can score, but his specialty is defense. He is Stanford's all-time leading shot-blocker with 136. Lee is one of the top point guards in Division I. He averaged 14.5 points and 4.6 assists. He's a great floor leader, has exceptional athletic ability and can play both guard positions.

After Stanford, the Aggies play a soft preseason schedule before moving into the newly expanded California Collegiate Athletic Association, maybe the best Division II conference in America.

Here's a look at the league:

Cal Poly Pomona (15-12 last season) -- The Mustangs have a new coach in Tim Rapp and return four starters. But Pomona probably lacks the firepower to stop UC Davis.

Cal State Bakersfield (25-3) -- The Roadrunners are a perennial Division II power, and this season should be no exception. Bakersfield will provide the Aggies their toughest league challenge. The Roadrunners are ranked No. 2 in Division II and favored to win the conference title. Bakersfield is led by senior forward Toshiro Germany, who was second in the CCAA in rebounding, 6-7 forward Jamal Livingston, and 7-foot senior center Len Wilson.

Cal State Dominguez Hills (11-15) -- The Toros should finish in the middle of the pack. But they're a team with just enough firepower to upset opponents such as UC Davis and Bakersfield if taken for granted.

Cal State Los Angeles (18-11) -- Like Bakersfield and UC Davis, the Eagles should provide a challenge in the conference race. Picked to finish third in league, Cal State L.A. plays good defense, led by sophomore guard Quincy Stinson.

Cal State San Bernardino (12-15) -- With just two returning starters, the Coyotes shouldn't be expected to get involved in the race for first place.

Cal State Stanislaus (11-18) -- The top teams should handle the Warriors, who lost five starters from last season's squad that finished fourth in the now-defunct Northern California Athletic Conference.

Chico State (17-10) -- UC Davis swept the Wildcats last season, winning 78-77 and 86-77. This season should be no different.

UC Riverside (16-10) -- The Aggies could find themselves in a defensive battle with Riverside. The Highlanders return four starters from a team that ranked second in the CCAA in scoring defense, allowing 64.5 points.

Grand Canyon (17-10) -- Expect an open-court game when UC Davis meets this fast-breaking squad. The Antelopes will rely on the backcourt duo of Prince Edmonds and Enrique Zuniga. The Aggies will counter with Ross and Timmons.

San Francisco State (7-19) -- The Gators should be no match for the elite teams in the league. San Francisco is young, inexperienced and still searching for talent.