Romar Leaves Second-Guessing to Others After Move to Malibu

Lorenzo Romar may be the only person drawing sympathy for moving to Malibu.

Sure, the ocean view is great from his second-story office in Pepperdine’s Firestone Fieldhouse, but had he stayed in Westwood, he probably would be coaching the UCLA basketball team.

“It’s crossed my mind,” said Romar, who left his position as Jim Harrick’s top assistant to become coach at Pepperdine after last season. “It’s been fun to think about it, but not once have I kicked myself about [leaving].”

Romar believes he is in the right place at the right time, even with Pepperdine coming off two losing seasons--18-37 combined--and two last-place finishes in the West Coast Conference. He dismissed reports that have him earmarked to replace Steve Lavin as UCLA’s coach after the 1996-97 season.

“Without question, I’m going to be at Pepperdine,” he said. “No. 1, UCLA has not contacted me. No. 2, rumors are just that, rumors.”

Romar welcomes the chance to rebuild a Wave program that ranks behind only UCLA in winning percentage and postseason tournament berths among California Division I schools since 1979.

Romar also intends to make some Pepperdine history of his own. He wants Pepperdine to become a top-25 team “in the next two to three years,” a goal that could begin to take shape next season when two high-profile transfers--former UCLA center omm’A Givens and former Cal guard Jelani Gardner--become eligible. In addition, the Waves will welcome back two-time, all-WCC guard Gerald Brown, who will redshirt this season to recover from off-season knee surgery.

In the meantime, the Waves have been tabbed to finish last again in the WCC by several publications. Romar doesn’t agree with the predictions.

“Personally I don’t think Pepperdine is a last-place team, and I didn’t think Pepperdine was a last-place team last year,” he said.

The Waves were devastated by injuries in 1995-96, ending the season with only six active players after Brown and Marques Johnson went down in the conference tournament, Johnson with a sprained ankle. With seven players, they still upset top-seeded Santa Clara in the first round, 63-60.

Romar hopes that performance is indicative of how Pepperdine can play this season. His main worry is the team’s lack of height. There is no true center on the roster.

The Waves’ tallest players are 6-foot-8 forwards Bryan Hill and Eric Griffin. Hill, a junior who averaged 15.1 points and 7.3 rebounds last season, will handle most of the low-post duties.

Hill’s supporting cast is headed by Johnson, a senior guard who averaged 14.3 points and led the Waves in three-point baskets and steals last season, and Tommie Prince, a sophomore swingman who sat out last season at Arizona State because of academic deficiencies after a sterling career at Compton Dominguez High.

After that, Romar isn’t sure who will be in the starting lineup in the season opener tonight at Weber State. A good bet is guard R.J. Powell, an athletic sophomore who started both exhibition games after sitting out last season because of a back injury.

Sophomore Tezale Archie and senior Khary Hervey, the team’s assist leader last season, also are expected to contribute in the backcourt, along with freshman Billy Jones.

“I feel pretty good about our guards, in terms of quickness and the defensive pressure we can apply,” Romar said. “We have to create opportunities to score.”

Pepperdine will be short-handed on the frontline if forward Kelvin Gibbs is forced to sit out the season after being declared academically ineligible by the NCAA. The freshman from Bellflower High was contending for a starting spot before the NCAA took action over a makeup course Gibbs took at Cerritos College. Romar said Pepperdine is appealing the decision.

Griffin and sophomore Marc McDowell, a transfer from Mesa Community College in Arizona, round out the team’s forwards.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Pepperdine Facts and Figures

ROSTER

No.: 3

Player: Aaron Butler

Pos.: G

Ht.: 6-2

Wt.: 175

Yr.: Fr.

Comment: Walk-on gives Waves 10 active players.

*

No.: 4

Player: Eric Griffin

Pos.: F

Ht.: 6-8

Wt.: 225

Yr.: So.

Comment: Bulked up significantly in off-season.

*

No.: 5

Player: R.J. Powell

Pos.: G

Ht.: 6-2

Wt.: 185

Yr.: So.

Comment: Sat out last season because of back injury.

*

No.: 12

Player: Khary Hervey

Pos.: G

Ht.: 6-2

Wt.: 170

Yr.: Sr.

Comment: Averaged team-high four assists last season.

*

No.: 15

Player: Billy Jones

Pos.: G

Ht.: 6-5

Wt.: 190

Yr.: Fr.

Comment: Averaged 26.7 points at New Orleans Walker High.

*

No.: 22

Player: Marc McDowell

Pos.: F

Ht.: 6-7

Wt.: 210

Yr.: So.

Comment: JC transfer gives Waves needed frontline help.

*

No.: 23

Player: Tommie Prince

Pos.: G-F

Ht.: 6-5

Wt.: 210

Yr.: So.

Comment: Has not played competitively since March 1995.

*

No.: 22

Player: Tezale Archie

Pos.: G

Ht.: 6-1

Wt.: 175

Yr.: So.

Comment: Played in all 28 games as freshman.

*

No.: 31

Player: Marques Johnson

Pos.: G

Ht.: 6-0

Wt.: 155

Yr.: Sr.

Comment: Made 13 of 19 three-pointers in two exhibitions.

*

No.: 32

Player: Kelvin Gibbs

Pos.: F

Ht.: 6-6

Wt.: 225

Yr.: Fr.

Comment: School appealing his NCAA-imposed ineligibility.

*

No.: 33

Player: Bryan Hill

Pos.: F-C

Ht.: 6-8

Wt.: 225

Yr.: Jr.

Comment: Top returnee. 15.1 points, 7.3 rebounds a game.

* Coach: Lorenzo Romar, first season.

* 1995-96 record: 10-18, 2-12 in WCC (eighth).

* Tournament: Last appearance: NCAA, 1994.

* Returning starters (3): Hervey, Hill, Johnson.

SCHEDULE

*--*

Date Opponent Time Today At Weber State 6 Monday UC Santa Barbara 5 Nov. 30 At Boise State 6:30 Dec. 3 San Jose State 7 Dec. 7 Pacific 5 Dec. 13 At Syracuse 5:30 Dec. 14 At Carrier Classic TBA Dec. 19 Cal State Northridge 7 Dec. 21 At Cal State Fullerton 7 Dec. 27 Cal State Hayward 7:30 Dec. 30 At Wisconsin Green Bay 6 Dec. 31 At Wisconsin G.B. Tourn. TBA Jan. 10 San Diego 7 Jan. 11 San Francisco 5 Jan. 15 At Loyola Marymount 7:30 Jan. 18 Loyola Marymount 5 Jan. 23 At Portland 7 Jan. 25 At Gonzaga 5:30 Jan. 31 Gonzaga 7 Feb. 1 Portland 5 Feb. 7 At St. Mary’s 7:30 Feb. 9 At Santa Clara 2 Feb. 14 Santa Clara 7 Feb. 15 St. Mary’s 5 Feb. 20 At San Francisco 7 Feb. 22 At San Diego 7 Mar. 1-3 WCC Tourn. at Loyola Marymount TBA

*--*

* All times Pacific and p.m. unless noted.