Matadors Leaving Distractions Behind

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 final in the conference tournament this weekend at Weber State in Ogden, Utah. The winner gains an automatic NCAA tournament berth.

Could it be Northridge, which opens against Montana State tonight at 8:15?

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). Montana State (15-12), which Northridge also split with, is seeded No. 5.

“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. The coach took that to mean Harris had quit.

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 is said to be a candidate to become coach at Long Beach State if Wayne Morgan is fired.

Morgan, the 49ers’ third-year coach, has been told by his Long Beach bosses that his job is in jeopardy unless the 49ers win the Big West tournament this weekend.

Braswell was a Long Beach 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 players 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, which came from behind to win the title game.

Montana State (15-12) eliminated the Matadors last season in a semifinal 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 the this tournament has a legitimate chance to win. You have to favor Weber State because it’s on their home court. But it’s anybody’s tournament.”

BIG SKY TOURNAMENT at Weber State, Ogden, Utah

TODAY

* 6 p.m.--No. 3 Portland State vs. No. 6 Eastern Washington

* 8:15 p.m.--No. 4 CS Northridge vs. No. 5 Montana State

FRIDAY

* 6 p.m.--No. 2 Northern Arizona vs. highest remaining seed

* 8:30 p.m.--No. 1 Weber State vs. lowest remaining seed

SATURDAY

* 7:30 p.m.-- Championship game

(Winner advances to NCAA tournament)