Pacific was supposed to be the favorite in the Big West. Not any longer.

Bob Thomason just lost three of his top players for the season and one of them, the frontrunner for Big West Player of the Year honors, is leaving the school permanently.

The Stockton Record said that the three players were involved in an alleged sexual assault which also involved a women's basketball player.

Pacific sports information director Mike Millerick confirmed to FOXSports.com that the three players - Steffan Johnson, Michael Nunnally and Michael Kirby - are no longer on the current roster (all three names have been removed from the roster on the school's athletic web site).

According to a source close to the situation, Johnson, a senior guard who averaged 14.5 points and 4.9 assists last season, appears to be headed to the University of Idaho - where he would play for head coach Don Verlin (whose twin brother, Ron, is an assistant at Pacific).

Nunally, a senior big man who averaged 7.4 points and 4.5 boards last season, will miss the entire year and Kirby will be eligible for the second semester.

The source said there is currently no criminal investigation and that Johnson will likely sue the school.