USD Opens Basketball Season Against Rice in a Road Game

Hank Egan, the University of San Diego basketball coach, says he always likes his team to open the season on the road. That way, he can get an idea of how the players respond in unfamiliar surroundings.

Tonight, in its 1987-88 season opener, USD will open against Rice University at 6:30 (PST) at Houston. It’s the first time USD has ever played at Rice.

It’s also the first time that this particular USD team will play together anywhere. With only one starter returning from last season’s 24-6 team, the Toreros have a different look.

“I’m really not sure what kind of team we’ll have this season,” Egan said. “I’m a believer that the team creates its own kind of character as it goes along. It’s certainly too early to tell what this team will be like.”

One thing’s for sure, the Toreros will be smaller than last year, when 7-footer Scott Thompson and 6-9 forward Nils Madden were the leading scorers.

Jim Pelton, at 6-9, is USD’s starting center and Marty Munn, a shooting forward, is the team’s next tallest player at 6-6. Craig Cottrell, a 6-5 guard, and Mike Haupt, a 6-5 forward, will join Danny Means, the only returning starter, in tonight’s starting lineup.

USD opened last season with a 60-57 victory at Utah and went on to win the West Coast Athletic Conference regular season championship. USD beat Rice, 48-47, at home last season.

The Owls, from the Southwest Conference, return four starters from last season’s 8-19 team, including 6-8 junior center Andy Gilchrist who averaged 10.8 points per game.

Rice also has a new coach--Scott Thompson, who took over at midseason last year for Tommy Suitts.