2006-07 Men's Basketball Preview: Toros Are Ready
November 18, 2006

The 2006-07 Cal State Dominguez Hills men’s basketball team is ready.

Ready with eight returning players on a team that improved by two wins in conference and four overall after welcoming 10 newcomers and a coach in just his second year with last season’s squad.

Ready after winning its last two regular season games of the year.

And ready after five of its losses on the year were by three points or less.

In 2005-06, junior transfers Carlos Rivers and Shamont Brown, who was named to the 2nd-team All-CCAA, led the Toro offense, averaging 13.4 and 12.0 points per game, respectively, while fellow junior transfer Trevon Bryant anchored a revamped defense that saw him establish the CSUDH record for blocks in a single-season with 52, with his 2.36 blocks per game average placing him 15th in the NCAA. Bryant was so dominant, in fact, that he outdistanced the CCAA’s runner-up finisher by 1.06 blocks per game (2.36 to 1.30).

Add to that defensive dominance a point guard in Rivers, whose season-high of 31 points highlighted eight total efforts of at least 20 points, and an all-purpose guard in Brown, who was the only player in the CCAA conference to make the top 20 in FG%, rebounds, steals, assists and scoring, and head coach Damaine Powell can’t help but smile when pondering the possibilities of what will be his 3rd year on the sidelines of the Toros men’s basketball program.

“For the first time since I’ve been here, I know my personnel,” says Powell confidently. “We kind of got on a roll toward the end but by that time, the season was over. But we felt good about ourselves. Now, we’ve got some talent and experience, and we’re playing to that.

“We have the potential to have a breakthrough year.”

Here’s a look at who will be breaking through in 2006-07:

POINT GUARD
Junior Mike Steed, senior Carlos Rivers and redshirt freshman Jamel Ward highlight a solid trio of point guards, whose delivering, breaking down defenses and scoring ability will ultimately direct where the Toros ship docks at the end of the season, a destination Powell hopes doesn’t make itself known until at least mid-to-late March.

“We’re solid at the point,” Powell begins. “The main thing is keeping our turnovers down, which will allow us to do what we want to do. But I feel comfortable with the point guard position. This is definitely a position of strength for us.”

Steed, who started 21 games in 24 appearances last year, ranked 7th in steals and 12th in assists amongst the elite CCAA guards, leading the team in assists 11 times, in rebounds 3 times and in scoring twice. The guard with the most experience on the team, the Antelope native connected for 43% from long range to top the 0506 Toros, and tallied double-figure scoring in five of the final nine games of the season. Additionally, he sank 7-of-10 from the charity stripe in dropping a season-high 18 points at Chico State in mid-February, and grabbed a season-best 9 boards vs. Cal State San Bernardino on February 24.

“I’m really comfortable with Steed,” says Powell with a smile, noting Steed’s three years of experience in the competitive CCAA Conference. “He’s probably our best defender, one of our best shooters and has a high IQ and knows exactly what I want out there. He brings maturity, stability and unselfishness. He is a leader.”

Hard to guard, Rivers made his presence felt in a big way last season, enjoying 16 double-digit scoring games, including six with at least 20 points and a season-high 31-point effort against UC San Diego on February 25, nailing 11-of-13 shots from the field, 5-of-6 from 3-point land, and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe. Additionally, the Long Beach native was amongst the league leaders in steals (9th), scoring (10th), assists and assists-to-turnover ratio (11th), FG% (14th) and 3-pointers made (16th). Multi-faceted, Rivers also connected for 86% from the charity stripe and tallied six games with at least 5 boards, five games with 5 or more assists and four games with at least 3 steals, giving Powell an explosive offensive weapon off the bench.

“He can score,” Powell says as a matter-of-factly of the team’s returning leading scorer. “I know he can score against anybody and he scares teams because he’s so fast. He’s improved his defense as well, and if we can get him to play defense the way we want, he can really help our team.”

Ward will see his first playing time on the court after using a red-shirt season in 2005-06. A two-sport stand out at Inglewood HS, Ward garnered 1st-team All-Area honors on the hardwood, leading the Sentinels to a conference title as a senior.

“Jamel is one of our hardest workers, one of our better IQ guys, and just a winner,” beams Powell. “Good things happen when he’s on the floor, and the team just plays well. He’s one of our hardest workers.”

