A New Attitude, if Not Latitude

They sure look good. Step into the gym at Cal State Northridge and you can’t help thinking that they finally look “big time.” You wouldn’t see any better if you were watching UCLA.

Yeah, those are some nice shoes.

A contract with a major manufacturer for slick-looking basketball shoes is among the many cosmetic changes that have helped Northridge finally look like a Division I program, in its seventh season at that level.

Besides the shoes, the Matadors have a new floor, new uniforms and a new locker room.

“To move mountains you have to start with moving small stones,” said Coach Bobby Braswell, who took over the program in May.

“Those [changes] are just little pieces of the puzzle that really will take the program where I think it needs to be to be competitive at Division I. At the beginning, I talked to our guys about trying to do things first-class and with quality. I think when you can do that, the players start feeling better about themselves and start feeling better about the university they represent.”

Perhaps the ultimate symbol of how small-time Northridge had been was that of a halftime chalk-talk interrupted by a group of middle-aged men flip-flopping through in scuba gear. The Matadors had no private team room in Matador Gym, so they used a locker room that was open to the public and adjacent to a swimming pool where scuba classes were held.

With such facilities, no legitimate conference and only 10 scholarships--three fewer than most Division I teams--the Matadors lost with remarkable consistency. They have gone 52-112 as a Division I team and were 7-20 last season. Northridge has never had a winning record in that time. The high-water mark was 7-7 midway through the 1992-93 season.

Braswell, Oregon’s top assistant the last four years, accepted the job of turning around such a woeful program because of some positive developments. Northridge was set to join the Big Sky Conference, giving the school its first chance to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. And the athletic department had pledged to add two scholarships to the basketball budget.

The impact of the changes might not truly be felt until next season, when Northridge’s five high school recruits and two transfers will be playing.

This year, the Matadors’ best hopes revolve around three players--brothers Derrick and Keith Higgins and Kevin Taylor. All three were on the team last year under Coach Pete Cassidy but could not play.

Keith Higgins, a 6-foot-5 forward, had to sit out after transferring from Colorado. Derrick Higgins, a 6-3 swingman, sat out last season because of a broken left foot. Both are extremely quick and athletic.

Taylor, a 6-7 forward, was out because of a strained right knee. His 7-foot-2 arm span makes him an excellent defensive player and rebounder.

No one on the roster was taller than 6-7 last year. The team has grown only an inch this season, with the addition of 6-8 center Brady Mertes, a transfer from Moorpark College.

To overcome the lack of height, Braswell has instituted an up-tempo offense and a high-pressure defense that often includes a full-court press.

“We can’t allow [teams] to just come down the floor and set up on us,” Braswell said. “Because we are not as big as some teams are, we are going to try to take advantage of our athleticism.”

Northridge’s depth will be tested because the 94-foot game will tire the starters and because constant pressure can often result in early foul trouble.

Northridge’s bench is so thin that three walk-ons play integral roles. Walk-on Lucky Grundy, a 6-foot junior, is a key because he is the only point guard behind 5-11 junior Trenton Cross, whose 9.3-point average last year was the best among returners.

The other key reserves are three-point specialists Gerald Rhoden and Sha-Ron Elzy, and forward Tom Samson, who was among the most improved players last season.

Braswell is optimistic, but realistic. His goals are simply to be competitive and finish in the top half of the nine-team Big Sky. The top six teams qualify for the conference tournament.

Montana is the conference favorite. The Grizzlies, one of three Big Sky teams that won 20 or more games last season, have 6-5 forward Chris Spoja, who averaged 10.3 points a game, and 6-10 center Brent Smith, who averaged 9.9, back.

The other contenders, in order of their position in the preseason polls of coaches and media, are Idaho State, Montana State and Weber State. Northridge was picked seventh in both polls.

Idaho State has four returning starters, including center Nate Green, the conference’s leading returning scorer at 14.6 points. Montana State, the defending regular-season and tournament champion, has only one returning starter, but the Bobcats have added several talented junior college transfers.

