Northridge Seeks Three and In

Rested and relieved of recalcitrant Rico Harris, Cal State Northridge basketball players spent the week craning their heads, focusing on the Big Sky tournament and beyond.

It might seem farther than Pluto, but the NCAA tournament is up there somewhere.

And in reality, it’s only a hop, skip and a jump away; victories in the first round, semifinals and finals of this weekend’s conference tournament at Weber State in Ogden, Utah. The winner gains an automatic NCAA berth.

Could it be Northridge, which opens against Montana State tonight?

During the regular season, the No. 4-seeded Matadors (17-11) split with each of the teams seeded above them: Weber State (22-7), Northern Arizona (20-7) and Portland State (16-10). Northridge also split with No. 5-seeded Montana State (15-12).

“It’s time for all business and pure focus,” senior guard Derrick Higgins said. “All distractions have to go now. This is what it’s all about, these three days.”

The status of Harris and junior guard Greg Minor was the primary distraction last week. They were suspended for the last two conference games for having detrimental attitudes. Minor explained his actions and was reinstated Monday.

Harris never showed up to talk to Coach Bobby Braswell or the team, in effect quitting. Although the loss of Harris, a 6-foot-9 forward who averaged 11.6 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds, will be felt, it can be overcome because Braswell has employed a 10-man rotation all season.

“We have plenty of guys who contribute in a variety of ways,” Higgins said.

A potential distraction is the status of Braswell, who might be in line for an opening at Long Beach State. Wayne Morgan, the 49ers’ coach of three seasons, has been told by the athletic director that his job is in jeopardy unless Long Beach wins the Big West tournament this weekend.

Braswell was a 49er assistant from 1989-92 and his name has surfaced among boosters as a replacement. Long Beach is appealing to Braswell because it has an arena--the Pyramid--and a larger budget than Northridge.

But this weekend, Braswell and his team have one goal on their minds, a goal Northridge nearly reached in 1997, its first Big Sky season. The Matadors came within one minute of winning the conference tournament, losing to Montana.

Montana State eliminated the Matadors last season in the semifinals and relies on the same one-two punch: Center Nate Holmstadt averages 20 points and 8.5 rebounds and guard Danny Sprinkle averages 16 points and is the Big Sky’s all-time leader in three-point baskets.

“We have to limit their big guns,” Braswell said. “Any one of the six teams in this tournament has a legitimate chance to win.

“You have to favor Weber State because it’s on [its] home court. But it’s anybody’s tournament.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Big Sky at Ogden, Utah

TONIGHT

* Portland St. vs. E. Washington, 6.

* CS Northridge vs. Montana St., 8:15.

FRIDAY

* Northern Arizona vs. highest remaining

seeded team, 6 p.m.

* Weber State vs. lowest remaining

seeded team, 8:30 p.m.