News Scrapbook 1984

LOS ANGELES TIMES

MORNING PRESS MAR l 2 1984 The road to Seattle

AR l 2 1984

DAILY CALIFORNIAN

DAILY CALIFORNIAN MAR 1 3 1984

U D, Princeton Are Opponent in irst- ound Play

TOREROS ON ESPN/ Tonight'~ .P:e- llrrunary round game in the 53--team NCAA DIVLSIOn I M n s Basketball Tournament between t~e U'!1ver- 1ty of San Diego and Princeton University will be h wn live at 6.30 p.m by ESPN, Cox Cable chann!!l The game will also be aired live by KSDO-Rad10 1130 with Ron Reina callmg the action. The winner of tomght's game will play the University of Nevada- Las Vegas Thursday night at 6 p.m. in the first round of the West Regionals in Salt Lake City. That game will 1 be aired live by ESPN.

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53 teams in; USD draws Princeton KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - North Carolina, Georgetown, DcPaul and Kentucky were awarded the top seeds yesterday in each region of the NCAA Basketball Tournament, but three major conferences grabbed the lion's share of the invitations. Thirteen of the tourney's 53 teams - almost 25 percent of the field - hail from the Atlantic Coast, Southeastern and Big East conferences. Miss- ing from among the ACC's five entries, however, is orth Carolina State. Last year's Cin- derella winner of the collegiate champion hip wound up with a 19-13 record and became the first defending champion not invited back since Michigan State failed to make a return appearance in 1980. The Southeastern and Big East conferences each placed four teams in the tournament. The top-ranked orth Carolina Tar Heels, who have l0st twice in 29 games, were installed as the top seed in the East Region, while Georgetown, ranked o. 2 in the Associated Press Top Twenty, was shipped far from its Washington, D.C., campus to be the top seed in th~West. DePaul is the top s~ d in the Midwest, and Kentucky is the No. 1 seed in the Mideast. The top four seeds in each region get byes in the first round. The University of San Diego, though it won the West Coast Athletic Conference with an 18-9 record, failed to draw a

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Toreros glad tohe in Philly Princeton is USD's first foe in NCAA PHILADELPHIA - Last year at this time Mike Whitmarsh wasn't doing much of any- thing. He was in warm San Diego. The season had ended for him and his University of San Diego basketball teammates. The Toreros were 12-14 overall and ~7 in the West Coast Athletic Conference. Whitmarsh was the only USD member to make the all-WCAC team. This year he's in cold Philadelphia. But the S-foot-7 senior doesn't mind. In fact there's nowhere else he'd rather be. The high tem- perature here Sunday was 39 and the low 18 Sunday. Today's projected high and low is 47 and 32. But Whitmarsh and the Toreros are still feeling good because they are preparing fo Tuesday night's contest against the Prine& ton University Tigers in the preliminary round of the 53--team NCAA Basketball Tour- nament. NCAA Tournament pairing , 2B USD and Princeton are just two teams with high hopes of playing in front of millions of television viewers on April 2 for the national championship in Seattle's King- dome. The Torero-Tiger clash will be televised live at 6:30 p.m. by ESPN, Cox Cable channel 3. The game also will be aired live by KSDO- Radio 1130 with Ron Reina doing the play-by- play. The wiMer heads to Salt Lake City to be seeded No.12 and take on No.5 seed University of Nevada-Las Vegas Thursday. That game will also be shown live by ESPN at 6 p.m. CBS televised live nationally the seedings Sunday from the NCAA headquarters in Kaosas . CBS's basketball analyst Billy Packer made a comment of how nice and interesting it would be to see how Princeton, which plays like USD, would do against a run- and-gun team like UNLV Again, like they have been all year long, the Toreros were overlooked. Take this team lightly and they'll beat you. USO was tabbed to finish in the bottom third of the WCAC race, like it had m its first four conference seasons. The Toreros were 14-42 entering their fifth WCAC season.

