COLLEGE DIVISION MEN’S PREVIEW : More Competition for CS Bakersfield

There are some subtle differences in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. in men’s basketball this season.

With the departure of Cal State Northridge, which has moved up to the NCAA Division I, there are only seven teams.

And the conference appears more balanced than usual with improvement from schools that have struggled in recent seasons, such as Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Los Angeles and Chapman.

But one factor remains constant: Cal State Bakersfield is the team to beat.

The Roadrunners finished second in the NCAA Division II last season--best in school history--and have been ranked as high as No. 8 in preseason polls.

Bakersfield, though, is not the only college division team from the Southland that has been mentioned in the polls. Westmont, the traditional power in the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics’ District 3, was listed 14th in an NAIA poll, and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps has been ranked as high as No. 7 in the NCAA Division III.

Here’s a look at Southland teams by conference.

CCAA

Before Pat Douglass arrived to coach Cal State Bakersfield, the Roadrunners had not won a conference title in five years. But in his first three seasons, Bakersfield has won two CCAA titles and earned three straight berths in the Division II playoffs.

With three starters returning from a team that went 29-5, the outlook is for more of the same. The starters returning are center Beau Redstone and guards Ray Burris and Fred Eckles. Douglass also added top junior college transfers in guards Dennis Green and Mark Satterfield.

John Masi of UC Riverside is one coach who isn’t afraid to change his style to suit his team. That’s why Masi, whose teams have won 20 or more games five of the last six seasons, is shifting to a Loyola Marymount-style offense. The Highlanders, 21-10 last season, seem to have the personnel to succeed with the return of Dave Heckmann at center and Marcellus Smith at guard and transfers Anthony Jenkins from Washington at forward and guard Jeff Bronner from UCLA.

After staggering to a 10-17 record last season, Cal State Dominguez Hills has brought in reinforcements this season. The Toros have added three former Division I starters who should help lift the team into contention. They are guard Keith Billingslea from Northern Arizona and forwards Brian Jones from Cal State Long Beach and Michael Moore from Coastal Carolina. The Toros also have returning starters Raymond Bennett at guard and Vincent Washington at forward.

It has been a long struggle for Cal Poly Pomona since it won its first and only CCAA title in 1981. But the Broncos, 9-18 last season, could contend with the return of four starters and three outstanding transfers. The top returning player is forward Terry Ross. Transfers include center Marcellus Lee from Loyola Marymount and forward Eric Mobley from Portland.

After two disastrous seasons, Cal State Los Angeles may have surprised a few people in reaching the CCAA tournament and finishing 14-14. That will not be the case this season, what with the return of four lettermen, among them forward Andre White and guard Mike Varos, and the arrival of transfers such as junior college All-American guard Gilbert Miller, a former player for DePaul.

After sporadic success in its first season under Coach Bob Boyd, Chapman has the personnel to improve. The Panthers have four starters from an 11-16 team headed by forward Rog Middleton. Also returning are forward Frantz Reyes and guards Andre Hill and Chris Martin, and the Panthers add a solid transfer in forward Zlatko Josic from Clemson.

With only one starter and three lettermen returning from a 19-9 team, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo couldn’t have picked a worse season to be rebuilding in a well-balanced conference. The spotlight will be on 6-7 forward Stuart Thomas, who averaged 16.9 points last season and will be counted upon heavily, along with forward Tim Knowles and guard Bill Archer.

NAIA DISTRICT 3

Despite a 25-5 record that included a 19-game winning streak, Westmont was stopped short of a trip to the NAIA national championships last season by Southern California College. But with all five starters returning, the Warriors will be difficult to deny this season under longtime Coach Chet Kammerer. They have an excellent backcourt tandem of Peter Partain and Chad Kammerer--the coach’s son--and ample size up front with 6-5 Noel Matthews and 6-9 Chris Hahs at the forwards, and 6-9 center Jon Walker.

It may be difficult for Southern California College to match its accomplishments of last season, when the Vanguards won the district title and advanced to the second round of the NAIA nationals before finishing at 26-9. But it would not be wise to underestimate the Vanguards, who have the Golden State Athletic Conference player of the year, center Jeff Bickmore, along with forwards Mike Henjum and Bryan Moore, and guard Elbert Davis.

