Defense Is the Key for Matadors

Bobby Braswell likes to invoke the “D” word when discussing his Cal State Northridge men’s basketball team.

No surprise. Defense has long been the cornerstone of Braswell’s coaching philosophy, especially during his three seasons at Northridge. No one expects that to change.

“What I hope you’ll see this year is a team that is one of the best defensive teams in the country,” Braswell said.

If things go well for the Matadors, their coach won’t have to spend too much time invoking the other “D” word--discipline.

Last season, Northridge was 17-12 and finished tied for third in the Big Sky Conference. The Matadors lost to Montana State, 91-90, in the first round of the Big Sky tournament.

Yet, the Matadors were distracted by off-the-court turmoil involving key players Rico Harris and Greg Minor. Both were suspended by Braswell during the season for violating team rules.

Harris, a 6-foot-9 forward and the team’s leading rebounder, was suspended for one game in December and walked away at midseason. Minor, a junior and the Matadors’ leading three-point shooter for two seasons, returned and played out the season, although he made it clear he would not return for his senior year.

Minor declared himself eligible for the NBA draft in June but was not selected.

Harris and Minor are gone. Unfortunately, so is guard Derrick Higgins, the team’s leading scorer and most valuable player.

The Matadors also could stand to be bigger and stronger. Senior Andre Larry and junior Brian Heinle, both 6-9 forwards, are expected to anchor the middle.

Still, optimism abounds.

“We’ve got a deep team, a lot of hard workers,” said Heinle, who averaged 12.6 points last season. “But the main improvement I see is attitude.”

Guard Carl Holmes, Big Sky freshman of the year in 1997-98, said the difference is obvious.

“I come to practice and I can see it on the floor,” Holmes said.

Braswell, 43-43 at Northridge, declined to discuss the past, saying only that the work ethic of this year’s team is exceptional.

“There was a little bit of selfishness and that probably hurt us last season,” Braswell said. “Sometimes, some people’s loyalties are not what they need to be. This year’s team is a phenomenal group of players, the first group that I really feel truly cares about each other and really cares about Northridge.”

Northridge is tabbed to finish third behind defending champion Weber State and Northern Arizona in the Big Sky coaches poll. Graduation took a heavy toll on many conference teams, but the Matadors have a strong nucleus of returning players to blend with what might be Braswell’s best recruiting class.

Heinle, Larry and sophomore guard Markus Carr, who averaged a team-high 4.4 assists, are returning starters. Larry averaged 9.6 points last season, but he averaged 20 points over the final five games.

Braswell landed key recruits in junior Marco McCain from Cerritos College and freshman Craig Calloway from Long Beach Jordan High.

McCain, a 6-3 point guard, averaged 14.5 points while leading Cerritos to a state title.

Calloway, a 6-1 point guard, averaged 16 points and six assists in his fourth season as a starter at Jordan. Calloway helped lead Jordan to a 30-4 record and Southern Section title as a freshman.

“He has skills for all the guard positions and is a great defender,” Braswell said of Calloway. “His versatility and athletic ability will lend itself to our style of play.”

That style figures to include a heavy dose of D.

“It’s early, but I feel like we got a bunch of guys who really want to win,” Carr said. “If Coach Braswell sticks to his philosophy, we’ll win.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NORTHRIDGE AT A GLANCE

Date Opponent, Time

Nov. 19: at USC, 7.

Nov. 27: Cal State Dominguez Hills, 7:05.

Nov. 30: at Fresno State, 7.

Dec. 4: at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 7

Dec. 6: Oral Roberts, 7:05

Dec. 11: at Oregon, 7:05

Dec. 20: at Oral Roberts, 7:05 (CST)

Dec. 22: at Texas El Paso, 7:05 (CST)

Dec. 28: St. Francis (N.Y.), 7:05

Dec. 30: San Jose State, 7:05

Jan. 2: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 2

Jan. 6: *Northern Arizona, 7:05

Jan. 8: *at Idaho State, 7:35 (MST)

Jan. 13: *at Portland State, 7:05

Jan. 15: *at Eastern Washington, 7:05

Jan. 20: *Montana State, 7:05

Jan. 22: *Montana, 7:05

Jan. 27: *at Sacramento State, 7:05

Jan. 29: *at Weber State, 7:05 (MST)

Feb. 3: *Idaho State, 7:05

Feb. 12: *at Northern Arizona, 7:05 (MST)

Feb. 17: *at Montana, 7:05 (MST)

Feb. 19: *at Montana State, 7:05 (MST)

Feb. 24: *Eastern Washington, 7:05

Feb. 26: *Portland State, 7:05

Mar. 2: *Weber State, 7:05

Mar. 4: *Sacramento State, 7:05

Mar. 9-11: *Big Sky tournament, TBA

* Big Sky game

ROSTER

*--*

No. Player: Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. 3 Andre Larry: F 6-9 205 Sr 4 Craig Calloway: G 6-1 185 Fr 10 Lionel Benjamin: G/F 6-3 205 Fr 12 Markus Carr: G 6-1 180 So 14 Marco McCain: G 6-3 185 Jr 20 Carl Holmes: G 6-1 170 Jr 23 Whitney White: F 6-5 195 Jr 31 Brian Heinle: C 6-9 225 Jr 32 Hewitt Rolle: F 6-7 230 Sr 34 Jermar Welch: F 6-6 215 Jr 42 Jeff Parris: F 6-5 223 Sr

*--*

RETURNING LEADERS

Scoring: Brian Heinle, 12.6

Rebounds: Brian Heinle 5.7

Assists: Markus Carr 4.4

Steals: Markus Carr 1.8

FG%: Jeff Parris 61.4

FT%: Hewitt Rolle 73.3