They’re Taking the Offensive : Coach Dave Yanai and His Team Have Shifted Gears, but That Doesn’t Mean the Toros Will Rely Entirely on Scoring

Since Dave Yanai arrived as coach 16 seasons ago, the Cal State Dominguez Hills men’s basketball team has emphasized defense.

Over the years, the Toros have consistently ranked among the top defensive teams in the NCAA Division II and were seventh in the division in team defense last season.

Early in the 1992-93 season, though, the Toros appear to be taking the offensive. Through three games, Dominguez Hills is averaging 88.7 points and the results have been impressive.

Playing against highly regarded opponents, the Toros have won two of their first three games.

They have defeated last season’s NCAA Division II runner-up, Bridgeport of Connecticut, as well as Biola, which reached the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics quarterfinals last season. The only loss for Dominguez Hills was 123-100 to Central Oklahoma State, ranked No. 2 in Division II.

Does this suggest a change in philosophy for the Toros this season?

Not entirely.

“We’re not a team that can succeed solely on transition,” Yanai said. “That isn’t the way we’re used to playing basketball.”

While the shootout with Central Oklahoma may still be the exception rather than the rule, Yanai said the Toros will be thinking about their fast break more than usual this season.

“I would say we will probably try to push the ball more than in other years because we have the talent for that kind of game,” he said. “But it’s not going to be more than 50% of our offense.”

Regardless of the pace, Yanai said he is more optimistic than usual this season because of the team’s improved talent and depth.

That could result in a stronger finish for the Toros than last season, when they posted a 16-12 overall record and placed third in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn.

“You can have good depth and bad depth,” Yanai said. “You can have a lot of people who play and still not have good depth. This year I feel we have fine quality depth. We can go eight or nine deep and not hurt the ballclub.”

The Toros figure to be led by returning guards Raymond Bennett and Chris Thompson (both 6 feet) and forward Vince Washington (6-5). Bennett and Washington are seniors and Thompson is a sophomore.

Thompson and Washington were among the team’s offensive leaders last season. Thompson averaged 9.4 points and led the team in assists, and Washington averaged 8.8 points and 3.9 rebounds.

Bennett averaged 7.2 points last season but is the team’s leading scorer so far with a 20.7 average.

The biggest difference for the Toros is on their front line with the addition of junior transfers Darnell Patterson (6-5) and Joe Bertrand (6-6) from Compton College and post player Albert Kiilehua (6-6), a sophomore who played in high school at Leuzinger High and was a redshirt last season.

The 240-pound Patterson has made an impact on the inside, scoring 46 points and grabbing 27 rebounds in the team’s first three games.

“I think the talent on this team might be equal to last year except in the post area,” Washington said. “We’re a lot stronger up front with players like Joe and Darnell. We definitely have more balance between our inside and outside game than we did last year.”

Yanai said his team’s personnel gives him more flexibility in coaching decisions.

“We can start a really good defensive unit and then bring in some offensive people off the bench,” he said. “Our bench isn’t as athletic as the kids who are starting, but they are pretty good offensive people.”

The coach is hoping that the added depth and balance will lead to more consistent play throughout the season. He said that wasn’t always the case last season.

The team’s inconsistency, he said, was exposed in its 71-51 loss to Cal State Bakersfield in the first round of the CCAA postseason tournament.

“That was our Achilles’ heel,” Yanai said. “We tended to play down to some opponents and we had a lot of ups and downs. The Bakersfield game was a perfect example. We would play up in some stretches and down in others. That was how our season went.”

Yanai doesn’t expect that to happen this season.

“If there’s one reason why I think we can do well, it’s because we have a real cohesive unit,” he said. “Some call it chemistry, but this year’s team really works well together. It’s a cohesive unit and I think different people are going to lead us on different nights.”

Added Washington: “I feel we have a good chemistry on this team and if we can just stay in the game, keep our heads together and stay injury free, we can go real far this season.”

Yanai said there is no telling how far the Toros can go, but he expects Dominguez Hills to at least challenge perennial powers Bakersfield and UC Riverside for the conference title.

“I think this team has a chance to win a conference championship and go to the NCAA tournament and do well there,” he said. “But between here and there is a lot of hard work.”

Maybe so, but the Toros are already off to a running start.