Northridge Isn’t Eager to Get Excited

More talent, less talk. An unlikely combination, perhaps, but after failing to live up to billing last season, the Cal State Northridge men’s basketball team is tempering its approach.

The memory of an inconsistent 12-16 season plagued by injuries, suspensions and dismal performances on the road is keeping Coach Bobby Braswell from becoming too effusive too early.

“We’ve got a pretty good idea why last season didn’t go as well as we’d hoped,” Braswell said. “We are working on becoming unselfish with the basketball, playing sound defense and gaining consistency.

Even though five players who started at least part of last season return, including sophomore guard Carl Holmes, the Big Sky Conference freshman of the year.

Even though guard Derrick Higgins, the school record-holder in steals and an excellent defensive player, was granted a second medical redshirt and sixth college season.

Even though talented 6-foot-9 forward Rico Harris spurned Rhode Island and, to the surprise of everyone, transferred to Northridge from L.A. City College.

Even though new point guards Jason Crowe and Markus Carr improve the Matadors at a position that cost them dearly last season.

“We are getting to know each other and setting a tone in practice that the team comes before any individuals,” Harris said. “We want this to be a Northridge team to be reckoned with.”

An immediate challenge for Braswell is spending ample time preparing his team. The third-year coach has been the administrator in charge of athletics at Northridge since Paul Bubb resigned under pressure as athletic director Nov. 3.

Something Braswell believes is in the Matadors’ best interest is a less difficult nonconference schedule. Last season, Northridge opened 2-6, dropping its first six games away from home to Arizona State, Oregon State, San Diego, Ohio State, Ohio and Long Island.

This season, tough opponents are mixed in with others the Matadors should beat.

An 83-65 victory at Long Beach State on Saturday put Northridge over .500 for the first time under Braswell, albeit with a 1-0 record. An 83-64 loss to Tennessee on Tuesday evened the Matadors’ record and they will be challenged in tournaments at Hawaii and Brigham Young in early December and by a visit to UCLA on Dec. 19.

“Playing quality [nonconference] opponents is still a priority,” Braswell said, “but we were tested so hard so early that we had difficulty developing the chemistry of a winning team.”

Crowe, a transfer from American University who attended Inglewood High, and Carr, a redshirt freshman from Palmdale High who was injured last season, appear ready. Each had nine assists in a 113-85 exhibition victory Nov. 10.

Holmes, Higgins and three-point specialist Greg Minor, who averaged 12.2 points last season, also rotate in the Matadors’ three-guard alignment. Holmes averaged 11.0 points and Higgins averaged 10.2 in five games before suffering a broken foot.

Harris, the state junior college player of the year in 1996-97, and 6-9 Andre Larry, a transfer from Oregon who sat out last season, are newcomers who will make an immediate impact.

Returning at forward is 6-5 junior Jeffrey Parris, who shot 62.9% and averaged 7.6 points and 5.1 rebounds. Forward Hewitt Rolle and center Larry Beard are transfers from Texas junior colleges.

Center Brian Heinle, a 6-9 sophomore, averaged 4.8 rebounds and 6.9 points in only 17 minutes a game. He has bulked up and Braswell believes he is greatly improved.

Defending league champion Northern Arizona returns seven of its top nine players and nearly every Big Sky team returns at least three starters.

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CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE AT A GLANCE

SCHEDULE

Date: Opponent, Time

Nov. 14: CSUN 83, Long Beach State 65

Nov. 17; Tennessee 83, CSUN 64

Sunday: at San Jose State, 2 Nov. 28: San Diego, 7

Nov. 30: Southern California College, 7

Dec. 3: Hawaii, 10**

Dec. 4: Coppin State or Georgia State, 8**

Dec. 11: Southern Utah, 4:30#

Dec. 12: BYU/Louisiana Tech, 4:30 or 6:30#

Dec. 19: at UCLA, 7:30

Dec. 22: James Madison, 7

Dec. 29: Lewis & Clark, 7

Jan. 2: at Northern Arizona, 6*

Jan. 4: Idaho State, 7*

Jan. 7: Portland State, 7*

Jan. 9: Eastern Washington, 7*

Jan. 14: at Montana State, 6*

Jan. 17: at Montana, Noon* Jan. 20: Cal State Sacramento, 7*

Jan. 21: Weber State, 7*

Jan. 28: at Idaho State, 6:30*

Feb. 6: Norther Arizona, 7*

Feb. 11: Montana, 7*.

Feb. 13: Montana State, 7*

Feb. 18: at Eastern Washington, 7*

Feb. 20: at Porland State, 7*

Feb. 25: at Weber State, 6*

Feb. 27: at Cal State Sacramento, 2*

March 4-6: Big Sky Tournament, TBA

*Big Sky Conference game **Hawaii Tournament #Brigham Young Tournament

ROSTER

*--*

No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. 4 Greg Minor G 6-3 194 Jr. 12 Markus Carr G 6-1 170 Fr. 13 Rico Harris F 6-9 250 Jr. 20 Carl Holmes G 6-1 170 So. 21 Derrick Higgins G 6-3 195 Sr. 31 Brian Heinle C 6-9 225 So. 32 Hewitt Rolle F 6-7 230 Jr. 34 Andre Larry F 6-9 205 Jr. 40 Larry Beard C 6-9 225 Jr. 42 Jeffrey Parris F 6-5 220 Jr. 52 Jason Crowe G 6-4 180 Jr.

*--*

RETURNING LEADERS

Scoring; Greg Minor 12.2

Rebounds: Derrick Higgins 5.4

Assists: Higgins 3.4

Steals: N/A

FG%: Jeffrey Parris 62.9%

FT%: Minor 77.3%