News Scrapbook 1984

--

MAR l O 1984

E

I ·("_:;., ...... ,)

San Diego County

CCt;Part III Could USDBe Another USF? It's Unlikely Because the Dons Had Russell and Jones on Team By TIM GILLMAN S AN DIEGO-It might mean something to Umvers1ty of San Diego basketball fans to know that a West Coast Athletic Conference team has won the NCAA basketball championship. Of course, that was way back in 1955 and 1956, and the teams did feature Blil Russell and K.C. Jones. All the same, even the University of San Francisco Dons did not exactly go into the 1955 playoffs as a favorite. In fact, the Dons were ranked 110th in the nation. But USF, one of the ongmal WCAC teams, paid no attention to the r nking . It had 1 o during the regular season, had won the conference title. It went on to beat West Texas State Utah Oregon State, Colorado and LaSalle to beco~e th~ three-year-old conference's first NCAA champion. Today's rankings do not dip all the way to 110th in the nation, but USO will definitely be a longshot Tuesday when 1t goes to Philadelphia for the first round of the NCAA playoffs. Jim Brovelli and his players can take with them the knowledge that even USF did not have great expectations in 1955. "Our winning came as a shock, ' said Phil Woolpert, who coached the 1955 Dons. "As the season developed, we began to think it was in the cards. We were beating everyone by large scores." USD has_not won by large score~-an average of Just four points a game in league play-and it doesn't have Bill Russell, but it is the champion of a conference that traditionally has done well in post-season play. The WCAC's record in the NCAA tournament is 39-31 (.557) since it was founded in 1953. A better than .500 record indicates the conference's represen- tative gets past the first round more often than not. The Toreros will not know who their opening- round opponent until the NCAA announces the pairings on Sunday. Neither does USD know which regional It will be in should it win on Tuesday. The other teams expected to be a part of Tuesday's triple-header at The Palestra are Princeton (Ivy League), Bucknell (East Coast Conference), Long Island University (Metro), Richmond or Navy (South) and Northeastern (North Atlantic). The _ lime of USD's game has not yet been determined, but the game will be televised on ESPN and broadcast by KSDO. While the Toreros will be getting their ftrst taste of NCAA competition, Brovelli has been there as a player He played on WCAC champion San Francisco teams in 1963 and 1964. USF lost in an early round to Please see USO, Page 12 -------------------- USD Continued from Page 1 Oregon State n 1963. but beat UCLA, 76-75, in a consolation game That !oss was l:CLA's last m tournament play until 1974 The Bruins became a stumbling blo ·k to WCAC teams in .~heir efforts to advance beyond tne West Regionals. The WCAC winner usually gave UCLA its toughest !fame_on the w~y_to the title," said USF's Woolpert, who 1s retired and hvmg m Sequim, Wash. "I think a couple of good tournament showings would bring the league back to prominence." Partly because of the UCLA dynasty, no WCAC team has won the NCAA crown since 1956. 8111 Russell's final year with USF, when the Dons beat Iowa, 83-71, in the fmal. However, Pepperdine did well last season when it played North Carolina State in the first round and lost in double-overtil'l'le, 69-67. North Carolina State went on to win the national championship.

Friday, March 9, 1984

A Copley Newspaper

25 Cents

USO basketball is a family affair inwhich being there is just as iinportant as winning ) WHITMARSH From 18 By Ed Zieralaki '-<: .,_ of The Dally Cs//forntsn 1 - 3/

players who graduated in odd-numbered _years, dropped a 124-117 decision to a Rusty Whitmarsh-led crew of Torero grads from even-numbered years. Rusty had 31 points. Let's just say the Whitmarsh boys had some kind of night. "A lot depends on how Mike Whitma~h does,"_said Bartholomew, who is USD's second all-time leading scorer. "If his first couple of shots are bncks, then_ we could be in for another SDSU game (an embarrassing loss). If he hits them, then we'll be OK." It turned out that Whitmarsh didn't have the strength to throw bricks. A violent case of the flu had stripped him of 13 pounds in the ~ast week, an_d migraine headaches had made his h~d.fee~ like someone was dribbling a basketball ms1de 1l. Whitmarsh put Bartholomew and the frenzied crowd at ease by making his first shot. But when one of Whitmarsh's early baseline jump shots barely scraped the side edge of the rim, those who ~ew of Wll( arsh's weakened condition wondered 1f the 111 , might finally be getting to him. Maybe the $44 111orth of prescription drugs used to combat the headaches and flu symptoms weren't enough. "Right now I couldn't feel any better. This is how Michael Cage must feel after his games.'' Sittmg in the stands at midcourt, part of the 2,500 fans crammed into the sardine can known as the USD Sports Center, Whitmarsh's very s~ial family - the Hill-Whitmarsh clan - maintained its usual v1g1I. Whitmarsh's natural father, Ron, and his mother~ Sharon, have been divorced for 19 years, or since Mike wa two years old. For much of his _early years, Mike learned from his stepfather, Jun Hill. "Jim coached Mike and Rusty when they were young," said Sharon. "He was a tremendous bel~ to the kids in getting them on the right track ath!~llcally. He was a very big inspiration to both of them. Said Jim Hill, "I coach~ Mike until h~. was in the eighth grade. After that, I JUSt watched. . . The Whitmarsh's divorce didn't break this family apart for good. Ron Whitmarsh remains part of the ~an club attending all the games with the Hills and Ron s par~nts, Mr. and Mrs. John Whitma_rsh! loyal grandparents who make two-hour pilgr1m~ges f_rom the desert to see their grandson play. Family fnend Jane O'Neil also adds her cheers. The special relationship between the two f~thers goes even further. Ron joins his sons ~d their . stepfather on bass fishing trips to vanous lakes m the county and down in Mexico. "We just enjoy the boys so much that getting . together like this for games takes away the bad th~ngs that happen to people when families break up," said Sharon Hill. Said Mike Whitmarsh, "It's super the way those two get along so well." Whitmarsh' s family grew even more with the arrival of guard John Prunty four years ago. Once a member of a backcourt that featured Mike's older brother Rusty, Prunty has been a regular member of the Whitmarsh family during the basketball season. "Instead of going home for Thanksgiving dinner, I'd eat at the Hills' place," said Prunty "I spe ta l~t of time at the Hills' home. Mike would always say, You owe me, you owe me.' " Before I left to go home this past sur:nmer, I left . Mike a note. It said· 'I only want one thing from you. That's all I wrote on it, but Mike knew what I me~t. I didn't even have to say what it was. Back then, 1t was just a dream. Now it's a reality and a great feeling." Informed of Prunty's note, Whitmarsh nodded, "I knew what he meant. He wanted me to take him to an NCAA tourney. We're on our way, now." He put the emphasis on we. --~-