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Last year Whitmarsh was a bystander. He watched the culmination of the 1982-83 col- lege basketball season from his campus apartment. Whitmarsh saw the unheralded and underdog North Carolina State Wolfpack take on and defeat the collegiate basketball world and win the national championship in Albuquerque, New Mexico The S-foot-7 1980 graduate of Monte Vista High saw how much fun Jim Valvano's Wolfpack had by WiMmg. Whitmarsh re- members North Carolina State players climbing on backboards and sitting on rims after surprising the University of Houston. That memory stuck with him. He wanted to have that kind of fun. Whitmarsh wanted a seat on top of a basket somewhere with a net around his neck. He wanted to hear cheers from hundreds of fans below. Although a quiet player, he wouldn't have minded being in the spotlight. He got his chance to view an arena from on top of th run aft r th Torero smacked St. ,.., ·-----· ..,,,.., Mary's 68-59 last Thursday night In front of 2,475 exuberant fans in the USD Sports Center. 1983-84 is the year of the Whitmarsh and Toreros. The senior forward led unheralded and underdog USO to its first-ever WCAC championship at 9-3 and a trip to Division I tournament in the school's history. •·1 saw the guys from N.C. State doing it last year," Whitmarsh said, ''and I thought, 'Geez, that must be a great feeling sitting up there.' And you know, it was. It was unbelievable." Whitmarsh & Co. will try fo duplicate that feeling Tuesday night at the Palestra Arena on the University of Pennsylvania campus. The Tigers are 17-9 and won the Ivy League title with a 10-4 mark. USO isn't talking NCAA championship. The Toreros can face reality. But they are talking a win. "We're going to win, not just to be there," Whitmarsh said. "If we get a win or two m the NCAAs, that'll make this season complete." If the Toreros are to win they must play a 40-minute game - like they have in their last four contests. USD has, on occasion, given away leads in the second half,_ only to come back and take a victory. "When they lose a lead, they keep coming back,'' Torero assistant coach Gus MaGee said. "They never quit. They play with so much poise."

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"We're going to win, not just to be there. If we get a win or two in the NCAAs, that'll make this season complete.'' - MikeWhlhn • nh "I think we just need a team to get ahead of us in the second hall for us to buckle down," Whitmarsh said. Whitmarsh was an all-WCAC selection this year with forward Anthony Reuss. Whitmarsh and Reuss make up the East County Connection. It would be nice if these two can connect many times from the east Tuesday. Whitmarsh is averaging 18.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. All are team highs. He is shooting 54 percent from the floor and 73 percent A from the line. • Reuss, a 1981 graduate of Christian High, is the No.2 scorer (11.8) and rebounder (6.5). He is netting 61 percent of his floor attempts and percent of his free throws. Starting along side Whitmarsh and Reuss are 6-11 freshman center Scott Thompson (7.2, 4.7) and a pairof&-4 guards, Mark Bostic (10.4) and Chris Carr (5.7).

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By T.R. Reinman Tnbune Sportswriter P HILADELPHIA - Let's see. A Rider is something that gets tacked on an insurance policy, a Houston Baptist is somebody who doesn't drink, and from little Alcorn States great oak estates grow. Next question? What the hey is a Torero? "Can you imagine how many people around the country will be saying that when they see we're here against Princeton?" USO basketball coach Jim Brovelli was won- dering last night in Downey's on South Street, where the night before the barman thought a Torero was a car made by Ford. "But I'll tell you," Brovelli added, "we could be Ameri- ca's Team." Jhat's what Rider, Houston Baptist, Alcorn State and tlle other little-known entrants 1n the 53--team NCAA tour- 'If anybody from our league can play them (Princeton) successfully, it's USD' - Santa Clara's Carroll Williams narnent, which begins here and in Dayton tomorrow, may be thinking, too. But IF USO (18-9) - not the Ford Torinos, the USO Toreros - beats Ivy League champion Princeton (17-9) tomorrow night in the Palestra in the preliminary round of the NCAA tournament ... and IF USO beats Nevada- Las Vegas Thursday in the Salt Lake City sub-regional ... and IF USO then gets past Western Athletic Conference champion Texas-El Paso Saturday and laods in the West Regional at Pauley Pavilion, indeed the Toreros could be America's Team. But that's a lot of /Fs, and Brovelli's tongue was stuck in his cheek as he submitted his words in Downey's. And besides, as Princeton coach Pete Carril said, "When you're in one of the five qualifiers (first-round games), you're just happy to make the field. You take each moment as it comes and don't worry about the next one." The next moment that will come for both USO and Princeton tomorrow (6:30 p.m.; KSDO 1130-AM radio, ESPN-TV) isn't one either team can really worry about. The Toreros may be known in some parts as the basket- ball team named after a car, but as sure as Princeton is orange, black and Ivy, the Tigers are also well-eoached, smallish, defense-oriented, and on offense, deliberate to the point of being glacial. Carril said it one way, but Brovelli said the same thing this way: "We don't know enough about them to change things around at this point. We've got to keep doing the things that got us this far." Princeton last year got as far as the third game of the NCAA tournament averaging 58 points and allowing only 52. This year, after replacing its starting front line with a forward who had been used as a mop-up guy for two years (John Smyth), a center who couldn't walk and read the scoreboard at the same time when he first arrived Please see USD, C-7

