Big Shot

Justin Muth came to Cal Lutheran three years ago knowing little about Division III basketball and even less about secluded Thousand Oaks.

And as for the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference--the SCIAC by its acronym--are you kidding?

But Muth knew one thing.

“I didn’t want to go to a school and just be a name on a roster,” said Muth, a 6-foot-9 center from Half Moon Bay High in Montara, Calif.

“I wanted to actually play.”

No matter that Muth plays in relative obscurity, typically before crowds of 200 or fewer.

No big deal that Cal Lutheran, a school with an enrollment of 1,500 nestled in a tranquil niche of Ventura County, is far from the spotlight.

Although few notice, Cal Lutheran (16-4) is head and shoulders above the rest in the SCIAC, taking a 9-0 conference record into Saturday night’s game at Claremont Mudd.

The Kingsmen are the first SCIAC team to go 9-0 since 1985. Muth, the team leader in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, is all but certain to be selected conference most valuable player.

Best of all, Muth, big man on a small campus, has grown accustomed to the surroundings.

“This doesn’t look like much, but it’s a fun gym to play in,” Muth said during a break in practice. “My first impression of this place is that it’s pretty small. I didn’t know anything about Thousand Oaks except that it was smaller than I pictured. I liked it, though. Coming here has been really nice.”

Nearing the end of his four-year career, Muth ranks among Kingsmen career leaders in several categories. This season has been Muth’s best. He is averaging 20.8 points and 8.1 rebounds while routinely being double teamed.

Muth had a career-high 34 points in a 94-83 victory over La Verne.

Last season, Muth averaged 6.7 rebounds to lead the team. He averaged 14 points but showed signs of things to come with a 30-point performance in a 79-78 victory over Wisconsin Lutheran.

“Justin has produced some wonderful senior leadership,” Cal Lutheran Coach Rich Rider said. “The biggest difference from last year is his maturity. He really worked hard over the summer. He made the decision to get better.”

Blessed with size and agility, Muth’s quickness might be his best attribute.

“He’s probably the fastest guy on the team,” Rider said. “We knew right away he had potential. We’ve made adjustments in our system to capitalize on his strength.”

Muth’s improvement has coincided with the Kingsmen’s. Muth is among three returning starters from a team that was 14-10 and tied for fifth in the SCIAC at 7-7.

Cal Lutheran figured to be improved but few expected a runaway. The Kingsmen have won 12 consecutive games.

Cal Lutheran hosts Occidental on Wednesday, a rematch of a 77-75 Kingsmen victory three weeks ago in which Muth had 30 points and 10 rebounds.

Getting up for big games in the SCIAC isn’t a problem for Muth.

“The level of play is very competitive,” Muth said. “I was surprised that it was higher than I thought.”

Muth might pursue a professional career, either in Europe or Australia. Somewhere, he said, where he will measure up.

“I try not to let the D-III thing stigmatize me,” he said. “You know, I hear people talk about that: ‘Coming from D-III, how good can this guy be?’ It can put a label on you. But I guess, as they say, the proof is in the pudding.”