Annomtcd the mspirational leader of the University of San Diego basketball team by enior forward Mike Whitmarsh and the rest of h1 teammate , ophomore center Joe Fish offered a summation of the 1983-84 Toreros • We re a team of destiny," said Fish, bemused at the thought of having beaten St Jary' 68-59 to win th West Coast Athletic Conference tttle and a berth m the NCAA tournament. "That's a good quote,' said Whitmarsh. "Pnnt it so Joe can send a copy to his mom. Everyone should have somethmg lo r~- member this game by Of course Whitmarsh took most of the post- game laurel for his team-high 24 points and game-high 10 as 1sts and six steals For his efforts he wa · crown with a necklace of net, tom from one of the baskets " J thmk a lot of er t hould be given to guys hke Bob Bartholomew and my brother Ru ty · said Wh1tma h. ··They were the guy ~ho et the founda 10n for this program You can t iust have a champ1onsh1p team There are steps you have to take on the ladder ' Thi wa · a game nch in college luster and enthusiasm Such was the excitement gener- ated by this game around Alcala Park that the gates to the gym were closed at 6 20, more than an hour and 10 mmutes before game time n estimated 100 people were turned away Around 50 people with ticket received refunds becau e of USD's policy of Jettmg stud nts in free on a first-come first- rved basis " We may raise the pnces next year, · said Rev Patrick Cahill. athletic d1r c or. Before the game Cahill ·aid, "We knew we were going to be better this year. but we never dreamed we'd be playing for a shot at the NCAA tourney " Said Torero head coach Jim Brovelli, "As a coach you can go a lifetime and not win a championship There are so many thmgs that have to go right You have to wm the clo~e game. win the overtime games. stay m1ury- free Yeah, its come sooner than I expected, but I'll take it ' That the Toreros would need Whitmarsh to come through with the su~rhuman kmd of night he had was so ethlng a D alumnus named Bob Bartholomew would predict. Bartholomew's crew, Torero basketball D Whitmarsh 48

Victory is sweet

P\O,te.l-, '"" so Uf\,or- Prunty savors biggest game

By Hank Weseh 1.1rr Writ r The a t was draped over John Pnmty's ruddy should rs; hi freckled face showed more relief than joy. There had been euphoric moments, cer- tainly. The kmd that come when on ha the night of bis college career 111 the most important gam of that career. But fter doing time in the bedlam that followed USO's 68-59 West Coast Athletic Conference championship- and NCAA tour- nament berth-clinching victory, Prunty ea ily became composed and reflective. "We've Jost a lot together, Coach (Jim)

He contributed at critical times. A short jumper with 11:04 left put USD back on top when they had once fallen behind by three and an alert follow-up of a m~ed fast break lay-in by teammate Mark Bostic capped a six-point USD outburst that gave the Toreros a 57-50 lead with 4:25 remain- ing. And be contributed late. An 84 percent free-throw shooter for the season, Prunty was 4-for...( in the final 2:28 as USD turned frantic fouls by St. Mary's into deciding points. See TOREROS on Page C-4

Brovelli and I," Prunty said, ''but I have a Jot of respect for him and I owe him a Jot. I wasn't recruited by any other Division I school, and I was just glad to have the chance to come here. "Who would have ever thought it would end up like this?" It ended up with Prunty scoring a ca- reer-b:gh 17 points on 6-of-7 field goal hooting and 5-of-5 free throws. Prunty contributed early - eight straight points, the first six of them unanswered by St. Mary's - in a span of 1:50 starting with the teams deadlocked at 16-all.

