Player’s Death Left USD With Its Focus on Life

The game that meant so much to Loyola Marymount’s Hank Gathers, meant very little to so many afterGathers’ death Sunday in Los Angeles.

Death, life and compassion were foremost on people’s minds. Basketball no longer was much of a concern, even in a month dubbed March Madness because of its erstwhile obsession this time of year.

On Monday, emotional outpour continued: “It’s always hard to find words--how bad it was and how you feel,” University of San Diego Coach Hank Egan said. “Especially when you’ve got somebody as young as him and as dramatic a situation as this was.”

Said USD guard Wayman Strickland: “It’s a difficult situation. I really feel bad for Hank Gathers and his family. That young man had everything going for him.”

Said USD forward Craig Cottrell: “What happened to Hank Gathers is much more important than basketball.”

With that perspective, the West Coast Conference cancelled the remainder of its postseason tournament, which was halted in the first half of Sunday’s game between LMU and Portland when Gathers collapsed on the court at LMU’s Gersten Pavilion. The decision likely puts an end to USD’s season and the careers of senior co-captains John Jerome and Cottrell.

Both Jerome and Cottrell felt badly about ending their careers under the circumstances, but they understood and agreed with the decision. Both also said they are considering offers to play professionally overseas.

USD, which was to have played Pepperdine in Sunday’s other semifinal, is a longshot for a National Invitation Tournament bid with its 16-12 record. Bids go out Sunday night, but the Toreros will not practice this week.

Pepperdine, which defeated USD both times this season and has a better record (17-11), is a more likely candidate for the NIT. Portland’s season is definitely ended at 11-17.

“This is not even in the ball park,” USD Coach Hank Egan said. “The turnout of the games, or the way the season ended pales in comparison to the incident. So we’re not even worried about that. We’re not even concerned with that.

“Your first concern is for the people involved, the young man, his family and the people in the community up there. That has to be priority one. There are a lot of other things that have to be taken into consideration, but the decision was made with priority being given to regard for the Gathers family.”

USD Athletic Director Tom Iannacone played a part in that decision as a member of the WCC’s executive committee.

“We reviewed all the scenarios and based on our best judgment, which I think was good, made the decision to cancel the tournament. I don’t have any reservations about the decision,” Iannacone said.

Most agreed with the decision made late Sunday night, but some wondered if the decision should have been made Monday instead.

“We didn’t see any point in delaying it,” Iannacone said. “We made a decision we were comfortable with. Delaying it would have left all kinds of speculations and rumors, and we didn’t want that.”

Fortunately, there was no precedent with which to rely on, Iannacone said, “so we just focused on making a decision with a lot of sensitivity.”

Iannacone added that the loss of television money--ESPN was going to broadcast the WCC final Monday night--and gate receipts never entered into the discussion.