49ers Savor Title, Berth : Men’s basketball: Greenberg gives team day off, but Long Beach State will start to prepare today for Utah in its NCAA opener Friday.

Congratulatory hand shakes, pats on the back and calls from well-wishers have their place when you qualify for the NCAA tournament, Long Beach Coach Seth Greenberg believes.

So Greenberg, definitely no pushover, canceled practice Monday, allowing the 49ers to revel in the Big West Conference tournament title they won Sunday. Long Beach earned the conference’s automatic berth and will play Utah in the opening round at 11:40 a.m. Friday at Boise, Ida.

“I think it’s important that they enjoy the success they had this weekend,” Greenberg said Monday during a news conference at the Pyramid.

“I want them to feel good about themselves and what they’ve done. It’s important to get a chance to enjoy walking around and having people shake your hand and say congratulations.”

But compliments don’t win games, so it’s back to work today. And although Greenberg realizes the 49ers aren’t among the nation’s elite teams, he said they’re not content just to be part of the 64-team tournament.

“Utah is a very good basketball team,” Greenberg said. “But you know, we have good players at Long Beach State.

“Were they recruited by UCLA and North Carolina? No. But that doesn’t mean they can’t play.”

Greenberg’s game plan will focus on two players he didn’t get: Utah forward Keith Van Horn and guard Brandon Jessie, who are from the Southland. Van Horn, 6-foot-9 sophomore from Diamond Bar, was selected the Western Athletic Conference regular-season and conference tournament player of the year as Utah (27-5) won both titles.

He leads the fourth-seeded Utes with averages of 21 points and 8.7 rebounds. Jessie, the son of former Ram wide receiver Ron Jessie, played at Edison High.

“Keith Van Horn is probably as good an offensive player as we’ve played against this year,” Greenberg said, “and maybe as good an offensive player at 6-9 as there is in the country.”

Jessie, a 6-5 junior, made a smooth transition in his first season with the Utes after transferring from Ventura College, where he was the State co-player of the year last season. He averages 16 points and 5.8 rebounds.

Playing these two correctly is paramount for No. 13-seeded Long Beach (20-9). Brad Greenberg, director of player personal for the Portland Trail Blazers, confirmed this in a phone conversation with his brother Sunday night.

“As soon as we found out who we were playing I called my brother and said, ‘What do you think?’ ” Greenberg said. “He says, ‘They only have three No. 1 draft picks.’ ”

But on Monday, Utah’s talent wasn’t a 49er concern.

“(Forward Juaquin Hawkins) always used to tease me because he had a Big West tournament (title) ring and I didn’t,” guard Rasul Salahuddin said. “Now I have one too, so Hawk can’t tease me anymore.”

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Stepping up: Forward Terrance O’Kelley and center Joe McNaull are big reasons why the 49ers will play in their second NCAA tournament in the last three seasons.

The seniors were selected to the Big West’s all-tournament team for their consistent, clutch play.

O’Kelley (6-7) averaged a team-leading 18 points in the 49ers’ three victories, shot 55% from the field and grabbed 5.3 rebounds per game. McNaull (6-10), also a first-team all-conference selection, averaged 14.3 points and a team-high eight rebounds. He also shot 60% from the field.

“What you saw in the tournament was Terrance elevate his game and Joe elevate his game,” Greenberg said. “We have several guys who can make plays defensively, come up with big rebounds and make big shots, and that’s obviously been a strong point for us as we’ve made our run.”

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Doing the job: Although the players scored the points, Greenberg’s coaching shouldn’t be overlooked.

His handling of the game clock, substitution patterns and dealing with tense situations--especially in the championship game--should be commended. Greenberg continually made the correct moves.

“Seth Greenberg grades out as an A-plus,” Athletic Director Dave O’Brien said. “And not just for this tournament but for the way he’s handled everything this season. He’s done a great job.”

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A happy president: To say Long Beach President Robert Maxson isn’t well liked in most parts of Las Vegas would be an understatement.

Maxson drew the ire of many Las Vegans for his long-running feud with former Nevada Las Vegas basketball Coach Jerry Tarkanian when Maxson occupied UNLV’s top administrative post. On Sunday, no member of the Long Beach State contingent was more pleased with the team’s 76-69 overtime victory over Nevada at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center.

“Nothing could be better for me,” Maxson said, “than to come back here and win a championship on this floor.”