USD's Belser earns national honor

By: TOM SHANAHAN - For the North County Times | Tuesday, March 7, 2006 11:37 PM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- Three months ago, University of San Diego senior Corey Belser limited NBA prospect Blake Schilb of Loyola-Chicago to 0-for-6 shooting from the field and 3 points as the Toreros won at Jenny Craig Pavilion. USD teammate Chris Lewis proclaimed Belser the best defensive player in the nation.

Collegeinsider.com, a college basketball-oriented Web site, agreed with Lewis. On Tuesday, Collegeinsider.com named Belser its National Defensive Player of the Year.

"It means a lot, with as much pride as I put into defense," said Belser, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward from Spanaway, Wash. "There isn't much glory in defense, but I've been fortunate to be rewarded."

Belser was also named the West Coast Conference's Defensive Player of the Year. During Belser's junior year, Collegeinsider.com honored Belser as its Mid-Major Defensive Player of the Year, just one year after naming Belser to its All-Defensive team.

Earlier, Collegeinsider.com selected USD freshman point guard Brandon Johnson as one of 25 players on its All-Freshman team.

Belser slowed down Gonzaga's Adam Morrison, the WCC Player of the Year and a national player of the year candidate, in all three meetings between the Toreros and Bulldogs this year. Morrison averaged 28 points a game and shot 50.4 percent from the field throughout the season; in three games against the Toreros, however, Morrison was 13-of-38 (36.8 percent) and averaged 17.0 ppg.

In Gonzaga's overtime win over the Toreros in Sunday night's WCC semifinal, Morrison scored 24 points, but he needed 11-of-14 free throws to reach that figure. He shot only 5-of-16 from the field in 41 minutes.

Belser also limited Morrison to a season-low 11 points on 3-of-11 shooting in a Feb. 25 game at Gonzaga.

USD (18-12) is hoping for an NIT bid. The NIT field will be announced after Sunday's NCAA tournament selections.

"I hope my college career isn't over," Belser said. "We'll be in the gym getting some shots in this week and hoping to get the good news."

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Gene Dougherty wrote on Mar 9, 2006 2:32 PM:Belser held Morrison to 17 ppg by face guarding him and providing no help on defense against anyone else. As a result Gonzaga beat USD all three times, the second time by 16 and the last time by Morrison hitting 11 of 14 free throws. How did Morrison get to the foul line that many times? By Belser fouling out and by San Diego playing rugby instead of basketball. The entire WCC took the tactic of holding, hooking and smashing Morrison at every opportunity and Gonzaga beat everyone of them everytime. Good defense is one thing, but face guarding doesn't produce wins and turning basketball games into scrums sends the opponent to the line way too often. USD and the rest of the WCC should concentrate on basketball and then they might win once in a while.

USD Fan wrote on Mar 10, 2006 6:57 PM:Sounds like a Morrison lover to me. Adam did some good acting not to mention punches on Belser and nothing was called. The problem with USD was inexperience and turnovers. Belser is and outstanding defender and held Morrison to 6 and 9 points the previous season so he deserves and has received respect for that ability. I wish Adam good luck in the NBA but he better be ready to be physical.

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