SHOOTING GUARD
Second-team All-CCAA selection Shamont Brown returns for his senior season, looking to capitalize on a 2005-06 campaign that saw the New York native establish his place amongst the CCAA’s best in FG% (5th, 63rd in the NCAA0, rebounding (10th), steals (T12th), assists (16th and scoring (18th), the only CCAA player in the league to make the top 20 in those five categories. Brown tallied at least 20 points on five occasions, scoring in double-figures in five-consecutive games from December 10-January 7, and pulled down at least 10 rebounds twice. Additionally, the 6’4” guard swiped 7 steals at San Diego Christian College on December 10, good for his season-best effort.

This year, Powell expects even more from his all-conference guard, and feels Brown is up to the challenge.

“He’s a coach’s dream as a leader, and when he emerged as our leader, our season turned around,” Powell reflects. “Our offense will be probably based around him, especially early on in terms of getting him the ball and letting him make the decisions for the team. He’s a very talented guy who can do so many things well, that he can lead this team all the way to the top. We’ll figure out ways to get him the ball and try to make plays.”

Jonathan Toliver is another experienced Toro who will see ample time on the floor. In his freshman year, the Inglewood native made 7 starts in 26 games played last year, scoring in double-figures in 7 games, including a season-best 19-point effort at Sonoma State on December 3 in which he sank 5-of-11 from behind the arc. He also drained the 2nd-most 3-pointers on the team, and pulled down at least 4 rebounds in seven contests.

“Toliver is like a version of Steed, who can play a 2 or 3,” notes Powell. “He’s a very solid, very stable and very intelligent player who can shoot the ball, as well as be a leader.

“I feel real comfortable at the ‘2’,” Powell says. “We’re going to be real solid.”

SMALL FORWARD
Newcomer Gabe Bernard dons the Cardinal & Gold for his final year of eligibility after playing at Division I University of Texas San Antonio as a junior last season. As a Roadrunner, Bernard was the team’s 4th-leading scorer despite starting just nine games in 23 appearances for UTSA, which finished at 11-17 overall, and 6-10 in the Southland Conference. Long and skilled, Powell is looking for Bernard to duplicate his effort at UTSA, where he tallied seven games of double-figure scoring, including 15 points twice, and six games of at least 4 rebounds

“Gabe is very skilled and is going to be real good for us,” begins Powell. “He’s long, can shoot it, can defend, and has the potential to start and may be an All-CCAA player.”

Junior Nonso Nibo is the lone returner to the small forward position, but one who won’t shy away from that responsibility. The Westchester native saw action in 24 games last season, exploding with a 17-point outburst at Chico State on February 17, adding 7 boards in the win. One of CSUDH’s best athletes, Nibo fine-tuned his outside shot over the summer and will be a double-threat this season, either beating teams with his long-range acumen, or with his drives and acrobatic finishes.

“Nonso had a great summer, and is doing well so far,” begins Powell. “His talent level and potential are off the charts and, while it took him a while to adjust to the speed of the college game and intensity of defense, he’s getting closer to reaching his potential. We’re expecting a break-out year.”

Another newcomer, Jamaal Barnes will add intensity and athleticism to the ‘3’ spot, giving Powell another talented option on the floor. Last season at Compton College, Barnes averaged 17 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks per contest en route to 2nd-team All-League honors.

“Jamaal is an undersized forward, but probably the toughest guy on our team who brings a lot of intensity,” says Powell. “As one of our better passers, he’s strong and athletic – he’s just as athletic as Nonso, if not more, and will be one of the most athletic guys in the conference – and can guard anybody.

“We’re going to be athletic and long in the ‘3’ position this year,” Powell summarizes. “With Gabe being a senior, and Nonso and Jamaal juniors, we’ll be very good and experienced.”

POWER FORWARD
The power forward position will be a question mark of sorts for Powell, as the only returner is junior Joe Johnson, who was granted a medical redshirt after seeing action in just five games last season.

However, Powell has added newcomers in freshmen James Cawthorne and Demetrius Love, and is confident someone will emerge as a force at the ‘4.’

Before Johnson’s injury, the New Jersey native started all five games played, pulling down a season-best 7 boards at San Francisco State on December 2 while shooting a solid 73% from the charity stripe.

