COLLEGE BASKETBALL 1985-86 : WCAC Preview : San Francisco Returns, but Conference Leaves Its Heart in the South

Despite the reincarnation of the University of San Francisco, the balance of power in West Coast Athletic Conference basketball has shifted to what league officials are calling the Southern California Triangle.

The five northern WCAC teams probably won’t disappear completely when they venture south of Santa Clara, but they’re expecting some harrowing experiences at the hands of defending champion Pepperdine, improved Loyola Marymount and sleeper San Diego.

“Experts say the balance of power has shifted,” Commissioner Michael Gilleran said. “But there are no easy outposts in this league. And contrary to some rumors . . . we are not conceding to Pepperdine.”

Gilleran is confident that with Pepperdine receiving some preseason support in the polls, USF back on the schedule and a big-name coach in Paul Westhead at Loyola, the WCAC “is on the upswing.”

The WCAC likes to think of itself as “a coaches’ league,” and Gilleran says that this season “the coaches in this league will keep us in some ballgames.”

Many of the hopes for increased national prominence ride with Pepperdine, which opens this week against fifth-seeded Kansas in the Big Apple tournament. Since USF dropped its program four years ago, Pepperdine has been the WCAC’s main postseason spear carrier, but the Waves and the league haven’t been very lucky come tournament time. The Waves drew Duke in the first round last year and eventual NCAA champ North Carolina State three years ago. Two years ago, San Diego fell to Princeton (Princeton?) in the first round.

In an effort to improve league prestige and get more invitations to the NCAA tournament, most WCAC teams have upgraded their schedules. Pepperdine has been playing--but not beating--the Kansases and DePauls for years. “We’ll play anybody, anytime, anyplace,” Pepperdine Coach Jim Harrick said. Loyola plays UCLA this season, and Portland opens against Oregon State.

“We’re hopeful this year we’ll get a little better draw from the NCAA,” Gilleran said. “We’re hopeful to show better in the NCAA--whether we like it or not that’s what determines a lot of exposure and prestige.”

In conference play, Pepperdine shapes up as the heavy league favorite, with Loyola, San Diego and Portland expected to be the top competition. Santa Clara, Gonzaga and St. Mary’s are all in rebuilding phases and USF expects to take its lumps this year. “This is gonna be payback time for a lot of schools against USF this year,” Dons’ Coach Jim Brovelli says.

Here is a look at the teams other than Pepperdine.

LOYOLA MARYMOUNT

New Coach Paul Westhead should have plenty of firepower. He inherits the only team in WCAC annals with two conference scoring champions--6-7 forward Forrest McKenzie in 1983-84 (20.9) and 6-3 guard Keith Smith in 1984-85 (25.1). Westhead also has the team’s best big man in ages, 6-8 Marquette transfer Vic Lazzaretti.

However, injuries are cropping up. McKenzie, who red-shirted last year due to a grades dispute, has a broken thumb on his shooting hand and won’t be available until early December. Lazzaretti missed three weeks of practice with a foot injury. And promising sophomore forward Mark Armstrong injured his left arch in an exhibition game last week.

If the key players get healthy, Loyola could have its best team in decades. Sophomore Steve Haney and freshman Enoch Simmons have scoring ability at guard and 6-6 sophomores Armstrong and Mike Yoest started as freshmen. McKenzie is probably the key.

SAN DIEGO

The Toreros have the league’s only big center in 7-foot, 260-pound Scott Thompson and return swing man Mark Bostic, who missed last season due to an injury, and 6-7 forward Nils Madden. Thompson averaged 11 points and 6.7 rebounds as a junior and Coach Hank Egan says he “is maturing, and is a much better ballplayer.” Egan has added several transfers and freshmen including 6-9 Kansas transfer Jim Pelton, originally from Palos Verdes High. Egan was 16-11 in his first year at San Diego and says, “We think we’re a better ballclub.”

PORTLAND

Veteran Coach Jack Avina always looks like he’s about to be sick, and the last few years he’s had good reason--consecutive WCAC records of 4-8, 2-10 and 3-9. But this year may bring a twinkle to his hound-dog eyes. The backcourt returns starters Fred Harris and Dwayne Corbitt, and transfer Greg Attaway is pushing them. The front line is Portland’s tallest ever--6-10 James Van Ness and 6-6 forwards Tony Havior and Dan Hunt return and are backed up by 6-9 John Piwarchuk and 6-9 freshman Rich Antee out of Pius X High. Avina likes his guards so much he may play three at times.