SAN DIEGO UNION MAR l 3 l'J84

The University of San Diego blew an early 2-0 lead yesterday before losing to rizona 7-5 on the Toreros' field USO dropped to 11-13-1.

USD rolls over Army on errors

The University of San Diego took advantage of seven errors and nine walks by Army to roll to a 9-3 victory over the Cadets (0-2) at home yesterday. Greg Bertrand struck eight in seven innings, improving his record to 5-0 for the Toreros (11-11-1). David Jacas opened the game opeo for USO, going 2-for-4 with 3 RBI.

SAN DIEGO UNION AR 1 3 1384

MIKE WHITMARSH

ANTHONY REUSS PHILADELPHIA -

Brief sketches of the start 1ng teams for tomorrow's first-round NCAA game at the Palestra between the USD Toreros and the Princeton Tigers (6:30 p.m.; KSDO 1130-AM radio, ESPN-TV)· USO of the WCAC (18·9) F - Mike Whitmarsh, 6-7 (18.1 pts., 7.6 rebs.): The Toreros' best player and key man, a role he relishes without being a hot dog. When he got in serious foul trouble this year, USO lost. F - Anthony Reu.., 6-7 (11.9 pta., 8.5 rebs.): A left-hander who takes only high-percentage shots and makes 62 percent of them. Like Whit- marsh, a big crunch-time player. C - Scott Thompson, 6-11 (7.3 pta.,4.7 reb,.): After an unimpressive start, he was the WCAC freshman of the year Must be a presence under- neath, and should be against this smaller Prince- ton team. G - Mark Bostic, 8-4 (10.4 pta., 3.2 mists): Transferred to USO this year and gave the Toreros instant breakaway speed and quickness. Led the game-winning spurt Thursday against St. Mary's. G - Chris Carr, 6-4 (5.8 pt,., 1.9 nsists): Quick but steady, he'll share guard duty with John Prunty and Al Moscatel, both of whom are better long-range shooters. All three will take a crack at harassing Bill Ryan, Princeton's top guard. Princeton of the Ivy League (17•9) F - Kevin Mullin, 6-5 (16..2 pt,., 5.9 rebs.): The Tigers' leading scorer, whom opposmg coaches call •·underrated." A 61 percent shooter who, like Whitmarsh, can drive to the hoop or pop from 15 feel. F - John Smyth, S-3 (10.1 pta., 3.2 reba.) Converted to forward this season and struggling with sophomore Jinx after second-team All-Ivy League honors last year C - Howard Levy, 8-9 (10 9 pts. 4.1 rebs.): A tribute to hard work Even the Princeton people say he was sem1hopeless two years ago but now he averages 11 po nts on 66-percent shooting. G - Isaac Carter, 6-1 (5.1 pt,., 0.8 auiata): Became a starter when Smyth moved inside Doesn't help much, but doesn't hurt at all. G - B111 RJan, 6-3 (6.9 pts., 5.9 auiata): The glue Only 66 turnovers In 25 games. Great passer who calls the plays and holds It all together With- out him the Tigers do not pass go, but go directJy to jail. - T.R. Reinm n

Kudos for Brovelli Other members or the basketball coaching fra- termty yesterday saluted Jim Brovelli for a job well dooe. The University of San Diego coach was chosen the NCAA District 15 coach or the year in a vote of his peers in Southern California, Arizona and Neva- da Brovel11 coached the Toreros to an 18-9 record - the first winning mark in USD's five seasons as a Div1 ion I university - and the West Coast Athletic Conference title. He won the honor n a clo e vote over Jerry Tarkanlan of nationally ranked Nevada-Las Vegas - Bill Center.

