It’s a Long Road Back

Donny Daniels knew it would be a long road to respectability when he became coach at Cal State Fullerton before last season. The Titans were beginning the second season under four years’ probation for infractions that dated to 1993 and Daniels, who played for the Titans’ conference championship team in 1975-76, could not offer scholarships to junior college players.

So when the Titans finished 5-23 overall and 3-13 in the Big West Conference, Daniels was not surprised.

Probation does not officially end until next year, but the moratorium on scholarships for JC transfers ends Nov. 30. Daniels and the Titans are hoping a solid season will attract high school and junior college players. It won’t be easy.

Fullerton’s victories last season were over College of Notre Dame, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, UC Riverside and Idaho. The Titans qualified for the Big West tournament and lost to Utah State by 31 points.

Though Fullerton returns three starters from last season, conference coaches picked the Titans to finish seventh in the 10-team Big West. Daniels said his team can be competitive if it improves its .464 defensive field-goal percentage, an 11-board deficit in rebounding and a conference-worst 0.70 assist-to-turnover ratio.

“If you improve in those areas, you’re going to have a good season,” Daniels said.

Fullerton will be led by several experienced perimeter players, particularly senior guard Kevin Richardson, who averaged 11.6 points a game last season and is the top returning scorer.

Senior guard David Castleton averaged 7.8 points and 3.4 assists after transferring from Orange Coast College and becoming eligible seven games into the season. Sophomore guard Ryan Dillon averaged 8.7 points and is the Titans’ top three-point threat. In fact, Dillon attempted only 22 of his 204 shots last season from inside the three-point line. He set a school record when he made 10 of 15 three-point shots against Boise State.

Dillon, however, shot only 27 free throws, despite playing a team-high 854 minutes.

“Ryan needs to drive more to earn more trips to the free-throw line,” Daniels said. “We need that as a team and he needs to do that to improve as a player.”

Junior guard-forward Brandon Campbell, who missed almost all of last season because of a knee injury, sprained an ankle during a scrimmage Nov. 3 and could be out for a month. He averaged 10.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 1999-2000. Daniels, wary of a repeat of last season when forward Ike Harmon struggled to play through foot ailments and personal problems, does not want Campbell to rush back.

“We just want him healthy, to where he can go full tilt,” Daniels said.

The Titans will have a large Senegalese presence in the front court with the return of 6-foot 11-inch junior Babacar Camara and the addition of 6-10 Pape Sow, a transfer from Chaffey College.

Camara averaged 7.5 points and 4.4 rebounds last season and has added 20 pounds, increasing his weight to 240.

Sow averaged 15 points and nine rebounds at Chaffey but is still learning the game, Daniels said.

Josh Fischer, a 6-9 senior who averaged six points and three rebounds last season, underwent exploratory surgery on Oct. 30 for an irregular heartbeat. He was diagnosed with a relatively benign arrhythmia and is on medication, but he has continued to practice and is expected to play a prominent role.

Sophomore guard Chris Smith also returns after averaging 3.7 points as a reserve. Sophomore Derick Andrew and freshman Chris Alexander are among the newcomers who will play immediately.

Andrew, a good ballhandler, sat out last season because of Prop. 48. Alexander averaged 14 points for Los Angeles Price High and led the Knights to the state Division V title in 2000.

“We’re trying to get the best players we can get and put them on the floor,” Daniels said. “It’s like quarterbacks. Peyton Manning is good because he played and made mistakes. Same thing with [John] Elway and [Terry] Bradshaw and all those guys. You have to put them out there and let them get experience and try to learn from it.”