USD Men's Basketball 1999-2000

1998-99 SEASON IN REVIEW

The 1998-99 Torero basketball team turned in an out– standing season, finishing 18-9 overall and in the upper ech– elon of the West Coast Conference. The men's squad, picked to fini sh sixth in the preseason WCC coaches poll, tied for second with Pepperdine at 9-5. Fifth year coach Brad Holland was selected the 1999WCC Coach of the Year after directing the Toreros to a personal– best 18 regular-season victories and the team's best WCC finish since 1987. The 18 wins equaled the program's most wins since the WCC title team of 1987.

Coach Brad Holland, 1999 WCC Coach of the Year, with Ryan Williams First Team All- WCC, at the 1999 West Coast Conference Awards Banquet prior to WCC Tournament.

Behind the play of seniors Ryan Williams, Brock Jacobsen and Lamont Smith, the Toreros notched big nonconference wins over Northern Arizona, Texas, Montana State and San Diego State. The Toreros headed into league play with a 9-3 record, and proved the season would be special by winning two-of-three WCC road games to start league play. After starting league 3-1, the team's only hie-cup was a three-game stretch where they dropped a home game to LMU and two straight to Pepperdine. Their strong finish started on Jan. 30th when they earned a come-from-behind victory at LMU, and then came home to hand No. 25 Gonzaga a 16-point loss (75-59), the program's first ever victory over a Top-25 Division I team. The Toreros would go on to win six of their final seven regular-season contests; something Holland coached teams have done on a yearly basis. "I'm just so proud of this group of kids,"' said coach Holland. "We put together our best conference season, beat Gonzaga and defeated Texas in the Torero Tip-Off. I enjoyed going to practice every day with this group, and I owe a lot to our seniors who provided this young club with leadership." Ryan Williams finished an outstanding career by aver–

aging a team-best 15.7 ppg and 7.5 rpg while earning First Team All-WCC honors. The unanimous pick for all-league honors ranked third in scoring and became the first Torero to lead the WCC in rebounding. He leaves USO as the school's fourth all– time scorer with 1,318 points. Earning Honorable Mention All– WCC honors were senior Brock Jacobsen (10.7 ppg; 22nd all-time with 934 points) and sophomore guard DanaWhite (9.7 ppg) . Senior guard, Lamont Smith, one of the league's best defensive players, played a key role with his tenacious play at both ends of the floor, and his strong leadership skills. The Toreros finished with a l 0-2 mark in games played at the USD Sports Center, and also turned in a solid WCC road mark of 4-3.

'98-99 TORERO SENIORS (l-r): Lamont Smith, Brock Jacobsen, Ryan Williams

Ryan Williams - Most Valuable Player Brock Jacobsen - Zable Athletic Excellence Award Dana White - Bully's East Most Improved Player Lamont Smith - Best Defensive Player

Cameron Rigby - Miller Lite Student Athlete of Year Ryan Williams - Bugelli Leadership Award Brock Jacobsen - Bugelli Leadership Award Lamont Smith - Bugelli Leadership Award