MEN’S BASKETBALL : Stepping Down to Division III Should Work in Chapman’s Favor

One season in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. was enough for Chapman men’s basketball Coach Mike Bokosky--he has no desire to relive the memories.

Chapman won four of 14 games in the conference last season in Bokosky’s first year at the school, the Panthers’ best finish since 1989. Chapman has left the conference as part of its move from NCAA Division II to Division III and no CCAA teams appear on this year’s schedule.

It wasn’t for a lack of trying.

“The funny thing was that they all called to try to get us to play, saying things like, “It will be good for you,’ and ‘We’ll give you $200 for your program,’ ” Bokosky said. “I said, “No way.” Do they think I just fell off the turnip truck?”

Instead, Bokosky filled the schedule mostly with games against Division III teams, such as Whittier, Claremont, Redlands and La Verne, all of which are in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the league Chapman would like to join.

A look at local teams:

CHAPMAN

1992-93 records: 7-19, 4-10 in the CCAA

Conference finish: Seventh

The Panthers return only two players, guard Aaron Cornell and small forward Rod Summers, from last season’s team. Cornell, a senior three-point sharpshooter, averaged 7.6 points, and Summers, a 6-foot-4 senior, averaged 7.8 points and six rebounds. Bokosky has had to find players to help immediately.

He believes he has found them. Brian Wood, a transfer from Cal State Fullerton who sat out last season, will be the starting point guard. Chris Hacker, 6-8, from Santa Margarita and Cal Poly Pomona, will be one of the tallest Chapman forwards in recent memory. Stefan Mumaw, 6-8, from University High School and Christian Heritage and Cuesta colleges, will add bulk at center.

Bokosky is happy with freshmen guards Adam Dzierzynski, from Santa Margarita, and Toby Curto, from Liberty Christian; Greg Reynolds, a junior guard from El Toro High and Saddleback College and Umahl Anderson, a sophomore guard from Santa Monica College.

For the first time in years, the Panthers have significant size coming off the bench. Edgar Diaz, a junior from Fullerton College, is 6-6, and Jason Roczey, a junior from Cerritos College, and Steve Van Hook, a junior from Riverside College, are 6-5.

Chapman opens its season tonight against Southwestern (Tex.) in the Claremont tournament.

CONCORDIA

1992-93 records: 15-15, 5-7 in the Golden State Athletic Conference

Conference finish: Fourth

Conference coaches picked the Eagles to finish second in Coach Greg Marshall’s fourth season--a far cry from where they were picked in his first. “We were picked to finish 12th of 13 teams in the district,” Marshall said. “At the time, I said, ‘Hey, give me the chance to be No. 1.’ ”

He’s closer now because of three returning starters--Darren Lax, a guard who averaged 8.6 points and 5.9 assists, Brian Hazelwood, a 6-4 forward who averaged 8.8 points, and Brian Tollefson, a 6-7 forward who averaged seven points and six rebounds--and a good recruiting class.

The Eagles also have 6-7 off-guard Vujadin Jovic, who played with Laker center Vlade Divac on a Yugoslavian club team; Travis Rousell, a 6-6, 230-pound forward from Australia, and Craig Martin, a 6-3 guard who averaged 14 points for Santa Monica College.

Pat O’Curran, a guard who transferred from Southern California College, and Timothy Morris, a 6-8 forward from Troy High and Yuba College, will also see playing time.

Concordia, which opened the season Tuesday with an 82-59 victory over Claremont, plays in the UC San Diego tournament today and tomorrow. The Eagles have a Dec. 7 game at Cal State Fullerton.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLLEGE

1992-93 records: 19-12, 8-4 in the GSAC

Conference finish: Second, tie with Westmont

The Vanguards got a boost when forward Scott Campbell, a second-team All-NAIA District 3 selection, recently received a medical clearance to play. Campbell, a senior from La Quinta High and Golden West College, has a history of heart problems, and because of complications that developed over the summer, it looked as if he wasn’t going to be able to play this season.

But he was cleared last week and scored nine points Tuesday in the Vanguards’ 74-71 loss to The Master’s.

Campbell, who averaged 15.3 points, gives the Vanguards another outside shooting threat with John Naro, who averaged 10.9 points. So does quick point guard Danin Bryant, who averaged a district-high 7.8 assists, as do Court Bickmore, a senior guard, and Eric Carmichael, a 6-4 senior forward.

Coach Bill Reynolds has added Mike Ruble, a 6-8 center from Solano College; Eric Price, a 6-5 forward from Linn-Benton College in Oregon; Todd Anderson, a 6-6 forward from Cerritos College, and Darren Thomas, a point guard from Skagit Valley College. Two freshmen, Joel Kuipers, a 6-7 redshirt from Seattle, and Danny Hyde, a 6-4 forward from Redondo Union High, might contribute also.

The Vanguards (2-1) play Utah in Salt Lake City Saturday and Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau Wednesday.

PACIFIC CHRISTIAN

1992-93 records: 25-14, 11-1 in California Coastal Conference, 8-0 in the Western Christian Athletic Conference

Conference finishes: First, First.

Lee Erickson, in his eighth season at PCC, is 10 victories short of 200 at the school. The Royals already are 3-4 this season, and 10 more should not be a problem.

Three returning starters--6-3 forward Charles Ross and guards Ruxton Schmietenknop and Eric Bajus--averaged 66 points between them last season. Ross, a first-team National Christian College Athletic Assn. All-American, averaged 34 points and 16.6 rebounds.

Community college transfers Chuck Henderson, a 6-4 forward from Kings River College, and Steve Seifken, a guard from Cypress College and freshmen Troy Rodarmel, a guard from Capistrano Valley Christian; Dave Hesterly, a 6-3 forward from Calvary Chapel; Ken Wright, a 6-5 center from Pasadena High, and Mike McKinney, an all-Washington state guard from Seattle, should contribute.