Toreros Hope That Older Means Better

For a University of San Diego team that finished 8-20 last season and needed a late-season victory to avoid sole possession of the West Coast Conference cellar, optimism certainly is high.

It may take a number of games to manifest itself in the results, but the mood is genuine.

A few key players have been added to the lineup, and an off-season conditioning program has added strength. But the biggest change was chronological; the Toreros are a year older.

No longer will USD have three freshmen and two sophomores on the court at the same time, as it did frequently in 1988-89. In fact, USD may not play three freshman all season. And it certainly will not rely on young players as heavily as last season, when it was 2-12 in the WCC and tied for last with Portland.

Last year, USD got 62% of its scoring from freshmen and sophomores. For a team that scored 67.8 points per game, that translated to 42.1 points per game for the underclassmen. The WCC average was 11.9 points.

“We’re a much better team because we’re a much older team,” Coach Hank Egan said. “It’s that simple. Last year was probably my toughest as a coach because we were so close in so many ballgames. We just couldn’t get it done at the end. And that will happen with young teams.”

This year, USD hopes to “get it done” with contributions from two seniors, six juniors and three sophomores. Only one freshman, Lincoln High’s Joe Temple, is expected to play much, although Escondido’s Brooks Barnhard might see some time.

USD lost just three lettermen: seniors Danny Means and Efrem Leonard and sophomore Kelvin Means, who transfered to Fresno State to play football. And it has gained quite a bit.

Senior John Jerome and junior Anthony Thomas sat out last season, but practiced, under NCAA transfer rules. Egan says both would have started. Juniors Pat Holbert and Shawn Hamilton are two more transfers who should play a bit.

All four played at one time for Mesa Community College in Arizona, a popular recruiting stop for Egan.

Senior Craig Cottrell led the Toreros in scoring last season with 12.2 points per game and the WCC in field-goal percentage at 64.8%. Junior Dondi Bell led USD in rebounding with 5.9 per game and the WCC in block shots with 55. Gylan Dottin was one of the WCC co-freshmen of the year, averaging 12 points, 5.4 rebounds and a team-high 2.5 assists.

“On paper, we’re a good basketball team,” Egan said. “Now we have to take it off the paper and put it on the court.”

Its first opportunity is Friday night at home against Cal Lutheran.

CENTERS Egan may start as many as four different ones this season, but Bell (6-feet-9, 240) figures to be the main man. A Crawford graduate, Bell is big and aggressive and can swing momentum with his dunks and blocked shots.

Junior Keith Colvin (6-8, 215) started 10 games last season and provided solid relief for Bell. Hamilton (6-8, 225) and Barnhard (6-8, 210) are the other centers.

FORWARDS

This figures to be the strength of the team if only because of depth. For that same reason, it also figures to be where Egan will have the most difficulty finding a suitable rotation.

“All those little role things should work themselves out,” Egan said. “It’s going to take a little time, but we shouldn’t be hurt by it at all.”

A good rebounder, Jerome (6-8, 225) may also play center, but his strength is shooting. An All-American at Mesa, he averaged 15.9 points and 7.5 rebounds his sophomore season. Before transferring from Arizona State after the 1987-88 season, Jerome averaged 8.1 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 87% from the free throw line.

Cottrell (6-5, 215) can shoot well, too, scoring 26, 26 and 25 points in a three-game stretch against Loyola Marymount (two games) and Pepperdine.

Kelvin Woods (6-5, 230) made tremendous strides as a freshman, finishing third in rebounding with 4.5 per game. Impressed by his off-season work, Egan expects improvement this year.

Egan calls junior Randy Thompson (6-6, 195) a student of the game, and studying has paid off. Thompson has been listed as a starter for the opener. Thomas (6-4, 208) has been sporadic in the preseason, but Egan says that will change.

GUARDS The back court is young and without Danny Means for the first time in four years, but Egan is comfortable nonetheless.

Dottin (6-5) is a shooter, ballhandler and rebounder. That versatility enables Egan to use him in a number of positions, which is ideal because the offense needs Jerome and Cottrell free. Dottin could play as many as four spots.

“Gylan Dottin is such a versatile player, he never takes the same shot twice,” Egan said.

Sophomore Wayman Strickland (6-2, 180) is the point guard and perhaps the key to making it all work. He appears to be a natural at the spot but has had to work hard after playing forward in high school.

Holbert (6-3, 190) can spell either guard position effectively, and Egan calls Temple (6-4, 195) one of the best athletes he has coached.

“I’m going to coach jumping this year,” says Egan, setting up a joke. “You watch Joe Temple this year and see what a good coach I am.”

You watch the Toreros this year, picked to finish anywhere from third to sixth in the conference, and see if the optimism is for real or just the usual preseason hype.