Teamwork Makes USD a Champion

Hank Egan was doused. Not soused, mind you. Doused.

It was more an occasion for a dousing than a sousing.

When the University of San Diego wrapped up its second West Coast Athletic Conference basketball championship Thursday night with a 61-48 victory over Gonzaga, the USD Sports Center was a bit more subdued than it was in the frenzied aftermath of its 1983-84 championship.

That one was a surprise. This one was expected.

When the buzzer sounded Thursday night, the Toreros were not mobbed by students literally and figuratively powder blue in the face. It was not as if a bomb of emotion had exploded.

The fans stayed in the stands, albeit on their feet, and cheered as the Toreros lifted Eric Musselman to the gym’s east rim. These guys are all role players, and one of Musselman’s roles--just as it was three years ago--is to be the post-championship man on the rim.

“Really,” he said later, “I’m the only one who fits.”

And so Musselman, all 5-foot 7-inches, 145 pounds of him, sat on the rim while his teammates milled forlornly under the basket.

Something was missing.

Scissors.

No one had a pair of scissors. Enter another role player. Enter Mike Haupt with the scissors.

Time to trim the net.

Ah, USD is a team. It even spreads the glory when it comes to shearing the net from the rim. Each player was lifted above his teammates’ shoulders for a snip at the net. No other way would be proper, not with this team.

Yes, these Toreros can execute the concept of rising as a unit . . . and falling nowhere except maybe into a swimming pool.

That, of course, is how Coach Hank Egan happened to be doused.

Shortly after the Toreros gathered behind the closed door of their locker room, there was a cheer and then a growl. These guys even had a game plan for the aftermath, as Egan received an escort en route to a Greg Louganis splash into the university’s swimming pool.

He went kicking and grinning, quickly shedding his blazer when he realized what was afin.

“I have a couple pairs of pants,” he said later, “but only one blazer.”

I find that hard to believe. As a coach, Egan seems to have someone and something for each occasion.

Why would he restrict himself to only one blazer?

Egan should have a blazer for rebounding, a blazer for scoring, a blazer for defense, a blazer for setting up the offense. You get the idea.

No one is asked to do everything, just a little bit of everything. For example, Scott Thompson, the 7-foot center, is not asked to dribble the ball . . . but he can pass the ball quite nimbly. Danny Means, a 6-foot 1-inch guard, had six defensive rebounds Thursday night. Forward Mark Manor averages 8.7 points a game, but he alone led Gonzaga, 8-6, after the first 5 1/2 minutes.

A couple of real role players were worthy of note for things they did Thursday night.

One was Haupt, a 6-foot 5-inch sophomore transfer from San Diego State. He played a pivotal role when the Toreros were struggling in the middle of the first half. He came into the game with Gonzaga ahead, 14-12, and soon thereafter USD had a lead it would never relinquish.

USD scored 12 straight points, thanks to a great extent to Haupt’s heroics. Haupt scored none of these points and did not, in fact, as much as take a shot in the entire game.

How did he do this? He had three steals during this stretch, and also badgered a harassed opponent into taking steps.

At a time when the Toreros had to decide whether they were going to cut it or not, Mike Haupt was there with the scissors.

Our other unsung role player was Steve Krallman, a 6-foot 8-inch forward. He seemed kind of embarrassed at a lapse or two in precise adherence to his assignments.

“I’m supposed to rebound and play defense,” he said, “but I picked up some fouls tonight because I was trying to block shots. That’s not my job. That’s Scott Thompson’s job.”

Alas, it is also not in Krallman’s job description to score points. He isn’t having too bad a scoring night if he hits single figures.

Indeed, as the clock ticked past the two-minute mark Thursday night, Krallman had played 16 minutes without attempting a shot. Gonzaga was threatening, but Steve Krallman slammed the door. He had eight points in the last 1:39.

And so this marvelous mesh of puzzling pieces has put together an 11-game winning streak and a 21-4 record going into tonight’s game with visiting Portland.

And so it is also likely that the celebration was not as unabashed in its glee as it might otherwise have been. There is still work to be done. The automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament goes to the winner of the WCAC’s inaugural postseason tournament rather than to these regular-season champions.

“This,” Thompson said, “is only one step on the staircase.”

He broke into a wide grin. Hank Egan was coming down the hall, his wet hair plastered askew on his head. He was wearing a USD warmup suit.

“Look at this guy,” Thompson laughed.

“Put me in, coach,” Egan said.

Sure, Hank, but only if you can play defense, get some rebounds and maybe score eight points in the last 1:39.