2003-04 Men's Basketball Preview: Looking to Reverse Last Season's Fortunes

Cal State Dominguez Hills men's basketball returns in 2003-04 looking to reverse last season's fortunes. In addition to returning 6'2" senior guard Malik Harris (3.3 rpg, 3.0 ppg) and 6'8" sophomore center Ryan Meilleur (7.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg), Head Coach Larry Hauser brought two new players into the mix, both of whom are expected to make immediate impacts to a program that endured a subpar 2002-03 season.

Senior point guard Antoine Griffin, a 5'7" offensive dynamo in his final year of eligibility after transferring from Cal State Monterey Bay, along with high-flying junior Erik Crookshank, a 6'7" finisher by way of Chabot College, will provide athleticism, leadership and the competitive drive necessary to push the Toro program to competing in every game, finishing in the upper half of the conference standings, and causing some commotion in the CCAA.

The 2002-03 campaign saw point guard Eddie Morales suffer a season-ending injury in the sixth game of the season, which not only put a halt to Morales' year in a Toro uniform, but also sent CSUDH into a tailspin which resulted in a 6-21 overall record and 12th-place conference finish. As an alternative at the point guard position, Hauser employed a variety of floor generals, including a shooting guard as well as two point-forwards playing out of position the final 22 games of the year. Predictably, this led to a lack of symmetry and cohesiveness on the offensive end, and the subsequent mindset that victories only would come via defense, and focusing all energies towards that end of the floor. When the losses began to accumulate, the mentality that winning was impossible without a true point guard surfaced and "was a huge factor" in the team's decline, convincing the players' of the game's outset even before setting foot on the court.

Hauser knows this season can be a different story, however, as he stresses the importance of keeping both physically and mentally fit over the grueling 27-game schedule, including the tough CCAA Conference.

"How we deal with adversity will be key," Hauser explains.

After dealing with the team's struggles in a very "defeatist" manner last season, he knows that when adversity makes its appearance, as it does to all teams during the course of a season, these Toros must use that adversity to "make us better" and "work at getting better" in order to achieve success.

Achieving success, the seventh-year head coach emphasizes, will come from turning negatives into positives in all areas during the season, from the team's attitude during preseason to how they handle themselves in the locker room, on the road, and after both wins and losses. Coach Hauser knows his team has the talent to compete in a highly competitive conference.

"All of our guys possess some skills which could make them go-to guys in a given situation," Hauser states.

And with Malik Harris and Charles Logan leading the defensive charge, look for the Toros to stir things up in the CCAA.

"I expect to win every game, but you can go after it in preparation, and only one game at a time," Hauser states. "We need to have the Division I attitude of consistent improvement both individually and as a team for us to be successful this year."

Here's a look at the 2003-04 Toros:

GUARDS
With Eddie Morales still recovering from his season-ending injury, the Toros will benefit greatly from Griffin's presence at the point guard position, both from a leadership and scoring perspective. A transfer from Cal State Monterey Bay in his final year of eligibility, Griffin is a bonafide scorer who can penetrate, dish and deliver, all in the blink of an eye.

"Antoine is a very, very good shooter and a very good athlete," Hauser boasts. "He has an extremely solid handle, good savvy and a good feel for the game at the point."

Hauser admits opposing teams that see Griffin for the first time may think they have a physical advantage because of Griffin's size, but the Toro commander-in-chief issues these words of caution:

"Antoine's best quality is his exceptional balance, which comes from his diligent strength and conditioning work. He is extremely strong."

Spelling Griffin at the point position will be Geovanny Aispuro, one of seven seniors on the squad. A "solid shooter" and natural shooting guard by position, Aispuro played a key role as the point-guard-by-necessity, acquiring keen insight into Hauser's philosophy of being the on-court general.

"He probably knows the offense and what we're trying to accomplish both offensively and defensively as well as anyone on the team," Hauser states, noting Aispuro's diligence in his off season workouts, improving both his athletic ability and conditioning.

Also, Aispuro receives high praise for his defensive mindset.

"Mentally, Geo is as solid a defender as we have," Hauser acknowledges. "He has a very good grasp and understanding of what we do defensively," which helps the entire team in executing its defensive philosophy."

Other Toros who will look to make an impact at the guard positions include returning seniors Malik Harris and Charles Logan, along with sophomore Jamel Gay. An Oakland native, Harris returns for his senior season after averaging 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 points last season. Praised by Hauser as "an athletic and strong defender who leads by example, and is respected as a blue-collar worker," Harris' drive and determination, along with his conviction of playing through pain, has made him a fan favorite and a coach's dream. Logan also returns for his senior season, contributing with 4.3 points and 2.3 boards per game in 2002-03. Noted that Logan "leads the list of players who play hard," the 6'4" Moreno Valley, CA, native improved on his perimeter shooting this past summer, a pleasant development demonstrated during preseason practices.

