Brookdale Community College men's basketball coach, Paul Cisek, hasn't had a team like this one before.

In his 17 years as the head coach of the Jersey Blues, Cisek has just about seen it all. But, there are three things, he pointed out, that separate the 2008-09 squad from the rest. "One, we're young [nine freshmen]," he explained. "Two, we're young with a lot of talent, which means competition at positions."

Third, he noted, was the midseason additions of transfers Bill McDonough (St. Rose) and Baronn Livingston (Monmouth Regional), who added size to the lineup. McDonough is 6-8 and Livingston, 6-6.

The Blues were a guard-oriented team that is now adapting to having a power game inside.

"Our strength is now our size," said Cisek. "We're still trying to fit together. We're not the same team from day one to now."

Even with the adjustments, the Blues are 12-8 overall and 10-5 in the Garden State Conference (tied with Sussex for third place). They have the look of a team that will be very dangerous come playoff time.

Cisek noted that the playoffs, as his longtime assistant coach Charlie Hawthorne likes to say, are about match-ups. This year, because his team can play big or small, that could be an edge for the Jersey Blues later this month when the Region XIX Tournament get started.

"We can switch," said Cisek. "We can go small and quick and athletic, or power inside."

Since moving into the lineup on Jan. 13, Livingston and McDonough have made their presence felt. McDonough is averaging 20.2 points a game and Livingston, 11.0.

Point guard Mike Viggiano (Marlboro) and 6-foot- 6 forward Jason Klinger (Wall) are providing stability. They are the lone returning starters from last year and are playing like veterans.

Viggiano has missed the last three games with a sprained knee, and Cisek hopes to have him back no later than the start of the playoffs. He's the team's playmaker, averaging 6.1 assists. He's averaging 11.7 points a game.

Klinger is averaging close to a doubledouble double, 8.2 points and a team-high 8.4 rebounds a game.

Freshman Elvin Morales (Passaic) is Brookdale's shooting guard. He's averaging 17.9 points a contest and leads the team with 43 treys.

Brookdale has been good behind the arc with Viggiano (21), Andrew McKenzie (23)

and Naeem Carter (23), all with more than 20. Antwan Smalley (Passaic) started off the year as the three guard, but in the absence of Viggiano he has taken over the point guard chores. He's one of six Jersey Blues averaging in double figures at 10.6 a game. Carter (Dwight Morrow), a 6-5 frosh forward, is the sixth player in double figures at 16.2 a game. BCC's front court of Mc- Donough, Livingston, Carter

and Klinger is averaging more than 55 points a game. No wonder the Blues are looking to pound the ball inside.

McKenzie (Asbury Park) and back-up point guard William Jones (Lower Merion, Pa.) are important players when the team goes small and athletic.

Dan Stein (Holmdel), a guard, as one of the four sophomores on the team, adds experience to the club.

The Region XIX playoffs have changed this year with teams required to be .500 in GSAC play or .500 overall to qualify.

With eight regular season games remaining, the Blues are in a very good position to claim a playoff spot. Cisek is looking for a top four seed because that guarantees a home playoff game before the tournament moves to the County College of Morris for the semifinals (Feb. 26) and final (Feb. 28).

With no dominant team this year (Brookdale has beaten both the first- and second-place teams, Middlesex and Passaic) it will be anyone's tournament. If the Blues continue to progress and adjust to playing a power game, they could make a lot of noise.

"If you get to the final four, anything can happen," said Cisek.

Brookdale closes the 2008-09 regular season with three home games — Feb. 12 against Union (5:30 p.m.), Feb. 14 versus Pasaaic (3 p.m.) and Feb. 17 against Raritan Valley (6 p.m.).

If the Blues do pull down a top four seed, their home playoff game will be Feb. 24.