2005-06 Men's Basketball Preview: Change Is Operative Word
November 29, 2005

Change is the operative word for 2005-06 CSUDH men’s basketball team.

Head coach Damaine Powell took his lumps in his first season at the helm of the Toros program last year, winning just seven of 27 games after inheriting the squad on August 19, 2004, the day he became the head coach of the Toros. With those lumps, however, came knowledge and experience, and an understanding of what’s needed in a program that’s rebuilding in the tough California Collegiate Athletic Association Conference.

“One thing that sticks out the most is how competitive the conference was,” Powell reflects. “I think a lot of people have a misconception that Division II consists of players not talented to play Division I, but that’s not the case. One of the things I learned from last year was the talent we needed to get to be competitive with the top teams, and that’s what I took away from it.”

The 2005-06 squad features 11 new faces added to just three returning players, and a commitment and dedication from new recruits that many of last season’s players didn’t sustain. With four players on this year’s roster standing at least 6’7”, Powell has both size and talent to utilize this season and can see the program he envisioned 15 months ago finally starting to take shape.

Although Powell has upped the ante with his new squad, however, he knows it’ll take time for all the pieces to come together.

“Everybody’s excited because we’ve got a fusion of new talent, but it’s going to be a process of having 12 new guys who have to learn what it’s going to take to win against good teams, and you have to instill that,” Powell begins. “We are going to keep developing and get better every week, but making them a team and getting them to click just takes time. Nothing can speed that up.”

THAT WAS THEN
Last season, senior guard Les Norman was one of the few bright spots for the Toros, a veritable one-man army who led CSUDH in points (16.1 ppg), rebounds (6.5 rpg), and free throws made (109) and attempted (149), and finished second on the team in assists (2.84 apg) and steals (1.23 spg) en route to earning First-Team All-CCAA honors. Though the Toros began 2004-05 with six losses, they posted a 7-8 record over the next 15 games, showing promise for the final six contests. Unfortunately, however, hopes of carrying momentum into both the final six games and the next season were derailed by some team members who simply gave up.

“Once they knew that their behavior was not going to be tolerated the following season, they just stopped competing at their best and just started doing things on and off the court that took away from the final product,” Powell explains. “But you just have to take your lumps the first year until you get your players and get the guys you think are going to help you win the way you want to win.”

THIS IS NOW
This season, however, change has strengthened not only the coach, but the program as well. In addition to those 11 newcomers, CSUDH has retained three players who know the system, as well as the high set of standards established in 2004-05.

Senior Phillip Givens leads the charge for the returners, providing an understanding of Toros basketball. Givens was the team’s third-leading scorer last season, dropping in 10.0 points per game for the season, and 12.3 during CCAA contests. He connected for 43% of his shots from the field and pulled down 3.3 boards, the fourth-best total on the team.

In 2005, Powell knows Givens will be relied on for both scoring and leadership, challenges the head coach feels Givens is ready for.

“He’s very talented,” Powell begins. “We talked in the off season about Phil having a better basketball IQ and making better decisions on the court, so we’re really excited to see the strides he makes in those areas as we go forward this year.”

Mike Steed was another bright spot for the Toros last season. A true freshman in 2004-05, Steed contributed 2.4 points and 2.0 rebounds per game, but saw action in all 27 games. Now in his second season, Steed made great strides over the summer, causing much anticipation amongst the Toros coaching staff.

“He’s developed from last year, and he’s practicing well,” Powell begins. “He has more potential to reach but he’s a lot better than last year so we’re really excited about the work he did over the summer.”

One of the better all-around athletes on the team, much is expected of sophomore Nonso Nibo. Last season, Nibo saw action in 22 games, notching 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. This season, Powell hopes his gifted sophomore will realize his overall potential.

“He’s still young, but he has potential,” Powell begins. “He will do some good things because he’s so athletic and such a good kid.

“We’re asking those three guys to be leaders for us,” Powell summarizes. “We try to do a lot of things as a team to let them bond and laugh and crack jokes together, and it just takes time. But we’ll get there.”

THE RECRUITS
A big difference for this year’s Toro squad, both literally and figuratively, will be its size. Four of the newcomers stand at least 6’7”, compared to last season in which CSUDH had one player at that height.

Mario Malave, a transfer from Bakersfield College, is a 6’7” talent whom Powell feels will give teams trouble this year both on the blocks and away from the basket, while 6’9” Trevon Bryant, a Compton College transfer and a defensive presence lacking in the Toro line-up last season, is a raw talent whose upside is unlimited.

