USD Men's Basketball 2007-2008

is arguably the toughest in program-his– tory. USD's non-conference slate features two teams in UNLV and USC that reached the NCAA Sweet Sixteen a year ago; two second round NCAA teams in Nevada and Kentucky; and Miami-Ohio, a first round NCAA entrant, is also a possible second day opponent at the Anaheim Classic over Thanksgiving Weekend. USO will also host cross-town rival San Diego State on Nov. 19th, and face perennial WCC power Gon– zaga a minimum of two games. West Coast Conference play will begin with a home game against San Francisco on Jan. 12th. Other WCC home dates in– clude Santa Clara (Jan. 26th), Saint Mary's (Jan. 28th), Portland (Feb. 16th), Gonzaga (Feb. 18th), Pepperdine (Mar. 1st) and Loyola Marymount (Mar. 3rd). USD's first wee road contest will be at Gonzaga on Jan. 19th, followed by games at Portland (Jan.21st), LMU (Feb.2nd), Pepperdine (Feb. 4th), San Francisco (Feb. 11th), Santa Clara (Feb.23rd), and Saint Mary's (Feb. 25th). USO and the Jenny Craig Pavilion wi ll be the site for the 2008 West Coast Confer– ence Basketball Championships, March 7- 10 for the men's contests. San Diego previ– ously hosted the wee Championships for three straight years between 2001-03.

Jackson turned in a solid first year ap– pearing in 31 games with 3 starts. He av– eraged 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds whi le dishing out 44 assists and canning 78.6% of his charity attempts. He turned in an outstandi ng game in a home win over Pep– perdine with 10 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Lewis and Jackson are joined by sec– ond-year power forward Josh Miller (Chino Hills, CA), who sat out last year as a red– shirt, and sophomore walk-on forward Pat– rick Lacey (Sacramento, CA) who appeared in six games in a reserve role. THENEWCOMERS Coach Grier welcomes five freshmen to this year's squad, including three play– ers that he and his staff recruited. The two newcomers that committed prior to his arrival include forwards Rob Jones (San

Francisco, CA) and Clinton Houston (Dallas, TX). Jones, a 6-6 power-forward, was the San Francisco player of the year after aver– aging 17 points and 14 rebounds for Arch– bishop Riordan. The 6-7 Houston averaged 14 points and 9 rebounds at Marcus High School with the team fini shing 30-7. Grier's recruits include 6-2 point guard Trumaine Johnson (Houston,TX), 6-10 cen– ters Nathan Lozeau (Marysville, WA) and 6-2 gua rd Devin Ginty (Alta, CA). Johnson averaged 9 points and 7 assists for King– wood HS; Lozeau averaged 18 points at Marysville-Pilchuck where he was named AP Class 4A all-state honorable mention; and Ginty was league MVP and an All-State performer for Colfax HS which won their CIF section title.

wee COACHES POLL 1. Gonzaga (5) 2. Saint Mary's (3)

61 points

59 43 38 34 22 16 15

3. SAN DIEGO 4. Santa Clara 5. San Francisco 6. Pepperdine

7. Portland

8. Loyola Marymount

(first place votes)

wee TOP SIX RETURNERS Brandon Johnson, San Diego Gyno Pomare, San Diego

Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga Josh Heytvelt, Gonzaga

Diamon Simpson, Saint Mary's Manny Quezada, San Francisco

SCHEDULE TO TEST TOREROS Grier has put together a schedule that