Weber State is traditionally strong, but the Wildcats lost four of their top five scorers. Weber State is also on probation for recruiting violations.

Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona and Sacramento State should battle Northridge for the final spots in the conference tournament.

Portland State, which restored its basketball program after a 15-year hiatus, will not be eligible for the Big Sky tournament until 1999 because of an NCAA waiting period.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

CS Northridge Facts and Figures

ROSTER

No.: 50

Player: Matt Andrews

Position: F-C

Height: 6-7

Weight: 235

Year: Sr.

Comment: 38 points, 43 fouls in 26 games.

*

No.: 3

Player: Trenton Cross

Position: G

Height: 5-11

Weight: 175

Year: Jr.

Comment: Second-team American West pick last season.

*

No.: 35

Player: Sha-Ron Elzy

Position: G

Height: 6-5

Weight: 190

Year: Jr.

Comment: Averaged 9.0 points at Chaffey College.

*

No.: 23

Player: Lucky Grundy

Position: G

Height: 6-0

Weight: 165

Year: Jr.

Comment: Walk-on averaged 10 minutes.

*

No.: 21

Player: Derrick Higgins

Position: G-F

Height: 6-3

Weight: 185

Year: Jr.

Comment: Missed season because of foo t injury

*

No.: 20

Player: Keith Higgins

Position: G-F

Height: 6-5

Weight: 190

Year: Sr.

Comment: Transfer from Colorado.

*

No.: 22

Player: Walter Jefferson

Position: G

Height: 6-1

Weight: 180

Year: So.

Comment: Made 40% of his three-point shots

*

No.: 41

Player: Brady Mertes

Position: F-C

Height: 6-8

Weight: 250

Year: Jr.

Comment: 15.0 points, 8.5 rebounds a game at Moorpark JC.

*

No.: 30

Player: Jeff Parris

Position: F

Height: 6-5

Weight: 210

Year: Fr.

Comment: Touted recruit from Long Bea ch Jordan.

*

No.: 25

Player: Gerald Rhoden

Position: G-F

Height: 6-5

Weight: 215

Year: Sr.

Comment: Top returning three-point shooter.

*

No.: 44

Player: Tom Samson

Position: F

Height: 6-7

Weight: 220

Year: Sr.

Comment: 56% shooting from field led team.

*

No.: 34

Player: Rod Stinson

Position: F

Height: 6-6

Weight: 220

Year: Sr.

Comment: Fiery walk-on adds bulk.

*

No.: 32

Player: Kevin Taylor

Position: F

Height: 6-7

Weight: 215

Year: Jr.

Comment: Medical redshirt last season .

*

* Coach: Bobby Braswell, 1st season.

* 1995-96 record: 7-20, 2-6 (tie, 3rd in American West Conference).

* Tournament: Northridge has never made the NCAA tournament or NIT.

* Returning starters (2): Cross, Samson.

*

SCHEDULE

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Date Opponent Time Today at Nevada Las Vegas 7:30 Nov. 27 CS Dominguez Hills 7 Nov. 30 at Loyola Marymount 7 Dec. 3 at UCLA 7:30 Dec. 12 Ohio 7 Dec. 16 St. Mary’s 7 Dec. 19 UC Santa Barbara 7 Dec. 29 at Iowa 12 Jan. 2 Portland State 7 Jan. 4 Eastern Washington 7 Jan. 9 at Montana State 6:30 Jan. 11 at Montana 6:30 Jan. 15 Sacramento State 7 Jan. 16 Weber State 7:30 Jan. 24 at Idaho State 7 Feb. 1 Northern Arizona 7 Feb. 6 Montana 7 Feb. 8 Montana State 7 Feb. 13 at Eastern Washington 7 Feb. 15 at Portland State 1 Feb. 20 at Weber State 6 Feb. 22 at Sacramento State 7:30 Feb. 27 at Northern Arizona 6 Mar. 1 Idaho State 7 Mar. 6-8 Big Sky Tournament TBA

*--*

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