Waves Try to Exorcise Blue Demons

There’s probably nothing like playing highly ranked, unbeaten DePaul as a tuneup for West Coast Athletic Conference play. Struggling Pepperdine will have that experience at 8 tonight at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

Pepperdine Coach Jim Harrick hasn’t been able to beat the Blue Demons, even with his stronger teams. Pepperdine (4-7) is 0-4 against DePaul, 0-2 against retired legend Ray Meyer and 0-2 against his son Joey, who succeeded his father as coach of the Blue Demons. The only time Pepperdine made it close was in the first meeting in 1983, when the score was 78-73.

In his third season, Joey Meyer may have his best team. Dallas Comegys, the 6-9 senior, seems to be fulfilling his promise. Comegys is averaging 17.5 points and 7 rebounds a game, and DePaul’s eight-game winning streak is the longest for the younger Meyer.

Others in double figures for the Blue Demons have been sophomore guard Rod Strickland with a 15.6-point average, guard Kevin Edwards, a junior college transfer averaging 11.6 points, and 6-4 sophomore forward Terence Greene, at 10.4.

If Meyer has been getting consistent play from his guards, though, Harrick hasn’t. The four players he has been using in the backcourt have little or no Division I experience, and it’s been showing. The Waves have been led by veteran forwards Eric White, who is averaging 18.5 points and 7.5 rebounds, and Levy Middlebrooks, 15.9 points and 10.7 rebounds.

Defending champion Pepperdine will open WCAC play Jan. 9 at USF, then will play Santa Clara Jan. 10.