Braswell, Romar Resume Friendly Rivalry

The Bobby Braswell-Lorenzo Romar mutual admiration society convenes its annual meeting tonight at Cal State Northridge. All are invited. The more the merrier.

Braswell, the Northridge basketball coach, is surpassed in his praise of Romar only by the Pepperdine coach himself, who waxes effusive about Braswell.

Maybe it’s because both are second-year coaches in the early stages of trying to build prominent programs in the shadow of UCLA.

Maybe it’s because they developed grudging respect for one another while recruiting for rival Pac-10 schools as assistants, Braswell for Oregon and Romar for UCLA.

Or maybe they salute one another because they are similar.

Said Romar: “I have the utmost respect for what Bobby is doing. I see us both getting our respective programs at a level that can draw national attention. We are both trying to get crowd support and overall PR exposure for our programs.

“Bobby is the best exposure Northridge can have. They better not let him get away.”

Said Braswell: “There are some similarities between our programs. Lorenzo is really getting something positive going [at Pepperdine]. He recruits well, that’s obvious.

“He’s one of the best coaches and best people I’ve known. I consider Lorenzo a good friend.”

Their only area of disagreement is whether a rivalry is budding between the coaches and their teams. Braswell says yes, Romar says no.

Said Braswell: “I’d like to build a rivalry out of it. We aren’t in the same conference but they are close by.”

Said Romar: “I don’t look at Northridge as a rival. I’d say Loyola Marymount is more of one because they are in our conference. With Northridge, I wish them the best in every game but [tonight].”

The nonconference game should be close. Pepperdine (3-0) fell to Northridge (0-2), 68-57, last season, but is much improved. Despite its record, Northridge has improved, too.

Braswell and Romar took different approaches to early season scheduling, and it is reflected in the teams’ records.

Northridge opened on the road against Pac-10 teams Arizona State and Oregon State, returning winless but presumably wiser.

Pepperdine opened against UC Irvine and Norfolk State, hardly top-echelon programs. The Waves’ momentum carried into Monday’s 77-66 victory over favored Wisconsin.

Said Romar: “I don’t like to start right from the jump against a [top] team. But actually, I don’t have a problem either way. If the only way we could play UCLA was to open with them, that’s the way we’d do it.”

Said Braswell: “There is something to be said for coming into a game like this with confidence. But our guys learned [from the losses] and I’ve learned. It’s part of the growing process for our team.”

Pepperdine, with Division I transfers Jelani Gardner (California) and omm’A Givens (UCLA) combining with holdovers Gerald Brown and Bryan Hill, is shooting a blistering 52.6% from the field.

Brown, a senior who sat out last season recovering from knee surgery, has made nine of 15 three-point shots and is averaging 17 points. Gardner, the point guard, averages 11.7 points.

Post players Hill and Givens have combined for 22 points and 12 rebounds a game, giving the Waves strength inside.

Northridge will be at full strength for the first time. Forward Mike O’Quinn, who scored 26 points against Arizona State, is reinstated after serving a one-game suspension against Oregon State.

The Matadors, who are shooting 40.8%, need to establish continuity in their lineup. Ten players have had considerable minutes and only guard Greg Minor played more than 30 minutes in each game.

“We’ve had foul trouble and injuries too,” Braswell said. “We haven’t yet had everyone contribute.”

Tonight would be an opportune time to put it together. Each coach expects the other to prepare his team for a peak performance.

Said Romar: “When you play Northrdige, you are in for a game. We’d better strap it on and get ready to play because I know they will.”

Said Braswell: “Pepperdine respects us. They realize what happened last season. This is the kind of game that can turn a season around.”