PACIFIC 10 CONFERENCE BASKETBALL / DAN HAFNER : Hendrickson Gives Kidd Stiff Challenge for Top Rookie Honors

From the moment he picked California, Jason Kidd seemed a cinch to become the Pacific 10 freshman of the year.

But the talented youngster from Oakland has not been the dominant force some thought he would be. And when the Bears didn’t become instant winners, coach Lou Campanelli was fired. If new Coach Todd Bozeman can turn things around, the much sought-after Kidd may yet reach expectations.

But the conference coaches might have trouble choosing the best first-year player. That’s because another freshman, Mark Hendrickson of Washington State, has emerged as something of a sensation.

The 6-foot-8 Hendrickson has been largely responsible for the Cougars’ strong showing. Instead of this being a rebuilding year, as expected, Washington State is tied with Arizona State for second place in the Pac-10 with a 7-4 record and has won seven of its last eight games.

Hendrickson was not exactly a secret when he joined the Cougars. It was only a surprise that he made such an impact so soon. Hendrickson is one of the most outstanding athletes developed in Washington in years. He led Mt. Vernon, Wash., to two consecutive state basketball championships, was a star pitcher on the state champion baseball team and was Mt. Vernon’s best tennis player.

Coach Kelvin Sampson led the Cougars to 22 victories and a bid to the NIT last season. But, he lost his three best players to graduation and had only one returning regular, Bennie Seltzer. Thus, the anticipated rebuilding program in Sampson’s sixth season as coach.

Hendrickson changed the outlook quickly. Only 18, he established himself as the key to success. Besides being the leading rebounder, he has also been the best shooter in the conference, with a touch from inside and out. He is also one of the few big men in the league who can bring the ball up-floor against a pressing defense.

Coach George Raveling of USC climbed on the Hendrickson bandwagon sooner than most. A month ago, he warned that Kidd was no shoo-in for freshman honors.

“It’s amazing to me that they have showed so much confidence in a teen-ager,” Raveling said. “The Cougars rely on him in every situation. He takes charge when the going gets tough.

“Kidd has a decided edge in that he controls the ball. He’s more visible than Hendrickson. Hendrickson does his job almost unnoticed until the going gets tough. Then you see him, big as life.”

Hendrickson might have trouble deciding between a baseball and a basketball career. Last season at Mt. Vernon, he was 10-1 with an earned-run average of 0.84. In the state championship game, he pitched a three-hitter, winning, 3-0, and striking out 12.

He looks bigger than 6-8 and is an imposing figure on the mound.

Hendrickson is the second-leading shooter in the Pac-10 at 58.4%. He is also among the leaders in rebounding and free throw shooting.

The Cougars have a tough closing schedule with five of their last seven games on the road. But they don’t play the Arizona schools again and meet California at home. A sweep this weekend in Oregon would put them in a strong position to finish second.

And a second-place finish could put Hendrickson in line for freshman honors.

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Arizona, easily the class of the conference, has been surging in national rankings, too. After their school record-tying 15th victory in a row over Washington last Sunday, the Wildcats are ranked fourth.

They set the record of 15 in a row more than 70 years ago. The Wildcats’ opponents when they bid for a new school record will be archrival Arizona State at Tucson on Thursday night. In their previous meeting at Tempe last month, the Wildcats struggled to a 91-87 victory.

Arizona, 11-0 in conference play, is starting to talk about an unprecedented 18-0 league record and a spot in the Final Four.

But Coach Lute Olson is not ready to talk about either.

“What winning streak?” he asked after the victory at Seattle.

“I’m not surprised that we have shown steady improvement,” he said. “We have been breaking in four freshmen, and that meant we should get better. But everybody is contributing more than we anticipated. It’s a good feeling.

“Before we start thinking about the future, we need to win the conference. We haven’t done that yet.”

The Wildcats could clinch their fifth title in the last six seasons by next weekend. By beating Arizona State this week and sweeping the Oregon schools next week, they could clinch at least a tie. And, if either Washington State or Arizona State loses twice, it would be decided.

Pacific 10 Notes

The Wildcats, with a chance to keep moving up in the rankings, play powerful Cincinnati on Sunday at Phoenix. The Bearcats are rated No. 8 in the nation. In the opener of the doubleheader, Arizona State plays Memphis State, like Cincinnati a member of the Great Midwest Conference. . . . Washington State senior guard Bennie Seltzer had 53 points in the two games, but the Cougars only managed a split against the Arizona schools.

In a conference ranking of guards, based on assists-to-turnovers ratio, Jason Kidd stands only fourth. Arizona’s Damon Stoudamire is No. 1, followed by Marcell Capers of Arizona State and Marcus Lollie of Stanford. Although he has 132 assists, Kidd has 78 turnovers. Only Tyus Edney of UCLA has more, 82, but the Bruin has played four more games. Kidd is averaging almost five turnovers per game. . . . Mark Pope of Washington, last season’s Pac-10 freshman of the year, will start his 50th consecutive game for the Huskies at Oregon on Thursday night.