USD Men's Basketball 2003-2004

2002-2003 SEASON REVIEW

Page 49 TOREROS WIN wee TOURNAMENT ... JOINMARCHMADNESS DANCE I The USD Toreros entered the 2002-2003 campaign without 80% of their scoring punch from the previous 16-13 club. Most preseason polls had them picked to finish any– where between 4th and 6th in the West Coast Conference. Ninth-year coach Brad Holland knew he might have something special with this group early on when the Toreros began the season 3-0. That stretch included an 86-81 over– time road win at then No. 14 ranked UCLA. In that game the Toreros showcased their 6-10, 280 lb. senior center - Jason Keep. Keep, who had transferred to USD from Oklahoma State, was just beginning his first and only season with the Toreros. That magical night he poured in 30 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. With eight of their first thirteen games on the road, the Toreros hit some bumps along the way as they entered WCC play with a 6-7 record. After dropping their WCC home opener to Santa Clara, 67-65, coach Holland made a key change in his lineup. He moved senior Matt Delzell to the point guard spot and named him Team Captain. From that point on the Toreros would finish the season with a record of 12-3, including the program's first– ever West Coast Conference Tournament Championship, and the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament in sixteen years. Despite giving Stanford all they could handle in the Ist round of the NCAA Tournament, the Toreros dropped a hardfought 77-69 decision to the Cardinal.

USD MEN'S BASKETBALL AWARD WINNERS

USD's Jasons, Jason Keep and Jason Blair, provided the Toreros with one of the most consistent inside tandems on the west coast as both players earned First Team All-WCC honors. Keep was runner-up as WCC Player of the Year despite leading the league in rebounding (9. 1 rpg), field goal percentage (.604), and finishing a close second in scoring (18 .0 ppg) to USF's Darrell Tucker ( 18.5). Blair fi nished fourth in scoring ( 17.1 ppg), rebounding (7.4 rpg) and field goa l percentage (.516), and ranked second in free throw percentage (. 847). Joining Delzell, Keep and Blair in the starting lineup was USD's fourth senior, guard Roy Morris. Morris was steady throughout the season and finished the season averaging 12.3 ppg. Sophomore wing Corey Belser was the only non-senior in the starting lineup and he gave the team a huge lift with his defensive skills and rebounding. First off the bench was 6-10 freshman forward Nick Lewis. Lewis gave the Toreros solid minutes and usually provided some instant of– fe nse with outstanding inside moves and outside shooting.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Jason Keep & Matt Delzell MILLER LITE STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Jason Blair & Matt Delzell BULLY'S EAST MOST IMPROVED PLAYER Nick Lewis BUGELLI LEADERSHIP AWARD Matt Delzell ZABLE ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE AWARD Jason Blair BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER AWARD Corey Belser

In their WCC Tournament championship game, in front of a national televison audience on ESPN , the Toreros found themselves down 15-3 to start the game versus the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Despite the slow start, the team kept their composure and slowly but surely got back into the game. Jason Keep led four Toreros in double-digit scoring with 18 points; he was followed by Roy Morris ( 15 points), Matt Delzell ( 14 points) and Nick Lewis ( 14 points). Keep was named the tourney MVP, and Del ze ll and Lewis joined him on the All– Tournament team. Keep also became the first Torero to be recognized on the District 15 First Team, selected by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Jason Blair was named a Verizon Academic 2nd Team All-America. The Toreros were "Road Warriors" last season, finishing 9-7 overall away from the Jenny Craig Pavilion. San Diego was even better in league play on the road, finishing an outstanding 6-1 in WCC play. The Toreros led WCC schools for all games played in field goal percentage (.470) and rebounding (38.2). In conference games only, USO led the league in scoring (77. 8 points per game). As the WCC's automatic qualifier into the Big Dance, USD made its third trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Toreros also advanced to the NCAA's in 1984 and 1987. USO won the WCC Tournament title for the first time, and also became the first men's team to win the event as the host school.

2002-03 Torero Team llighlights: Head Coach * Brad Holland, 9th Year * Two-time wee Coach offue Year Team llighlights * Final record of 18-12 * I0-4 wee Record (2nd); 6-l in wee road games * Advanced to NCAA Tournament !st Round * Hosted and won WCC Tournament Championship * Beat No. 14 UCLA at Pauley Pavilion, 86-81 in OT * Fifth straight season with I6 or more victories * Led WCC in scoring in conference games (77.8 ppg) District 15 First Team (NABC)

* Jason Keep (fir$t Torero to earn 1st Team) West CoastAll-Region (Basketball Times) * Jason Keep, Senior Center First Team All-West Coast Conference * Jason Blair, Sr. Forward * Jason Keep, Sr. Center Verizon Academic 2nd TeamAll-American * Matt Delzell, 3.53 GPA in Business (fourth time) ' * Jason Blair, 3.59 GPA in Business (second time) wee Player of the Month * Jason Keep, Sr. Center (December) * Jason Blair, Senior Forward WCCAll-Academic Team

Star o( the Month * Jason Keep (December & February) CBS Chevrolet Player of the Game * Jason Blair (Mar. 20 @ NCAA's) Collegeinslder.com Honors * Final No. 18 ranking for Mid-Majors * Jason Keep, All-American * Corey Belser, All-Defense Team Torero wee Leaders * Jason Keep -1st in rebounding (9.1) & FG% (.604) * Matt Delzell - 1st in three point accuracy (.479; 46x96)

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