USD Men's Basketball 1991-1992

QUTLOOK

1991-1992 TORERO BASKETBALL "REACHING NEW HEIGHTS"

For the second straight year and fifth season in seven campaigns under head coach Hank Egan , the USO men's basketball program posted a winning record in 1990-91 . Although USO finished with 17 victories against 12 defeats, as well as a solid third place finish in the competitive West Coast Conference, coach Egan will have his work cut out for him in 1991-92 if he is to continue " Reaching New Heights." The Toreros had six seniors, includ ing the leading scorer, complete their eligibility last year, the largest exodus of personnel from any wee team . Gone are WCC Honorable Mention selections Anthony Thomas (14.7 ppg) and Pat Holbert (11.4 ppg), as well as center Dondi Bell (8.4 ppg), Keith Colvin , Randy Thompson and Shawn Hamilton . Although USO will miss the above players, they still have a nice nucleus of players returning . Coach Egan returns three starters and seven letter– winners from last year 's squad , in addition to three letterwinners from the 1989-90 season that sat out last year. Topping the list of key returners is starting forward Kelvin Woods (6 '6" ), an AII-WCC First Team selection and the team's MVP. Kelvin is the team's top returning scorer (13.6 ppg) and rebounder (5.5 rpg) . He led the Toreros in scoring on nine occasions and is currently 18th among USD's all-time scoring leaders with 831 points. Senior guards Wayman Strickland and Michael Brown are the other two

return ing starters. Strickland , a fourth-year senior from San Francisco, California, set a WCC record by canning 57.7 percent of his three-pointers in WCC games last year. Strickland , who averaged 10.6 ppg overall and 14.4 ppg in WCC action , is also on schedule to break USD's school record for assists. With his 93rd assist this season Wayman will have dished off 452 career assists, breaking USD's mark of 451 (Stan Washington , 1971-74). Michael Brown got the starting nod in game #14 last season and didn't lose that honor the rest of the way. In his 16 starts, Michael averaged 12.2 ppg and earned the team's Athletic Excellence Award at the end of the season . A versatile athlete, Michael can play all three perimeter positions for the Toreros. Three-year letterman Carlos Carrillo (6 '6" guard/forward) and 6'8 " Reed Watson (forward/center) fill out the quintet of seniors. With the loss of four players 6'7" or taller, Watson will be counted on to supply scoring , rebounding and defense as an inside player. The other two lettermen back from a year ago include junior guard Geoff Probst, a feisty floor leader, and sophomore guard Neal Meyer (6 '3" ).

The Toreros have three players with varsity experience that sat out the 1990-91 season. Back to give San Diego some added depth are 6'5" junior Gylan Dottin , the 1989 WCC Freshman of the Year; 6'9 " sophomore center Brooks Barnhard , who missed last season after back surgery; and 6'4" guard/forward Joe Temple, an extremely talented athlete that should help the Toreros at both ends of the floor. Dottin , the team's second leading scorer two seasons ago, is another player capable of filling numerous positions for Egan . Two newcomers that round out the 1991-92 squad include sophomore Chris Grant , a 6'7 " forward from Canada College and 6'0" sophomore guard Doug Harris, a transfer from Fresno State University. Harris will have to sit out the 1991-92 season . Grant adds size and depth to the Torero bench. USO should continue to be one of the top shooting teams in the West Coast Conference. The Toreros led the league in overall field goal shooting last season , hitting an even 50 percent. The Toreros were also the most accurate team from the perimeter, leading the conference by making 40.3 percent of their three-point shots (160-for-397) . Strickland was the team's best shooter beyond the three-point line, connecting on 47-of-101 treys. The Toreros will play two exhibitions in November prior to their regular– season opener against San Diego State on November 22. Other teams highlighting their tough noriconference slate include UC Santa Barbara, San Jose State, U.S. Naval Academy, Arizona State and Colorado. The Toreros open up WCC league play on January 11 when they host the Santa Clara Broncos.