T reros: Prunty prevails in sub role Coolinu d from C-1

that's when we knew we wanted lum," Brovelli said of Prunty. "We knew be could shoot, and some contacts we knew up there said if you want somebody who'll give his all. take him He's got a lot of heart."

"I usu.ally average about four hots a game I thmk I only took two in the second half, that' about normal for me If they guard me, I don't like to shoot. but when I came in tomght, the shots were there, so I took them." A 6-footer with a shootmg range four times his height, Prunty i the only USO senior who has spent all four of h1 college years at the Alcala Park school. The first three produc d 10.16. 11-15 and 12-14 records. He bas earned and lost tartmg ass1gments but accepted what- ever role he ha· been a ked to play. "I've usually perfonned better commg off the bench." said Prunty. "At this point of the season, I wouldn't like to start." He came off the bench la t night to log 32 minutes of playmg bm and had three a ists in addition to the 17 pomts "When we got to the game, a lot of u thought we must be late because there were so many people already here," Prunty said. Fans began arriving before 5 o'clock for the 7 30 cont t nd all bleacher seat were filled by 6. Ev n though USD fell behmd m the second half as has become 1ls custom, Whitmarsh said there was no fear on th quad. "Th y got ahead by three points; we just let the coach call timeout and listened to what he id," Whit- marsh said 'La t year there would have been ome fear, but th1 team ge fired up when it's bchmd It doesn't fold, 1t doesn't choke." With mor than 30 onds left to play Brovelh could reio1c and accept congratulations from St Mary's coach 8 111 Oat , ured of an mv1tat10n to college baskethall' prcmi r evt·nt. Rrov Iii had a kid from Fr mont High m Sunnyvale, horn only be had recruited lo thank for applying the clinch r "Th guy dove thr row up Into the tands for a loose II t a h1 h hool all star game m Santa Clara, and

San Diego, CA (San Diego Co.) Union (D. 217,324) (S. 339,788)

Title in hand, USD plunges into NCAA playoff fray By Bill Cen;;;i~t,r we're happy just to be playing in an NCAA game. We pointment for USD yesterday. Mike Whitmarsh was beat- record in 11 seasons as USD's head coach.

USO came away with two of the league's three major awards when 6-11 center Scott Thompson was named

en out in the WCAC Player of the Year balloting by all-

were ready to play Tuesday."

The University of 8,1n Diego doesn't have much time to celebrate its first West Coast Athletic Conference basket- ball championship. The NCAA yesterday summoned the Toreros to Phila- delphia for one of three opening-round games scheduled Tuesday at the Palestra USD had clinched its crown by beating St. Mary's Thursday night As champion of a maJor conference USO was hoping to get a bye through to next weekend's full slate of first- round matches. Instead, the Toreros will have to play in the opening round, which is being used to thin the field from 53 to 48 teams. "Naturally, we'd like to have bec>n byed through to next weekend's game," said USD coach Jim Brovclli. "But

Brovelli, who yesterday was named WCAC Coach of the West Coast guard John Stockton of Gonzaga University.

Year, must prepare his Torer<>S for any of five teams. The NCAA will not announce its pairings until tomorrow. In addition to USD, the Philadelphia opening-roUDd field will include the champion of the Ivy League (proba- bly Princeton), East Coast Conference champ Bucknell, East Coast Athletic Conference Metro champ Long ls- land, ECAC North Atlantic champ Northeastern and the champion of the ECAC South (either Navy or Richmond). If USD wins Tuesday, it will play again next Thursday or F~iday at a site to be a nnounced tomorrow. ESPN will televise all the games from the Palestra live, and KSDO- AM (1130) radio announced yesterday that it would broad-

Freshman of the Year.

"I am very disappointed about Mike's not getting hon- ored," Brovelli said. "There is no question that Whitmarsh is the most valuable player in our conference." The 6-foot-7 Whitmarsh led the Toreros in scoring (18.8 points a game average), rebounding (7.4), assists (6.2) and steals and ranked in the top three in the league in all three categories. He shot 53.9 percent from the floor and Stockton Jed the WCAC in scoring and assists. Brovelli was honored after his club, picked to finish sixth in the preseason WCAC forecasts, had its first win- ning season (18-9) in five campaigns as a Division I school and won the WCAC title by two games over Santa Clara and St. Mary's with a 9-3 record. Brovelli has a 160-129 72.6 percent from the foul line.

Whitmarsh and forward running mate Anthony Reuss were the Toreros named to the 10-member all-WCAC team. Reuss, a 6-7 junior, was USD's second-leading scorer (11.9 points a game) and rebounder (6.5) and shot 61.7 percent from the floor. _Also on the all-WCAC team are Stockton, 7-foot center Nick Vanos and guard Harold Keeling of Santa Clara forward David Boone and guard Paul Pickett of st'. Mary's, forward Victor Anger of Pepperdine, and forward Forrest McKenzie and guard Keith Smith of Loyola Mar- ymount. USO guard Mark Bostic received honorable mention.

cast all the Toreros' NCAA games live.

Playmg in Tuesday's round wasn't the biggest disap-