In the 1980s, Biola was king of the hill in District 3 with six titles under Coach Dave Holmquist. Holmquist spent last season as the school’s athletic director and the Eagles slipped to an unaccustomed 9-21. Holmquist has returned to coaching and Biola might flourish again. The leader is expected to be 6-9 center Jeff Baker. Other solid players figure to be forward Rodney Camper and guards Doug Newby and Kellie McKinney.

Things are looking up for The Master’s. The Mustangs were 19-17 last season, their most victories since the 1971-72 season, and they made their first trip to the district playoffs. They should improve with the return of forwards Tom Bruner, Jason Webster and Stu Epperson and guard Damon Greer. Biola also has Division I transfers Joe Jon Bryant from Richmond at forward and guard Terry Minnoy from Idaho State, who will be eligible on Dec. 21.

Azusa Pacific made positive strides in its second season under Coach Terry Layton, improving from 12-19 to 18-13. With the return of forward Matt Burns and 6-8 center Pat McMann, two of the team’s top scorers last season, the Cougars should finish among the district leaders again. Particularly strong up front, Azusa also has forwards Ryan Rienstra and Keith Hollimon returning and adds forwards Willie Franks, a transfer from San Jose State.

After three consecutive seasons of 20 or more victories, Cal Baptist slipped to 9-20 last season. The Lancers have eight lettermen, led by all-district guard Warren Daniels, who averaged 20 points last season, point guard Lance Williams and forwards Greg Fisher and Jim Reynolds--the only seniors.

Christ College Irvine, 11-20 last season, has a new coach, Greg Marshall, plus guard Jamie McShan, forward Keith Rogers, and forward Ian Donnelly, a JC transfer.

In its final season before moving to the SCIAC, Cal Lutheran, 5-21 last season, is led by junior guard Jeff DeLaveaga, who averaged 26.9 points last season, and forward Carl Champion, its only senior.

SCIAC

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps has all five starters from a squad that went 19-8 and reached the Division III playoffs last season, plus 12 of 13 lettermen back. Topping the list is center Henry Albrecht, SCIAC player of the year as a junior. Toss in returning starters John Gilliland and Dominic Nappi at forward and Chris Greene and Brian Beasley at guard and it’s no wonder the Stags are expected to win.

La Verne took a giant step forward with an 18-7 record last season and tied Claremont and Redlands for the SCIAC title. The Leopards were 5-21 the previous season. With starters Anthony Grove and Lamont Landers at guard and Mark Loomis at forward returning, the forecast is promising again. The Leopards add transfers Etop Udo-Ema from UC Irvine and Ross Wilkins from Canisius at forward, and guard John DeRouen from Cal State Northridge.

Coach Gary Smith will have Redlands on the run again this season. The Bulldogs, who finished in a three-way tie for the SCIAC title last season and 18-8 overall, were the third-highest scoring team in Division III at 96.6 points a game and return guards Jeff Sofro and Brad Jaques. The top inside player is forward Randy Norton.

In a balanced conference, it would not be wise to discount Whittier. The Poets have all five starters returning from a team that went 10-16 last season. Whittier will rely on the outside shooting of guards Dave Hune and Chris Seibert and has a good floor leader, point guard Will Hailey. The Poets also have strong inside players Whalen Elmore and Corey Hoffert.

With the graduation of 6-10 Chris Anderson, Occidental will not have the size as it did when it finished 11-15, but the Tigers will play an up-tempo style, led by returnees Brett Dennis at forward and Everette Hill at guard. Two newcomers are freshman point guard Hung Duong from Alhambra High and Cal State Northridge transfer Sandy Brown at forward.

Pomona-Pitzer has only one starter from a team that finished 10-16 last season, so the Sagehens will need to develop in a hurry to stay competitive in the SCIAC. Leaders include freshmen William Cover and Dan Svedas at forward and guard Mike Budenholzer.

Caltech did not win a conference game in its return to varsity competition last season and the Beavers (2-20, 0-12) will be hard-pressed to win one this season.

INDEPENDENT

After an 8-16 season, Cal State San Bernardino appears improved in its final season as an NCAA Division III independent before joining the Division II CCAA. The Coyotes do not have size but will counter with an up-tempo offense built around center Ron Ligon, guard Darrin Queen and forwards Steve Hickey and Jim Falvey.