Prime time? Not yet for USD
By: STEVE SCHOLFIELD - Senior Sports Columnist | ∞
SAN DIEGO ---- In a season in which the West Coast Conference men's basketball race looks very much up for grabs, the University of San Diego Toreros let a league win slip through their fingers.
Their 61-47 loss to Santa Clara on Saturday took the Toreros out of the mix as one of conference's elite teams ---- at least for now.
With a 2-2 record, USD trails Gonzaga, Santa Clara, and San Francisco by at least a game in the loss column.
What makes the WCC so intriguing this season is the play of perennial power Gonzaga, which for the first time in years looks vulnerable.
Saint Mary's snapped the Bulldogs' 26-game conference winning streak, then turned around and lost to Santa Clara. There's more parity in the league now than in a long time.
"I think this league is going to be up for grabs," Santa Clara coach Dick Davey said. "I think you have to consider Gonzaga right up there, but after that, I don't know who you consider. There are a lot of us."
It remains to be seen if USD can become one of the better teams in the conference.
A win over Santa Clara would have rekindled the madness of quality basketball that surrounded the school when it went to the NCAA tournament four years ago.
Coach Brad Holland has a nice team that normally plays with poise, dedication and a sense of purpose.
Saturday was not a normal outing for the Toreros, who lost for the first time in seven home games.
You want ugly? Try 9.1 percent shooting from the field in the second half. The Toreros made just 2-of-22 shots, an almost impossibly low percentage.
They finished the game hitting 15-of-53 for 28.8 percent. You won't win many basketball games at any level with those shooting figures.
Davey couldn't explain how his team held the Toreros to just two field goals in 20 minutes.
"I don't know, it is in the hands of the gods or something," Davey said. "It wasn't necessarily our defense. They shoot the ball pretty well. They just had one of those nights where the ball didn't go in."
Actually, it was more than that. The Toreros led by eight points at halftime and set a negative tone for the second half by missing a couple of free throws and two easy jump shots in the first minute of play.
Senior guard Ross DeRogatis hit a 3-pointer with 18:48 left, and the team didn't score again until forward Gyno Pomare scored on a layup with 11:29 left.
That was it.
"I give my guys no excuses," Holland said. "We got outplayed at home, which is so disappointing."
The Toreros looked like they were waiting for team leader DeRogatis, who finished with 10 points, to carry the load. Pomare, who had 17 points, agreed.
"We didn't step it up like we used to do," Pomare said. "But it starts with each person. I have to be a better leader. I guess Ross can't do it by himself."
He's right, of course. The Toreros didn't hustle in the second half, and their shots were either hurried or suspect.
Much of that had to do with Santa Clara's 6-foot-10, 305-pound center John Bryant and 6-11, 245-pound forward Sean Dennison. They helped Santa Clara to a 47-26 rebounding advantage.
The good thing about college basketball is that you don't have to wait a week to make amends. The Toreros host Saint Mary's on Monday in what amounts to a must-win game for them.
"We've got another good team coming in and we are either going to answer the bell and get tougher or we are going to go away," Holland said.
That makes Monday a statement game for the Toreros.
We'll find out if they are pretenders or contenders.
Steve Scholfield is senior sports columnist for the North County Times. He can be reached at (760) 740-3509 or stevescho@cox.net.
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