PACIFIC-10 BASKETBALL / DAN HAFNER : Just How Good Does This Kidd Have to Be?

This is the chance for local college basketball fans to get a close look at much-publicized Jason Kidd.

The California freshman will lead the Bears against USC Thursday night at the Sports Arena and against UCLA Saturday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion. These will be his only Southland appearances this season.

Although he has had some problems, the 19-year-old guard from Oakland leads the Pacific 10 Conference in steals, with an average of 3.6 a game, and is second in assists, with 6.9.

From the moment more than a year ago that Kidd made Cal his school of choice, he has received more media attention than almost anyone else in the conference. It has been a long time since a newcomer received such fanfare.

“I think you have to go back to (Kareem Abdul-)Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) and (Bill) Walton to find anyone coming into our league with the credentials and reputation this young man had,” USC Coach George Raveling said.

“Remember, Kidd was a folk hero in high school basketball. There was a lot written about him even then.

“But it’s the greatest indictment of the Pac-10 that a freshman is the best-known player nationally. Of course, if Harold Miner and Tracy Murray had stayed in school, Kidd wouldn’t have received all that publicity.”

Despite all the media attention, he has led the young Bears to an 8-3 record and a 2-1 mark in the conference. The two games here will go a long way toward deciding whether the Bears can challenge for the Pac-10 title in Kidd’s first season.

Cal Coach Lou Campanelli has long been in favor of making freshmen ineligible, and the problems Kidd has faced did little to change his coach’s attitude.

“He comes in, and the media expect him to get 20 points and 20 assists,” Campanelli said. “They placed an impossible burden on him. Nobody put that kind of pressure on Kevin Johnson, but they seem to expect Jason to do as well now as Kevin did as a senior. They didn’t see Kevin as a freshman throw the ball all over the place. But I think he’s handled it well. He’s averaging 13.6 points and leading us in steals and assists.

“He hasn’t had the benefit of a healthy Brian Hendrick. Hendrick was our one returning veteran. He was to be the steadying influence. But he still hasn’t recovered from knee surgery. He gives everything he can, but he’s far below his all-conference form.

“Considering Hendrick’s problem and other injuries, I’m satisfied with the progress of this young team. But we may be without our other center, Ryan Jamison. He has an infection of the intestine and hasn’t been able to practice.”

Raveling was asked how good Kidd is.

“I think in fairness to the kid, we should let him get halfway through the conference before we try to evaluate him. This is a league that has had some great guards. Is he in the class of Walt Hazzard, Gail Goodrich and Paul Westphal and so many other good ones? Let’s wait and see. It’s a bit premature to put him in their class right now.

“But, I’ll tell you this: A friend of mine coached Jason in a summer league. He was on the same team as NBA players Gary Payton and Brian Shaw. Right now, he said, he would take Jason over the other two.

“Surprisingly, if you held a vote right now on the freshman of the year, Kidd wouldn’t win it. Mark Hendrickson of Washington State has better qualifications. He leads the Pac-10 in rebounding average (at 10.1) and field-goal percentage (66.7%).”

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Despite the fine play of Hendrickson, a 6-foot-8 forward, Washington State is off to an 0-3 start in the conference.

The Cougars lost to Washington at home in their opener, then were beaten twice on their trip to Arizona. They led Arizona State in most statistical departments and were in front, 77-70, with 3 1/2 minutes to play, then failed to score again and lost, 81-77.

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Although Coach Bill Frieder had to rebuild his team, Arizona State has become one of the most exciting teams in the conference.

When the Sun Devils battled from behind to beat Washington State and Washington last week, it gave them eight victories--all at home--in which they have come from behind during the second half to win. The Sun Devils’ three defeats have been on the road. With a 2-2 conference record, they are the early surprise.

Pacific 10 Notes

In the first week of conference play, visiting teams were 5-4. But last week, the home teams had a 7-2 edge. . . . Chris Mills, Arizona’s 6-6 forward, is second in the conference in scoring and three-point percentage. He is averaging 20.3 points, behind Arizona State’s Dwayne Fontana at 20.4, and is 51.2% on three-point shots, second to Arizona State’s Marcell Capers, at 56.3%. Capers also leads in assists, averaging 7.7. Trojan freshman Burt Harris is third in assists (6.5) behind Cal’s Jason Kidd.