Yes, it's only one game, and yes, the Chico State men's basketball team is only 1-2 in its young season. But I don't think it's a stretch to say that this year's group, even with all the new faces, should have no trouble improving upon last year's abysmal record based on the Wildcats' performance against Menlo last night.
Puck Smith likened his team's performance to the end result of the digestive process (in not so certain terms) afterward, but he also said he's not taking the win for granted.
From a spectator's point of view, Chico State has some definite ups and downs so far. I'll now categorize them under capitalized headers.

UPS
— It looks like the Wildcats have a legitimate post game through Frank Igbekoyi and Mike Martin. Igbekoyi was getting the ball ludicrously deep early in Friday night's win, and he's got a nice baby hook. Don't be surprised to see more double-doubles from him. Martin just looks strong with the ball at all times and can play some perimeter pretty well, too.
— Darroll Phillips, at first glance, is a bona fide sharpshooter and just the kind of clutch presence Chico State will need to win those close games (whether a preseason game against Menlo should have been close at all is up for debate, but still). He scored 27 points, so obviously he can fill it up, but what impressed me was his five steals. With a defensive backcourt of Phillips (he's a 3, but he plays like a 2) and Justin Argenal, the Wildcats could be very disruptive. What I like most about Phillips, though, is that he seems to play with a calmness in big situations.
— Chico State is solid defensively around the perimeter. Phillips and Argenal are, again, intense and opportunistic, and even Martin, a power forward, has the athleticism to hop out and defend.

DOWNS
— Consistency is going to have to manifest itself at some point. As good as Igbekoyi was, it wasn't a game-long venture; he didn't score in the second half. The Wildcats shot the lights out from 3-point land in the second half, but couldn't get even one of their nine attempts to go down in the first. Martin seemed to ebb and flow from second to second. In one sequence, he drove strong through a double team (good), missed his layup (bad), ripped down his own board (good) and then lost his dribble (bad).
— Interior defense against big players was a problem. Chico State was outscored in the paint 30-22, which might not seem like a big discrepancy but really is what kept Menlo in the game. The Oaks plugged up the paint with 6-foot-11 Chris Funke — a perfect name for a center, by the way — and it was all the Wildcats could do to try to front him. This is an area where their perimeter defensive pressure could bail them out, as entry passes are sure to be viewed as pure evil.
— Chico State's got to get more out of its wing players not named Argenal or Phillips. Ryan Smith provided energy and hustle, but in 26 minutes touched the stat sheet with one rebound and two assists. His support off the bench wasn't tons better, though Jesse Soto, Josh Jackson and Rod Hawkins all had glimmers of success. Still, there was only 10 points between those four players, to go along with eight turnovers. That will change as the season progresses, but for now, it's a weakness.
— Chemistry is big, but so is the list of new players in the Chico State locker room. This is the initial teammates-feeling-each-other-out stage, and there will be hiccups along the way. It will take a while for everyone to get accustomed to each other, but once it happens, I truly do think the Wildcats can be competitive. As for the conference season, that could be another story, but for right now there are signs of a solid team in the making.