CSUN Lacking Physical Force for Basketball

Northridge lost the top seven players from a team that won the California College Athletic Assn. title last season. Gone are Mike Almeido, Dale Brandsberg and Rafael Meza, among others.

In their place, the Matadors will rely on sophomore swingman Pat Bolden; Glendale College transfer Jimmy Daniels and Brigham Young transfer Paul Drecksel at guard; Dan Mulder, a transfer from Saddleback Junior College at forward; and at center will be a transfer from El Camino College, Paul Hobus. Sophomore Troy Dueker will add depth at guard.

“We’re not a physical team,” said CSUN Coach Pete Cassidy, “But we are a pretty good perimeter team.”

Two of the Matadors’ big men are injured. Ed Bowman, a 6-7 center, could be lost for the season due to a wrist injury. Sophomore James Hecht, also 6-7, has been out with a injury to his hand, but could be back in two weeks.

“Bolden is a very versatile athlete,” Cassidy said. “He is a good jumper and he is a good medium-range shooter. He came off the bench to spark us last year.

“Drecksel came from BYU, because he knew he wouldn’t play there. He suffered a back injury and was on his back for eight months. He’s a good player and he can really take it to the hole.”

“We are trying to find an identity,” assistant coach Mark Felix said. “We’re not the quickest, we’re not experienced and we’re not physical. But we are nice people. I don’t know if that will help us as a team. It’s so hard to tell at this point.”

The Matadors will find out this week when they travel to Laramie, Wyo. to face Division I opponents University of Wyoming and then Colorado State in Fort Collins, Co.

THE MASTER’S COLLEGE

The Master’s College has hired a new coach, Randy Stem, a former assistant coach at Tennessee Temple in Chatanooga, Tenn.

“I stress defense. Man-to-man defense is all we will play. In fact, we’ll play eight to 10 people because I want them to be aggressive.”

The Master’s starters include 6-7 senior Kelly Byrd at center; Virgil Harraway, a 6-3 forward; 6-3 forward Duane Lawrence; and guards Pete Coeler, a 6-4 transfer from College of the Canyons, and Paul Hill, a returning point guard.

“I like to play up-tempo basketball, but we don’t have the horses for that,” Stem said. The Master’s lost its opener at Grand Canyon College in Arizona Saturday night.

On Tuesday, it evened its record at 1-1 by defeating Life Bible College, 125-78.

Lawrence, a senior, scored 19 for The Master’s. Teammates Reggie Davis and Phil Hahn each had 18.

“We are a year away from playing with the better teams in the district,” Stem said. “We have no one outstanding player. We are not big and we’re not quick. Our only strength is I think we will develop defensively. I’ll be hard to get along with if we don’t.”

The Master’s will continue preseason action Friday at 8 p.m. in the Claremont-Mudd Tournament.

The Master’s was 18-19 overall last season, 1-11 in the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics’ District III.

“All we can do is go up from here,” Stem said.

CAL LUTHERAN

Cal Lutheran, also a member of the NAIA’s District III, is coming off a dismal year in which the Kingsmen posted an 8-25 record. CLC is changing its offensive strategy this season, according to third-year Coach Ed Anderson.

“In order for us to succeed, we need to run and press,” he said. “In the past, we’ve played at a slower pace. Now our personnel is suited to fast break.”

Key returning players include: 6-7 senior center Steve Cotner; Pat Gibbs, a 6-6 guard-forward; guards Jeff Wrout, John Aguirre, Mark Taggatz and Darren Ranck; and forwards Alan Moore and Karl Slattum.