SANTA CLARA

The Broncos have only two seniors, guards Steve Kenilvort and Ken Mulkey. The front line will have 6-9 sophomore Dan Weiss flanked by 6-5 freshman Mitch Burley and 6-8 junior Matt Wilgenbush. Darren Underwood, 6-9, will back up Weiss while frosh Jens Gordon, 6-8, and David Aaron (West Torrance High), 6-5, push for playing time.

ST. MARY’S

The Gaels are set at guard, returning Paul Robertson and Daryl Smith. However, graduation took 75% of the offense and 79% of the rebounding. Sophomore Scott Mayer, 6-9, is returning from a back injury and is not completely sound. Sophomore Keith Martin is set at one forward. Freshmen expected to play include 7-footer Randy Gil, 6-7 Robert Haugen, Oregon’s 2-A Player of the Year, and 6-6 Aubrey Walton, stepbrother of Loyola’s Forrest McKenzie.

GONZAGA

Dan Fitzgerald returns as coach while doing double duty as athletic director. He has guards Dwan Hurt and Jeff Condill back and may move walk-on Lennie Parham ahead of Hurt. The brightest newcomer is 6-4 forward Jim McPhee, brother of former Gonzaga star Bryce McPhee. There is height at the other front line spots, notably 6-8 Dale Haaland and 6-9 Mike Champion, but little experience.

SAN FRANCISCO

The most prestigious program in the conference returns but Coach Jim Brovelli cautions against expecting an immediate winner. He says, “Most magazines pick us eighth. I kind of agree.” Rival coaches, however, point out how quickly Brovelli developed a winner at San Diego, and add that he did pretty well recruiting. The lineup will include 6-5 sophomore Anthony Mann, 6-6 junior Steve Hill and junior guard Rodney Tention, and possibly 6-11 Idaho transfer Pete Reitz, 6-8 freshman Mark McCathrion and freshman Robbie Grigsby at guard.

Will the Dons be competitive? “I don’t know,” Brovelli said. “When it’s your turn, it’s gonna happen. I’ve always felt as a coach to let things happen, not force things to happen.”

WCAC FACTS & FIGURES

STANDINGS, STATISTICS

CONFERENCE Team W L Pct. PF PA FG%O FG%D FT% REB F Pepperdine 11 1 .917 71.2 64.4 .499 .472 .733 34.2 Santa Clara 9 3 .750 71.7 63.8 .480 .436 .654 40.0 St. Mary’s 7 5 .583 66.1 63.8 .479 .470 .670 29.7 San Diego 5 7 .417 58.7 60.5 .492 .446 .705 30.4 Gonzaga 4 8 .333 55.9 59.8 .437 .441 .622 34.9 Portland 3 9 .250 61.5 65.4 .436 .474 .646 33.9 Loyola Marymount 3 9 .250 63.0 70.3 .446 .534 .592 31.1

OVERALL Team REB A W L Pct. Pepperdine 31.4 23 9 .719 Santa Clara 32.7 20 9 .690 St. Mary’s 35.0 15 12 .556 San Diego 30.1 16 11 .593 Gonzaga 33.4 15 13 .536 Portland 33.9 14 14 .500 Loyola Marymount 36.5 11 16 .407

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

BASED ON ALL REGULAR-SEASON GAMES

SCORING

Player (School) Avg. *Smith (Loy.) 25.1 Keeling (SCU) 19.8 Vanos (SCU) 16.8 *White (Pepp.) 15.9 *Polee (Pepp.) 15.7 Cooke (SM) 15.1 Cooks (SM) 13.1 *Haney (Loy.) 13.1 Lamson (SCU) 13.0 Reuss (USD) 12.6

REBOUNDING

Player (School) Avg. Vanos (SCU) 10.8 *White (Pepp.) 9.2 Cooks (SM) 9.0 Haderlein (Loy.) 7.9 Ruff (Gonz.) 7.6 Cooke (SM) 7.4 *Frederick (Pepp.) 7.2 *Thompson (USD) 6.7 Reuss (USD) 6.7 *Middlebrooks (Pepp.) 6.4

FG PCT.

Player (School) Pct. *White (Pepp.) .546 Cooke (SM) .538 Vanos (SCU) .517 *Keeling (SCU) .515 *Smith (Loy.) .472 *Polee (Pepp.) .472

FT. PCT.

Player (School) Pct. *Polee (Pepp.) .805 Reuss (USD) .785 Keeling (SCU) .724 *Smith (Loy.) .700

STEALS

Player (School) Avg. Keeling (SCU) 2.5 *Smith (Loy.) 1.7 *Korfas (Pepp.) 1.5 *Polee (Pepp.) 1.4 Two others at 1.4

ASSISTS

Player (School) Avg. *Smith (Loy.) 5.6 *Korfas (Pepp.) 5.5 Shaw (SM) 5.3 *Polee (Pepp.) 4.8 *Kenilvort (SCU) 4.7

* Returnee.

