Dominguez Hills Puts Streak on the Line Against Bakersfield

Dave Yanai was a man of surprisingly few words earlier this week.

The Cal State Dominguez Hills men’s basketball coach, known for his technical and lengthy viewpoints on the game, is preparing the Toros for their California Collegiate Athletics Assn. opener at Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday. He responded to a series of questions about the game with curt responses.

It went something like this:

Reporter: “What are you doing to prepare for the conference opener, as compared to past seasons?”

Yanai: “Nothing different.”

Reporter: “What type of team will you face Saturday?”

Yanai: “The same Bakersfield team.”

Reporter: “Are you going to make any changes in your team?”

Yanai: “No difference.”

Reporter: “Well, is there anything else you want to say about this game?”

Yanai: “None.”

But there are several reasons why Dominguez Hills is considered by CCAA observers to be a favorite to win the conference title:

* The Toros (11-4) take a school-record nine-game winning streak into the 7:30 p.m. opener.

* Dominguez Hills has depth. In the past, players have admitted that they would tire after playing Yanai’s hard-charging defense for 25 or 30 minutes. Three seasons ago in a game at Bakersfield, and again last season at Carson, the Toros led the Roadrunners by 10 points in the second half before losing. In a game earlier this season, Dominguez Hills rallied from a 17-point deficit to win.

* For the first time in at least half a decade, the team is a solid favorite against the Roadrunners, although no team is guaranteed an easy time when playing in front of 4,000 Bakersfield fans. Bakersfield, the defending CCAA champion, was 29-5 last season and finished second in the nation. This season the Roadrunners are 9-4 and play host to Chapman College tonight. “All our attention is focused on Friday night,” Bakersfield Coach Pat Douglass said. “I’ll start thinking about Dominguez Hills Saturday morning.”

* This is one of the most talented teams Yanai, a 14-year veteran, has had. After losing four of its first six games, Dominguez Hills has scored 81 or more points in each of its last five games. In its last game, a 112-96 victory over Merrimack College, Dominguez Hills broke a school record for most points scored in a game. The previous record, a 111-71 victory over Azusa Pacific, had stood for more than a decade.

* Eight players average 6.5 points a game or higher, and although UC Riverside (11-2) has a better record, no one in the CCAA has three Division I transfers, each averaging double figures.

* Although it has not held an opponent under 60 points in its last five games, Yanai’s trademark man-to-man defense is still effective. The difference this season? The offense has been even more effective, which has taken the pressure of players when they are playing defense.