USD Men's Basketball 1981-1982

UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO 1981-82 BASKETBALL PROSPECTUS

The University of San Diego basketball team will look for continued improvement in the 1981-82 season as they prepare for their most difficult schedule to date. " In just our third year at the NCAA Division I level and the West Coast Athletic Conference we will be looking at the toughest schedule in USD's history," stated Head Coach Jim Brovelli . This year the Toreros will be counting on returning starters David Heppell (6'8" , senior, center), Gerald Jones (6'6" , senior, forward) , and Rusty Whitmarsh (6'3" , senior, guard) to exert the leadership and ex– perience essential to success in the WCAC . Seniors Steve Rocha (6'8" , center) and Jim Bateman (6'5", forward / center) will add experienced depth to the frontline , while guards John Prunty (6'0" , sophomore) and Mike Ramsey (6'4" , senior) give strength to the backcourt. Don Capener (6'6" guard / forward) will return after spending two years in Japan on a mission with the Mormon Church , and Paul Appleby (6'5" forward) hopes to return after sitting out the last two seasons with a knee injury. Of the new recruits 6'0" guard Rich Davis (Central Arizona J .C .0 and 6'7" forward Robby Roberts (L .A . Valley J .C.) are expected to give strong competition for starting positions right away . Three forwards were also recruited by USO in 6'7" Bob Kulovitz (Mesa Arizona J .C.), 6'6" freshman Anthony Ruess, and 6'6" Randy Brickley (Glendale Arizona J .C .) Coach Brovelli also added two freshman guards to the roster via the recruiting route in 6'2" Jon Freeman (Bonita Vista H.S., San Diego) and 6'4" Byron Roberts (Manual Arts H.S., Los Angeles). "With our new recruits we have added some top talent with Robby Roberts leading all California Junior College players in rebounding (13.1 ave .); Rich Davis is a great point guard who averaged 13.2 assists per game; Randy Brickley is on of the purest shooters in the nation ; Anthony Ruess (Christian H.S., El Cajon) and Jon Freeman were both San Diego All-Cl F selections and the top players in San Diego county last year; Bob Kulovitz is an excellent jumper at 6'7" and has a soft touch around the basket ; and Byron Roberts is just a fine all-around athlete, receiving Los Angeles AII-CIF honors and will have to make the transition from high school forward to guard this year," said Coach Brovelli . "We have no doubt improved our quickness , which will allow us to be more aggressive and versitile both offensively and defensively. " USO opens the season at home against PCAA rival University of the Pacific on Saturday, November 28th. The following weekend the Toreros take on Boise State (Friday , December 4th) and another PCAA foe in UC Irvine, who sports 6'8" All-American center Kevin McGee (Saturday , December 5th) . On Thursday, December 10th USO will be playing cross-town rival San Diego State . The Toreros come back home for two games against Bethel College (INDIANA) and Illinois Wesleyan . The hoopsters close out the month of December with a road game against UC Santa Barbara and then come home for a home game against Michael Pitts (Sweetwater) and Cal Berkeley on Monday the 28th . The Toreros open up January on the road against Northern Arizona . Then USO closes out the non– conference season with home games against Southeastern Louisiana, Fresno-Pacific, and Nebraska Wesleyan . West Coast Athletic Conference action will be the strongest in several year's with USF and Pepperdine returning all five starters and probable top twenty rankings . Portland , Santa Clara , St . Mary's, Loyola/ Mary– mount , Gonzaga and USO all return a good nucleus with new players expected to make the difference.

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