“Mario is very talented and a load for people to deal with this year,” Powell begins, while “Trevon, if he realizes his talent level, can be unbelievable. He’s big and has unbelievably long arms, and just having him on that back line of defense to protect the rim is something we are really happy to have.”

Joe Johnson and Durwin Williams are the two other transfers whose size will present match-up problems from opposing teams. Johnson, a 6’8” New Jersey native, is another weapon who can play both inside and outside and, combined with Williams, with his leadership, unselfishness and 6’7” frame, are expected to make immediate impacts on the squad.

“Joe is very long and very intelligent and really good around the basket blocking shots,” Powell says, while “Durwin, probably my hardest worker and one of my toughest kids, is very unselfish and just wants to win which is something that can’t be underestimated.”

At the guard positions, Josh Dillon, Carlos Rivers, Shamont Brown and Kevin Crockett all will see playing time in what coach Powell predicts will amount to a 9 or 10 man rotation.

“We’re really lucky to have him,” Powell says of Azusa Pacific transfer Josh Dillon. “He led APU to the NAIA championship game, and he’s very mature and a winner. He’s going to contribute in a big way.

“Carlos is a talent and a real good point guard,” Powell continues, adding, “Shamont is a coach’s dream, someone who brings leadership, character and a winning attitude,” while Crockett “can flat out shoot the ball.”

The only active freshman on the squad, Jonathan Toliver is expected to contribute immediately to a rebuilt Toro squad. Coming from Westchester HS where he won state championships as a prep, Powell likes not only Toliver’s skill, but also his freshman’s being accustomed to winning, a trait Powell plans on nurturing with future squads.

“Toliver’s probably our second-best shooter and we’re really happy to have him,” Powell begins. “He’s used to winning, and one thing I’m really trying to focus on is recruiting people who like winning, who understand that winning is about sacrifice and who can infuse that attitude to other guys.”

THE SCHEDULE
The Toros kick off the 2005-06 season with preseason exhibitions against Division I schools USC and Cal State Northridge before beginning the season at home against Vanguard University. After ensuing games against Seattle Pacific and Central Washington in the Cal State L.A. Thanksgiving Classic, the Toros kick off the CCAA schedule at San Francisco State and Sonoma State the first weekend in December.

CSUDH then completes its non-conference schedule to end 2005 with a game at San Diego Christian College and two home games versus Hope International and Dominican University, before hosting Cal State Bakersfield / Cal State L.A. and Cal State Stanislaus / Chico State the first two weekends of 2006.

After a conference weekend on the road, the Toros return home for five-consecutive conference match-ups from January 25 – February 4, before four road games during the middle of February. They then return home in the final home stand the weekend of February 24-25, hosting Cal State San Bernardino and UC San Diego before traveling to Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Monterey Bay for the final games of the regular season.

In arguably the toughest conference in Division II, Powell predicts that co-champions Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino, along with Sonoma State and Cal State Bakersfield remain the teams to beat in the CCAA.

“You can’t underestimate the value of teams being together for so long,” Powell explains. “Pomona has their entire team back except for two guys, Sonoma has been together for 3 or 4 years, and then you have San Bernardino and Bakersfield.

“So we’re racing against the clock, trying to mature and become a team as fast as we can to compete against those teams. But the good thing is that the talent is there. Without talent you have no chance. The talent is there so that’ll give us a chance.”

FINAL THOUGHTS
Although coach Powell literally is starting over (again), there’s a sense of excitement about Cal State Dominguez Hills men’s basketball, an enthusiasm that’s been missing the past couple years. Powell knows that his squad has the talent to make waves towards moving into the league’s elite, but also realizes that time will be a major factor in his players becoming an actual team, and a contender.

“We just want to become more disciplined and more fundamentally sound, things we have to do just to have a chance to win,” Powell begins. “If you don’t do those things, block out, talk to each other on defense, make the fundamental bounce pass, get beat in transition, turn the ball over, you have no chance. We’re just trying to get them to have better habits which will allow us to compete in the games.”

However, with the new recruits on board, Powell’s anticipation is evident.

“I’m excited, but I want everybody to understand that just putting talent together does not equal wins or championships,” he says. “It’s a process where it has to gel and a lot of things have to go right, and though we’re talented and have some size, a lot of times the most talented team never wins.

“But every year, I want to win the conference,” Powell continues. “And if you look at next year, everybody’ll be back, we’ll have a whole year together and should be able to hit the ground running. And we’re going to add some more pieces, so we’re really looking into the future.

“Now, how many wins and losses that will equate to this season or next, I don’t know, but I really believe that the program is going in the right direction, and I’m really excited about that.”