"He's a much better shooter (than last season)," Hauser states.

Sophomore Gay, a quick 6'2" guard, is an "extremely talented foot-skill player," as well as an "exceptional offensive rebounder," according to Hauser. Newcomer Randall Powell and redshirt freshman Dustin May, whom Hauser compliments as someone who is a "solid shooter" with a "super attitude," round out the Toros backcourt players.

FORWARDS
Eric Crookshank and Saul Lankster lead the forward position for CSUDH, which is the Toros strongest suit on paper, both athletically and in terms of sheer numbers. Coach Hauser has a number of experienced athletes at his disposal who possess a wide variety of talents on both ends of the floor, from inside and outside scoring on the offensive end to aggressive nonstop in-your-face harassment on the defensive end.

In addition to being a high-flyer, Crookshank is a foot-skill player who has the ability to catch and face as well as take over games from above the rim. Coach Hauser highlights Crookshank's athleticism as the Vallejo native's most valued commodity, being able to compete for any ball anywhere on the court. Crookshank also has improved on his perimeter and free throw shooting, making him a true force with which to be reckoned.

Saul Lankster enjoyed the "biggest metamorphosis" during the off-season, according to Hauser. While his unending competitive juices and all-around hustle made him a key component to last year's squad, Lankster's dedication and effort in daily practices, along with the increased offensive skill he's displayed during preseason, have impressed the Toro coaching staff.

"Saul has a great feel for the offense," Coach Hauser marvels. "He can drive and go to the basket, and really get his shot going from the perimeter."

Rodney Terrell, back on the Toros squad after a one-year absence, also has been a pleasant surprise for the coaching staff. At 6'5", he has the ability to play the forward position as well as spend time in the post, "showing up for work every day and giving you all that he has." Additionally, he can knock down the 15-to-18 foot shot consistently, and gives the best effort on the boards amongst any Toros on the floor. Michael Roche, also at 6'5", gives Coach Hauser a powerful athlete with a knack of scoring near the basket. When healthy, Roche can make quite an impact.

CENTERS
Potentially, this position should be our strength. With a year of experience under the belt of 6'8" sophomore Ryan Meilleur, along with talented big man Lamar Lawrence, the centers will get much attention during the course of the year.

Ryan Meilleur, according to Head Coach Hauser, potentially is an all-league player. Skilled with an ever-improving perimeter shot, Meilleur "has a good feel for playing with his back to the basket," using his 6'8" frame to his constant advantage.

Add to Meilleur's talent the 6'6" senior Lamar Lawrence, and the Toros have a formidable 1-2 punch in the middle. Lawrence is at his best on the block, and can score at will when in proper position near the basket. Although he's had some bad luck with injuries, Lawrence will "put his body on the line (to take a charge) more than any player" on the team, and isn't afraid to take it strong to the hole when the opportunity presents itself. Coming back from injury, Lawrence's success this season will be determined by how long it takes him to get into prime playing shape.

COACHES
Here's a look at what Coach Hauser says about his trio of assistant coaches:

Barry Barnes (3rd year) - "This year, Coach Barns also serves as the strength and conditioning coach, and does a very good job with what we have. The players really like him and work very hard for him."

Max Ward (3rd year) - "We've had some very hard workers in our program - most notably Brad Enright, who went to Navy as an assistant - and Max is outworking him. He really puts in his hours, is extremely loyal and has a very solid basketball mind. Even though he's very good in a lot of areas, he wants to improve in every aspect that he does and tries to get better with each session. We're really lucky to have him."

Robert Tossetti (1st year) - "Bobby could be a very good coach. His biggest challenge is divorcing himself from a player role into an assistant coach role. That's not an easy task at all, but Bobby has a really good feel for both offense and defense and really understands the game."

THE SCHEDULE
The Toros begin the 2003-04 campaign with four road games in their first five contests. They play Cal State L.A. in consecutive games before concluding the 2003 year with Malone University in their final nonconference game on December 29. The new year brings conference games with it as CSUDH begins 2004 hosting Grand Canyon and UC San Diego the weekend of January 2-3. After traveling to San Francisco State / Sonoma State the next weekend, the Toros return home to battle Cal State Bakersfield on Friday, January 16, before hosting Cal State Stanislaus the following evening. CSUDH alternates between road and home contests the next four weekends, including tough back-to-back nights at Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona on January 23-24, and hosting the same two schools on February 13-14, before spending consecutive weekends on the road from February 20-21 (Cal State Stanislaus / Cal State Bakersfield) until February 27-28 (UC San Diego / Grand Canyon). The Toros end the regular season at home the weekend of March 5-6, hosting Sonoma State and San Francisco State.