LOYOLA MARYMOUNT FACTS & FIGURES

ROSTER

RETURNEES

NO PLAYER POS HT WT CL PPG RPG FG% FT%

5 Mark Armstrong F 6-6 200 So. 4.9 4.5 .510 .569 24 Fred Bradford F 6-6 215 Sr. 3.7 4.5 .488 .457 52 Darryl Carter F-C 6-7 210 Jr. 0.7 1.9 .500 .667 30 Pat Chance F-G 6-5 200 Sr. 0.3 0.8 .250 .000 22 Steve Haney G 6-1 160 So. 13.1 1.2 .467 .774 50 Lawrence Irwin C 7-0 225 Sr. 2.1 2.0 .386 .682 44 Darrin Levy F 6-8 205 So. 2.8 2.3 .556 .333 11 Keith Smith G 6-3 180 Sr. 25.1 2.9 .472 .700 12 Dennis Vogel G 6-3 200 Jr. 2.2 0.5 .500 .778 20 Mike Yoest F 6-6 190 So. 5.9 4.0 .485 .714

NO HOMETOWN (Previous School)

5 Riverside (Ramona HS) 24 Los Angeles (Murphy HS) 52 San Bernardino (San Gorgonio HS 30 Manhattan Beach (El Camino JC) 22 Lansing, Mich. (Everett HS) 50 Bonita, Ca.(Southwestern JC)

NEWCOMERS, REDSHIRTS

NO PLAYER POS HT WT CL

34 Vic Lazzretti C-F 6-9 200 Jr. 42 Forrest McKenzie F 6-7 200 Sr. 32 Enoch Simmons G 6-4 185 Fr. 14 Chris Rettig G 6-3 180 Fr.

NO HOMETOWN (Previous School)

34 Andover, Md. (Marquette) 42 Pasadena (Pasadena HS) 32 Riverside (North HS) 14 Pasadena (Pasadena HS)

COACH: Paul Westhead (1st season)

SCHEDULE

All times PST. Starting times subject to change.

Date Opponent Time Nov. 23 Azusa Pacific 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29-30 Utah Tournament TBA Dec. 3 UC Santa Barbara 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 Bemidji State 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at Pacific 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 CS Fullerton 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 UC Irvine 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at UCLA 7:30 Dec. 27-28 Nevada Reno Tournament TBA Jan. 3 Montana State 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7 St. Ambrose 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11 U.S. International 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16 *at Portland 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 *at Gonzaga 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24 *Santa Clara 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 *San Francisco 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 *at St. Mary’s 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1 *at San Diego 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 *San Diego 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 *St. Mary’s 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 *Pepperdine 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 *Gonzaga 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 *Portland 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 *at San Francisco 7:30 p.m. March 1 *at Santa Clara 7:30 p.m. March 5 *at Pepperdine 7:30 p.m.

* WCAC game

1984-85 RESULTS

RECORD: 11-16 overall, 3-9 WCAC (tie for 6th)

Result Record **Loyola Marymount 82, L.A. Baptist 43 1-0 Utah 89, Loyola Marymount 85 (OT) 1-1 Loyola Marymount 76, UC Irvine 66 2-1 Arizona 82, Loyola Marymount 75 2-2 Loyola Marymount 73, CS Fullerton 69 3-2 UC Santa Barbara 78, Loyola Marymount 68 3-3 **Illinois Chicago 59, Loyola Marymount 58 3-4 Stanford 67, Loyola Marymount 59 3-5 **Loyola Marymount 92, Ill. Benedictine 62 4-5 **Loyola Marymount 71, Concordia 61 5-5 Montana State 78, Loyola Marymount 60 5-6 Montana 74, Loyola Marymount 58 5-7 **Loyola Marymount 84, U.S. International 65 6-7 **Loyola Marymount 80, Colorado 71 7-7 **Loyola Marymount 73, Azusa Pacific 59 8-7 **Pepperdine 77, Loyola Marymount 62 8-8 Loyola Marymount 57, Portland 53 9-8 Gonzaga 72, Loyola Marymount 68 9-9 **Santa Clara 91, Loyola Marymount 70 9-10 **St. Mary’s 78, Loyola Marymount 68 9-11 **San Diego 62, Loyola Marymount 54 9-12 Loyola Marymount 67, St. Mary’s 54 10-12 Santa Clara 92, Loyola Marymount 54 10-13 **Gonzaga 51, Loyola Marymount 49 10-14 **Portland 70, Loyola Marymount 63 10-15 Pepperdine 86, Loyola Marymount 77 10-16 Loyola Marymount 66, San Diego 64 11-16

** home game