*USD----- two years ago (Howard Levy), and another forward who was a guard until late December (Isaac Carter), the Tigers averaged 55 points and held the opposition to 49 Take it from Craig Littlepage, the former Penn star and current Quaker coach, whose teams twice lost to "The few things they do, they do well," Littlepage said of the Tigers, who, in accordance with Ivy League rules, are not allowed to award athletic scholarships. "You have to play Princeton without looking at the clock, without worrying about the score and the time element. Teams that start to play against the clock tend to shoot too quickly, to shoot themselves out of it, to do things they ordinarily would not tend to do. Being down to Princeton This might pose problems to a lot of schools, but when it comes to being deliberate, USO wrote the western edi- tion of the book. Until this year, USO traditionally had been a bounce-pass team itself. For years, like Carril, Brovelli coached so-so athletes and asked not what the team could do with them, but what the so-so athletes is a tough thing to be." "I've tried to think of the advantages and disadvan- tages of playing a team like Princeton, a team somewhat similar to our own," Brovelli said, "and I just have to put "Being a slower-paced team has some advantages," said USO guard John Prunty, who started for slower- paced USD teams in his first three years in Alcala Park. "But now we've found that happy medium between being deliberate and being more run-and-gun. We won't have to worry about slowing down, because we've played that way before. But I'm sure we're not going to change what we do because of what they do. If the break's there, we'll take it. If not, we'll work it around for the good Continued From Page c-1 through their 26 games. Princeton this year: could do for the team. it all aside."

Aiiif if he and guard Al Moscatel get hot trom Ollt810 against the 3-2 zone Carril is loathe to aba~don under almost any circumstance, it could be a long mght for the Tigers. On the other hand, if Princeton's leading scorer, 6- foot-5 forward Kevin Mullin, a smaller copy of USD's Mr. Everything, Mike Whitmarsh, can keep his tea~ alive offensively, it could be a long, drawn-out 42-40 thriller. "If aoybody from our league can play them successful- ly," said Santa Clara coach Carroll Williams of Princeton, Williams should know because during this past season, his club lost to USD by seven and two points. It was defeated, however, by Princeton by 22 io Houston's Kettle "If you're not used to Princeton's style of play, they'll really shock you," Williams said. "You've got to be pa- tient early; otherwise they'll throw your rhythm off and control the tempo. But Jim's kids can play either tempo and they're used to winning close games. They'll be all Classic in mid-December. "The Kids are Alright" was the name of a popular rock album a few years ago. It would be a nice motto for a But the Torero coaching staff already has their motto. As half of it clinked their glasses in a toast last night in The barman might be thinking they're going to win it for the Ford Motor Company. The head coach might have hoped they'd win it for the fans across America. Either way, a win here tomorrow in the Palestra will get USO a trip to Salt Lake City and a game against UNLV Thurs- Carril thought the NCAA showed USO a lack of respect in setting up that schedule, and Prunty wondered "what kind of deal" that was. Carril said it one way, but Brovelli said the same this way: "We'll worry about crossing that Both coaches are happy to be this far, and are thinking about tomorrow's game. Neither, yet, is thinking about "it's USO." right." week or two this year for USD. Downey's, their words were: "Win it." day. bridge when we come to it."

THE TRIBUNE A'JIR 1 3 198-4 USD, POINT WMA WI Dave Jac11 went 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and Greg Bertrand struck out eight batters in ven innings yesterday as USO defeat- ed error-prone Army 9-3 in college baseball. Army (0-2) committed seven errors and allowed nine walk . The Toreros (11·11-1) entertained Arizona today and are cheduled to meet the Wildcats again tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. Point Loma-Nazarene College (10-13) boa l~ a five-game wmning streak after sweepmg a baseball double-header from Pomona-Pitzer. John Barge pitched from start to finish as Point Loma won the first game 3-2, and Larry Down w nt all the way in the second game, a 13-4 victory. -

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