“Joe is very long and very intelligent,” Powell said about his 6’8” power forward at the beginning of last season. “He’s also really good around the basket blocking shots.”

Cawthorne, one of Powell’s top freshmen recruits, should see significant time in the power forward position or backing up Bryant in the post. Last season at Villa Park High School, Cawthorne led the Spartans to their third-straight league title, averaging 15 points and 9.7 boards as a senior.

“James is very skilled, and can play inside or outside,” says Powell of his Orange native. “He’s very intelligent with the ball and on defense ,and we’re going to use all those talents to help us.”

Love will be the other important piece to the power forward puzzle, giving Powell a three-headed monster at the ‘4’ spot. A local product from Long Beach Jordan High, Love played under legendary head coach Ron Massey as a prep, and led the Panthers to a league title and a 2nd-place state finish as a senior. Additionally, the talented and athletic 6’7” freshman once tallied 15 blocks in a single game.

“We’re young at the power forward position, but we’re athletic, talented and tall,” Powell summarizes with a smile.

CENTER
Trevon Bryant is a long and dominating last line of defense for the Toros basketball program. At 6’9” with an enviable wing span, the Georgia native emerged as the CCAA’s force, leading the conference in blocked shots with 52, placing 15th in the nation. Bryant swatted at least 4 shots away in five games, including 6 in the season finale at Cal State Monterey Bay. Additionally, needing just 44 to establish the CSUDH career mark for blocked shots, Bryant tallied five double-figure games and pulled down a season-high 10 boards at Chico State in mid-February.

“Trevon had a good summer, but it’s just a question of keeping him healthy and keeping him out of foul trouble” Powell begins. “He clogs up the middle just with his frame and his shot-blocking ability, and it’s always good to have that last line of defense in college basketball. Additionally, it’s hard to guard him one-on-one in the post since he’s so tall and long, and his low-post scoring will be huge for us this year.”

THE SCHEDULE
Now a veteran of two seasons in the competitive CCAA Conference, Powell has a much better understanding of what it takes to not only compete, but what it takes to win.

“It’s a tough conference with good coaches,” he begins, “and almost every game throughout the conference comes down to the last minute or two. So who can execute during the last couple of minutes will decide victory or defeat.”

The Toros kick off their season at the Seattle Pacific University-hosted Tournament in Las Vegas following Thanksgiving to take on national powers University of Montevallo and the host Falcons, before opening their schedule the weekend of December 1 and 2 against Cal State Stanislaus and Chico State at the Torodome, with Friday’s contest against the Warriors the designated “Pack the Gym Night.”

After a string of non-conference games in the Torodome in early December, UC San Diego makes its conference visit to Carson on December 20 before CSUDH plays at Grand Canyon eight days later to close the 2006 calendar year.

Kicking off the new year, the Toros play nine CCAA games on the road, with their only home trip scheduled for January 19-20 against Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino. However, CSUDH settles in for home games in 6 of its final 8 contests, including “Senior Night” against Cal State Monterey Bay on March 3.

“It’s hard to say how we’ll finish in the conference because I haven’t seen those teams and who they’ve signed,” Powell says. “I don’t know where we’ll wind up in the conference, but I know we’re a better team, and I think we’ll finish better than last year.”

Noting how six of the Toros’ 16 losses were by 4 or few points, and how six of the 11 wins were by 5 or fewer points, including the final two regular season victories which CSUDH won by a total of two points, Powell can’t emphasize enough the importance of execution down the stretch, an area he feels is a strength for the Toros this season.

“We lost a lot of close games and we won a lot of close games, so instead of 11 wins, we could’ve won 17 games, or we could’ve won only six,” he reflects. “There were so many close games where it came down to execution. “

FINAL THOUGHTS

“Our goal is to get to the playoffs somehow, something the program hasn’t done in 20 years,” Powell begins, reflecting on when men’s basketball claimed a conference crown. “We think about it every day, we talk about it, and just work hard every day in practice to try to accomplish that goal and get into the playoffs. But we know it’s gonna come down to execution,” Powell says as his focus shifts back to the here, and the now. “That’s what I’ve learned from not only last year, but the last couple of years, just focusing on execution at the end of the games.

“We’re excited,” Powell says with a smile. “We have higher expectations this year, and we all feel good about who we are. We want to accomplish special things.”