CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK : Request for Demotion Reflects Devotion of 2 Players

It has happened only rarely in his 20 years at Cal State Northridge, but two players, unbeknown to each other, recently asked basketball Coach Pete Cassidy to take them out of the starting lineup.

Just 11 days earlier, the players in question, Kyle Kerlegan and Keith Gibbs, each scored 21 points against Northeastern Illinois in CSUN’s first win on the road.

But after struggling at Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Northern Arizona--Kerlegan was three of 16 and Gibbs was six of 17--they asked to let someone else take their places.

“It shows a tremendous sign of maturity, of manhood and unselfishness,” Cassidy said. “They felt it was in the best interests of the team.”

In his first efforts as a reserve, Gibbs hit seven of 11 shots in victories over Cal State Sacramento and U. S. International. Kerlegan didn’t break all the way out of his slump against Sacramento, but his nine points in a key stretch were crucial.

He found his touch against USIU, scoring 23 points on eight-of-14 shooting.

In the meantime, David Keeter and Sean Davis have benefited from their starting roles. Davis scored seven points--twice as many as he was averaging--in the first half against Sacramento and grabbed seven rebounds in a 10-minute span against USIU. Keeter is averaging 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in his two starts.

Cassidy has not decided who will start Thursday at Eastern Washington. He has considered the possibility that although Kerlegan and Gibbs no longer are slumping, they might be better off the bench.

“We’re 2-0 with that other lineup starting.” Cassidy said. “We have to weigh that even if it’s only psychological. All four parties are contributing.”

Keeter was a starter at the beginning of the season, but he lost that role because of his inconsistent defense.

“When he concentrates he can get the job done,” Cassidy said. “He just needs to stay down defensively and get to the boards and do all the little things.”

Back to basics?: Although Northridge has won consecutive games, there remains cause for concern in terms of skill development. Until the Matadors get back to the fundamentals, they could be tripped up again by a team such as Northern Arizona, which is not Northridge’s superior.

For example, in the past two games, Gibbs has missed two dunks and on another occasion tried vainly to dunk when a layup would have sufficed. Also, Andre Chevalier would have had 12 assists instead of seven against USIU if some of his brilliant passes had been converted into baskets. The team simply misses too many layups.

In addressing the problem after CSUN missed 13 layups in the first half against Northern Arizona, Cassidy blamed the players’ tendency to emulate professionals.

Instead of performing the conventional right-hand, right-side, off-the-glass variety, many Northridge players warm up by doing finger rolls and drop-in layups--shots that a defense may not readily allow in a game.

Even on the easy two-foot shots inside, some of CSUN’s big men, particularly Percy Fisher, insist on putting the ball on the floor--thereby allowing the defense to get back into position--instead of going straight up with the shot.

On the road again: In just 10 weeks, CSUN has spent 26 days on the road, not counting its trip to Eastern Washington beginning today and ending Friday. After the journey to Cheney, Wash., the Matadors will remain in Southern California for three weeks, their longest stretch without an overnight stay.

“Being on the road can disrupt your life,” Cassidy said. “It is always best to have your normal routine, sleeping in your own bed instead of living out of a suitcase. (The players) should be getting used to it though, they’ve certainly done a lot of it.”

Etc.: Todd Bowser has adorned his high-tops with the letters “USA” in red, white and blue in support of the troops in Saudi Arabia. . . .

Chevalier, who guarded Kevin Bradshaw for several minutes, had an eight-inch height disadvantage while defending USIU’s top scorer. Bradshaw finished with 53 points.

Bright future: It has been a roller-coaster season for freshman Martin Smith, who appears to have a wealth of potential. The 6-foot-4 guard from Inglewood St. Bernard High started out as one of CSUN’s top reserves, scoring 10 points in 27 minutes against New Mexico State in the third game of the season. Since then he has averaged five minutes a game, not including a four-game stretch in late December when he could not play because of a hip pointer.

“He’s a fine athlete,” Cassidy said. “He’ll be a real player for us down the road.”

Smith played for three minutes at the end of the 123-91 win over U. S. International and wasted no time in an effort to show what he can do. Smith made two of five shots.