LONG BEACH STATE NOTEBOOK / JASON REID : Greenberg Changes Look of the Team

An embarrassing loss Dec. 6 to lowly Cal State Northridge infuriated 49er men’s basketball Coach Seth Greenberg so much that he angrily vowed in a postgame talk with reporters to make sweeping changes.

Although much of Greenberg’s anger has subsided since that 64-58 nonconference defeat, he hasn’t backed off his plans.

The lineup will have a markedly different look when Long Beach (2-1) plays host to Montana (6-2) 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at The Pyramid, its first game in 15 days.

Greenberg suspended senior forward Terrance O’Kelley (6 feet 7 and 245 pounds), who some experts say has a future in the NBA, for the game because of his academic performance. O’Kelley is in good standing at Long Beach and is eligible according to NCAA guidelines, Greenberg said, but he has not maintained the performance Greenberg wants.

“I’m doing this for Terrance,” Greenberg said. “The easiest thing for me is just to play Terrance if I want to be selfish and put the best team I could on the court. But that doesn’t do Terrance any good and it doesn’t do any other kid in our program any good.”

Junior swingman Jamie Davis (6-5, 215) now starts at one guard spot. Junior Eric Brown (6-6, 215), who had been starting in place of injured sophomore James Cotton, now comes off the bench.

Brown, a skilled offensive player, has averaged 7.3 points while making 53% of his shots. Greenberg, however, wants more than shooting out of the position.

Davis has averages of 11 points and 5.3 rebounds in about 27 minutes per game. He’s shooting 50%.

“Jamie has a very complete game,” Greenberg said. “He’s a good passer, and he puts the ball on the floor with a purpose. Eric gives us a guy who can come in and score off the bench.”

However, Davis must show more on defense to keep the job.

“That’s my biggest concern,” Greenberg said. “He’s doing a terrible job in defensive transition and he’s not doing a very good job fighting through screens.”

Still, Davis is a better passer than Brown. His promotion is based partly on the 49ers’ horrid execution of Greenberg’s motion offense against the Matadors.

“Jamie puts another passer in the game for us,” Greenberg said.

Tye Mays’ return should also help.

The senior point guard (6-1, 190), an occasional starter last season, was academically ineligible for the first semester because Long Beach academic officials incorrectly advised him. He is behind starter Rasul Salahuddin (6-2, 185) but might play considerable minutes against Montana.

“For me,” Mays said, “this feels like the opening day of The Pyramid.”

Said Greenberg: “We instantly become better at point guard.”

Hopefully for the 49ers, Greenberg will soon speak similarly about the entire squad.

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On the move . . . again: Much-traveled point guard Frank Harris, who has attended four colleges since the 1991-92 season, plans to transfer, he said.

A native of New York, Harris (6-3, 185) is not on scholarship. He said the cost of attending Long Beach has become a financial hardship for his family.

Harris said several coaches have contacted him since he decided to leave Long Beach, but he declined to be specific. Greenberg said the coaching staff will help Harris anyway it can.

“I hate to leave, I really enjoyed it here, but financially it’s becoming kind of burdensome,” Harris said. “Paying fees, having to pay monthly to live to eat, it’s becoming pretty expensive not being on scholarship.”

A redshirt junior, Harris, 22, was behind junior starter Salahuddin and senior Mays. He probably would not have been on the travel squad.

Harris played at Davidson in North Carolina as a freshman, averaging 10.4 points. After the season, he transferred to Connors State Junior College in Warner, Okla. Harris was named a first-team All-American by Future Stars Magazine after leading his team in scoring average at 20.1 points and leading the conference in assists at 7.3.

He received a scholarship to Stanford after the season, but left Palo Alto in February 1993 after being beaten for the starting position.

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Cotton eyeing return: Sophomore James Cotton’s severely sprained left ankle is healing so well that the standout guard says he will soon return.

“(The coaches) want me to play in the (Michigan State tournament, Dec. 29-30), but that’s kind of far-fetched right now,” Cotton said. “I’m shooting around right now, but I haven’t even started running on it yet.

“Maybe I can play then, but probably New Mexico State (Jan. 5) for sure.”

Last season’s Big West Conference freshman of the year, Cotton (6-6, 205) suffered the injury in the 49ers’ final exhibition game Nov. 18. He undergoes about three hours of therapy six days a week. After Wednesday, he will no longer wear a removable cast.

Cotton, who averaged 11.5 points and 4.3 rebounds as a freshman, was expected to be the focal point of the offense this season. He thought about seeking a medical redshirt year because of the injury, but has dismissed those thoughts.

“That’s pretty much out unless it takes longer than we think,” Cotton said. “I’m ready to play. I want to play.”