Critical Condition : Coaches Think Highly of Long Beach’s Cotton, Even If He Doesn’t

The criticisms are harsh, unwarranted and flat out wrong, people paid to know such things say. But James Cotton has the right to think what he wants . . . about himself.

Cotton is unmerciful in his self-evaluations, unforgiving about his self-perceived deficiencies. He speaks at length of his shortcomings, but only reluctantly acknowledges what others claim are his attributes.

Cotton, a Long Beach State redshirt sophomore, sounds more like a frustrated little-used reserve than what he is--the Big West Conference’s leading scorer. And no matter what he does well, he finds many other things he doesn’t.

“I’m real hard on myself,” Cotton said. “I’m my toughest critic.”

Clearly. But Cotton’s perspective is the minority view.

Big West coaches don’t share his opinions, and neither does anyone who has watched the hard-working, smooth-shooting guard. Cotton being Cotton is among the biggest reasons the 49ers are Big West champions. If only all the 49ers were as unskilled.

Cotton leads Long Beach into the Big West tournament beginning Friday at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno. Long Beach, seeded first in the six-team field, has a first-round bye and will play the winner of Utah State-Nevada in the semifinals at 6 Saturday night.

“Those days in Reno--that’s going to be our whole year right there,” Cotton said. “That’s what it all comes down to.”

The conference tournament champion earns the Big West’s automatic NCAA tournament berth. Because the Big West isn’t likely to receive an at-large berth, the stakes are high.

And the tournament outcome is also pivotal for another reason: providing Cotton with a measure of happiness. He hasn’t found much to revel in yet.

“Really, I just want to forget about how I played,” Cotton said. “I could have played better the whole season.”

He averages 19.7 points and 4.3 rebounds. He also shoots well, making 44% of his field-goal attempts, 41% of his three-pointers and 78% of his free throws. Tuesday, he was selected first-team all-conference in voting by Big West coaches. Cotton is the first 49er to win a regular-season scoring championship since Rickey Williams averaged 18.1 points in the 1978-79 season and led the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn., the Big West’s ancestor.

Long Beach (17-10, 12-6) won its first regular-season championship since the 1976-77 season and its first outright title since 1974-75. Cotton excelled during the 49ers’ key six-game conference winning streak from Jan. 25 through Feb. 10, averaging 21 points and scoring 30, 23 and 27 points in consecutive games.

“Cotton is a great offensive player,” Nevada Coach Pat Foster said. “If he’s not the best offensive player in the conference, he’s certainly in the top three. He’s averaging 20 points, and that speaks for itself.”

Still, Cotton isn’t pleased.

“Leading the conference in scoring, that’s really nothing to me,” Cotton said. “I had 30 points [in a 76-63 victory at San Jose State on Jan. 25], but I missed two easy shots, two layups and like four free throws, so I could have had like 40 that game.”

Passion for basketball directs Cotton’s actions and reactions. His goal is a successful NBA career.

“I don’t feel pressure from the coaching staff or anywhere else because I put more pressure on myself than anyone else ever does to me,” Cotton said. “The expectations I have for myself are so high.”

Long Beach Coach Seth Greenberg is not bashful about his belief in Cotton (6 feet 5, 200 pounds) and his future. He just wishes he prized pupil enjoyed himself more.

“I think he’s had a great year,” Greenberg said. “My big thing with J.C. is that I just want him to have fun.”

Cotton played in only one game last season and became a medical redshirt after suffering a severely sprained left ankle in a preseason exhibition. It was a major setback for Cotton, who eagerly wanted to build on his first season when he was selected the Big West freshman of the year.

He lifted weights, ran and played more games than ever. He returned better than before.

“He’s played up to his capabilities,” 49er senior forward Juaquin Hawkins said. “He worked out so hard this summer, and he’s continuing that even now. He’s always in the gym, shooting shots before practice and after practice.”

In moments of weakness, Cotton concedes he hasn’t had a bad season. But that’s it.

“I kind of look at it like this,” Cotton said. “I want to be mentioned with the best and I want to be with the best. I want to be the best.”