Matadors Take Strides Toward Breakthrough
With everyone’s attention riveted on the NCAA tournament-bound Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team, the Matador men held a short team meeting Monday to plan their off-season.
They feel like shouting, “Hey, we turned things around too!,” but must be content with knowing that although the team’s improvement lacked a definitive dramatic moment, gains were made.
Northridge (17-12) posted its first winning record since joining Division I in 1990 and had its best finish in three Big Sky Conference seasons, finishing tied for third.
The Matadors won their first Division I tournament--at Hawaii--defeated every Big Sky opponent except Eastern Washington and rattled off two five-game winning streaks.
And Northridge is 135th among 311 Division I teams in the NCAA ratings percentage index, its highest ranking ever.
Optimism is high for next season because nine players return, including seven who received extensive playing time. Not included on that list are Rico Harris and Greg Minor, whom Coach Bobby Braswell assumes are not interested in coming back.
Despite repeated efforts to reach Harris, Braswell has not spoken with the junior forward since he and Minor were suspended for the last two regular-season games. Minor played in the Matadors’ 91-90 first-round Big Sky tournament loss to Montana State, but did not attend Monday’s meeting.
“From what I hear from other players, I don’t think they’ll be back,” Braswell said.
Plenty of talent will return, including the starting front line of center Brian Heinle and forwards Andre Larry and Jeff Parris. Starting point guard Markus Carr and off guard Carl Holmes will be back, as will reserve forwards Hewitt Rolle and Jemar Welch.
Guard Jason Crowe, one of several Matadors whose play improved steadily, will be back if the NCAA approves his request for another season of eligibility.
Besides Harris and Minor, the only significant loss is senior Derrick Higgins, the team’s leading scorer and captain.
“What Derrick meant to this team cannot be replaced,” Braswell said. “But the group that is left really cares about each other. The chemistry is excellent and the talent is obvious.”
Whether Braswell, who is 43-43 in three seasons, will be around to coach the team is a question players brought up at the meeting.
Long Beach State Coach Wayne Morgan might be fired in a matter of days and Braswell, who was a Long Beach assistant from 1989-92, is a logical candidate to replace him.
“I am not actively pursuing a job,” Braswell said. “If somebody wants me, certainly I’ll listen.”
Braswell is frustrated with the instability of the Northridge administration. The ongoing problems with facilities and budgets won’t be solved soon because President Blenda J. Wilson resigned effective in June and a permanent athletic director won’t be hired until this summer.
“I am loyal and committed to this place--it’s my alma mater,” said Braswell, who is not interested in becoming the athletic director. “Stability needs to be the key word in this athletic department.”
Some improvements are more urgent than others. The hiring of a strength-and-conditioning coach is essential to Braswell, who tired of watching his players get pushed around by stronger opponents.
Larry, Heinle and Holmes, in particular, would benefit from increased strength.
Larry and Heinle both are 6 feet 9 and possess deft shooting touches, but they tend to get pushed around by strong opponents in the post. Holmes needs to add at least 10 pounds if he is to regain the form that last season earned him the Big Sky freshman of the year award.
Despite the problems, Northridge is on the verge of becoming a heavyweight in the Big Sky. Conference powers Weber State and Northern Arizona will have new coaches and Portland State and Montana State will be hit hard by graduation.
The Matadors might be one impact player away from shocking the conference the way the women’s team did this season. Braswell and assistants Michael Johnson, Andre Chevalier and Eric Brown are busy recruiting.
Dan Read, a 6-9 freshman center who redshirted this season, will add depth to the front line. Craig Calloway, a guard from Long Beach Jordan High, signed a letter of intent during the early signing period, leaving Braswell with two scholarships to give.
“We need a perimeter shooter and somebody who is athletic on the wing,” Braswell said. “No doubt, we can be better and we will improve.”
