News Scrapbook 1986

San Diego, CA (San Diego Co.) San Diego Union (Cir. D. 217,089) (Cir. S. 341 ,840)

NOV 25 1986

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Uk]D: Toreros' 7-footer is nucleus for contender Continqed from D-1

country, Thompson's role m USD's plans is difficult to overstate. But Egan cautions against getting car- ried away. "I don't think it's necessarily going to be a case of how Scott goes, we go," the coach said. "I think he's im- portant, but I don't think he's that kind of player, or we're that kind of team. How well we play as a team will determine how we do." Offensively, Thompson's contribu- tions have increased yearly. His point average has risen from 7.1 to 11.l to 14.4. He doesn't figure to lead the NCAA in scoring this season, but higher numbers seem likely. "I think I should play a great part in our offense," Thompson said. "I don't know what it'll be percentage- wise, but I think the ball ha~ to be in my hands. I think when it is, I can make the right decision with it. "Teams will be collapsing on me a lot this year, so I will have to dump the ball out and the rest of the team h to ull through for us. "The three-point (field goal) shot is gomg to play a big part in the game. Teams will be able to put some quick points on the board, and we need to be able to make some quick points, too. My percentage of the offense is going to go down in the respect that the three-point line is there and we're going ,o have to utilize it." From USD's standpoint, there probably have been better seasons for the NCAA to institute the three- point rule. With the range guard Pete Murphy and swingman Mark Bostic displayed, last season might have been the right time. But Murphy (12.6) and Bostic (9.8), the team's Nos. 2 and 3 scorers last season, have graduated. "Some of the guys we have now can shoot it in practice," Egan said. "What remains to be seen is if they can do it in a game and in pressure situations." Senior Mark Manor (6-6, 205) seemed ready to pose the outside threat in the AIA exhibition. He was 2-for-3 from outside the 19-foot, 9- inch mark the rule specifies, 9-for-11 overall. Senior point guard Paul Leonard (6-1, 170) also has the ran e. "Everybody says we lost Bostic and Murphy, but I don't see that as having any effect on us at all," Thompson said. "Leonard and Manor have been playing real well." Of the players who apparently will start against Utah - Leonard, Manor, Madden, Thompson and Danny Means - only Means, a soph- omore guard, lacks starting experi- ence. But Means (6-1, 175) played in every game last season and is consid- ered the team's top defensive player. Power forward Madden (6-8, 230, Sr.) gives Thompson an able ally under the boards. He averaged 9.3 points last season, bitting double fig- ures in the last 14 games. Junior Jim Pelton (6-9, 230) and senior Krallman (6-8, 215) are the top reserves on the front line. Marty Munn (6-6, 210, Sr.) and Craig Cottrell (6-5, 185), a freshman from Tempe,

The San Diego Union /Peter Koeleman 'Everybody says we lost Bostic and Murphy, but I don't see that as having any effect on us at all. Leonard and (three-point threat Mark) Manor (above) have been playing real well.' - Scott Thompson Ariz., will see action at both guard and forward. "This has a chance to be the best team since I've been here, but it has to play well to do it," said Egan, who is 35-20 in two previous seasons at USD. "We're better than last year, in that Thompson, Madden, Manor and a few other guys are a year older and a year more mature. We're not as good as last year, in that we lost two very experienced players in Murphy and Bostic ... "We've tak hi s abo t as far as we can in practice. Now we'll see what happens in the games." USD's preconference schedule in- cludes road games against Nevada- Reno, Montana State, San Diego State and UC-Santa Barbara, and the Albertson Christmas Tournament at Boise, Idaho. The Toreros will host Fullerton State, Boise State, Rice, Loyola of Maryland, Colorado and Ohio Northern before beginning WCAC play Jan. 8 at Portland. "We're trying to make the pre- conference part of our schedule bet- ter each year," Egan said. "People ask me why I don't play Marquette or Notre Dame, but it's a one-way street with teams like that. They'll play us, but not home-and-home. "This schedule is a good one for purposes of preparing us for the con- ference. We play some good teams/ .........,.. I "

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C ch Corroll Williams will start r . nd th con n l'.J I that the Broncos probably still are a year away from contention 11 m y take that long to get over the loss of all-conference ,wingman St ve Kenllvort, who as lor led t~ team In scoring, rebounding, lsts nd posillons played (five) Th Broncos ar n'I t1m1d Inside with a front line of Dan Weiss (6-9, 225, Jr.), Jens Gordon (6-9 217. So.) and Cr ,g McPherson (6-9, 195, Jr.). Weiss Is the I ding returning &eor r (8.9) Freshman Osei Appiah (pronounced AH-see Uh- PEE-uh) currenlly the first guard reserve and potentially a starter, has one of the mo t nlrl u ng n In the_c_o_n_fe_re_n_ce____________ tough, but I look at it as a growing, I arn,ng experie e for our pl y rs," Brov Iii said "I think we·re go,ng to be Improved We have more depth. quickness d size.' And If by some good fortune, the Dons advance to the .n,ttnals or 111e WCAC tourn ment, they'll have tM home-court dvantage. The return to health of redshlrt junior guard Rodney Tention (6-2), a GrolJSfflont Coll umnus, Is one cause for optimism. The Dons were 4-0 with T ntlon at the out t of the season, then went downhill quickly after he broke h I ft !bow Forward Anthony Mann (6-5, 190, Sr., 10.4 ppg) and Mark McCathrlon (6-8, 205, So.• 8 8), th t m's Nos. 2 and 3 scorers last season, are back. But they may be h rd-pr to k p Oregon State transfer Pat Giusti (6-9, 215, Jr.) nd commumty-college transfer Patrick Clardy (6-S, 190, Jr.) out of the lineup. GONZAGA (15-13, 8-6, 4th) For y r the Bulldogs could be counted on to have one of the league's best guards. In th arty '80s It was John Stockton, now with the NBA's Utah Jazz. For th p t two years, It was Jeff Condlll. Condill's departure leaves Gonzaga without n exp rlenced guard, and the Bulldogs received a preseason setback when forw rd Jim McPhee (6-4, 185, So.) contracted mononucleosis. McPh , Gon I top returning scorer (10.7) and second-leading reboun- der (3 8), h s n clear d to play, but his effectiveness will be In doubt for a while S nlor center O le Haaland (6-8, 230) could become the key man. five freshmen and a redshlrt junior - 1 d Coach Jack Avina·s 17th season with the team likely won't bA his easiest. Gu rds Thomas Thompson (6--0, So.) and Greg Attaway (6-3, Jr.) are the top returnees. Thompson averaged 7.6 points last season, starting 23 games; Attaway averaged 8.4 and started seven times. tart five underclassmen, three of them returning son "It w The Pilots hav a lot of newcomer -