High Hopes

Turnabout is fair play, but center Brian Heinle of Cal State Northridge hopes his play against UCLA tonight is a notch better than fair.

After watching Bill Walton as a player for countless hours on video, honing a hilarious imitation of Walton’s style as a commentator, and fantasizing while shooting in his driveway as a kid that he was Walton, Heinle will take on Walton’s former school.

Describing Heinle’s performance will be none other than Walton, a commentator for Fox Sports West2.

Walton’s shining moment as a professional player was helping the Portland TrailBlazers win the NBA championship in 1977. Heinle, who grew up in Eugene, Ore., revered those exploits, although they were slightly before his time.

“They won the championship the year before I was born, but I’ve been studying those games all my life,” Heinle said. “Walton’s fundamentals were impeccable.”

Heinle, whose 20th birthday is today, heads into the nonconference game with his own candle burning brighter than ever.

The sophomore averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds in the Matadors’ past four games. He was most valuable player in the PowerBar Invitational at Hawaii and all-tournament at the Brigham Young Cougar Classic.

He leads Northridge with averages of 14.6 points and 7.7 rebounds, overcoming a slow start to emerge as the team’s most consistent player.

The 6-foot-9, 225-pound Heinle, however, is reluctant to stick his head above the crowd.

“My numbers aren’t important,” he said. “I think about the team and the program. Coach [Bobby] Braswell always talks about us wearing the Northridge gear with pride and establishing this program. We are getting there.”

Northridge (6-3) had a five-game winning streak until BYU snapped it a week ago. The Matadors are playing consistently well for the first time in Braswell’s three seasons.

A major reason is Heinle, who possesses a soft touch on outside shots and works well inside. He leads the team in free-throw shooting (80.6%) and is second with 12 three-point baskets.

“The main thing is my confidence level,” he said. “My teammates believe in me and I believe I can get things done.”

The opposite was true much of last season. Although Heinle’s numbers were respectable for a freshman--6.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game--his defense was poor and he often appeared unsure of himself.

It didn’t help when Braswell zapped Heinle with a typically icy glare every time an opponent made an easy layup.

“Last year I would question myself,” Heinle said. “I didn’t know I’d be successful. I would go through lulls. The whole year was a learning experience.”

Braswell believes the grief he gave Heinle as a freshman made him a better player.

“I’m glad I did that because now it’s amazing to watch him,” Braswell said. “He is being more aggressive and playing a lot more intelligently. Teams aren’t respecting his ability to make longer shots, so I don’t hesitate to let him shoot.

“I watched him as a ninth-grader and he was never taught about playing defense. Last year we sat him out late in games because of defense. Now he’s one of our best post defenders.”

Braswell was an assistant at Oregon when Heinle was an eighth-grade teammate of Braswell’s nephew, Carl Holmes, who lived with Braswell’s family and now is a Northridge sophomore. Braswell recognized Heinle’s potential even then.

“The first time he really sat down and talked to me was the middle of my eighth-grade season,” said Heinle, who already was 6-3. “He said I’d be able to play at the college level. I’ll never forget that conversation. It really made an impression on me.”

Four years later, Braswell influenced Heinle again during a home recruiting visit. Heinle was considering St. Mary’s, Santa Clara and Gonzaga, among other schools.

“His home visit was something to remember,” Heinle said. “When he left, I’d made up my mind. He and [Northridge assistant] Mike Johnson were personable.

“They were asking me questions, and we were all dreaming together about what Northridge could become. Their visit was a major step above.”

The dream included playing teams the caliber of UCLA. Heinle believes the Matadors are as ready as they’ll ever be.

“If we play our game, it’s going to be a battle,” he said. “Obviously they are heavy favorites. We are going in with nothing to lose.”

Northridge vs. UCLA

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Pauley Pavilion

TV: Fox Sports West 2