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LOCATION: San Francisco, CA
CONFERENCE: West Coast
LAST SEASON: 12-18 (.400)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 4-10 (7th)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 1/4
NICKNAME: Dons
COLORS: Green & Gold
HOMECOURT: Memorial Gym (5,300)
COACH: Philip Mathews (Cal-Irvine '72)
record at school 63-53 (4 years)
career record 360-110 (14 years)
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ASSISTANTS: Bill Carr (USF '88)
John Wade (E. Washington '83)
Justin Piergrossi (Penn '97)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 10-15-16-19-12
RPI (last 5 years) 160-102-158-94-182
1998-99 FINISH: Lost in conference quarterfinal.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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San Francisco coach Philip Mathews is a full-speed-ahead kind of guy, so nobody on the USF campus was surprised when he issued a preseason challenge to WCC favorites Gonzaga and Santa Clara. "I expect to contend for the WCC title," Mathews said. If the Dons do contend, it will be an impressive turnaround. This is a team that finished six games below .500 last season. But Mathews considers the injury-riddled Dons' 12-18 record an aberration. It was the first losing season in his 14-year career, and it may be his last. The roster is loaded with size and talent. The recruiting class is impressive, even eye-popping. USF's makeover was dramatic. "We're excited about the potential of this team," Mathews said.
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT B BENCH/DEPTH C+
FRONTCOURT B INTANGIBLES B
No one could have predicted the Dons would finish seventh last season. They looked much better on paper. But stuff happens. Coach Phillip Mathews is ready to forget, "a real difficult year" and go back to his usual thing, which is winning. He was 298-56 with two state championships in 10 years at Ventura College. Two years ago, he got the Dons into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1982. And last year's team did produce big victories over Xavier, St. Louis, and Weber State. The WCC coaches thought enough of Mathews' recruiting class and returning players to put USF third in the preseason poll. That may be underestimating this group. The Dons will give the front-runners a chase for the regular-season title. And they will be the most dangerous team in the tournament if everybody stays healthy and Mathews can keep his thoroughbreds happy with their playing time. |
USF was coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance last fall, but Mathews had one of the nation's youngest squads. Lack of experience and injuries hurt the Dons in big games. "We still ended the season as one of the better teams in the league," Mathews said. The Dons' strength begins in the backcourt, with 6-foot junior point guard LyRyan Russell (7.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 94 assists, 35 steals) and 6-3 shooting guard Ali Thomas (10.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 87 assists, 30 steals). Russell wrestled with two bad ankles during the season. He and Thomas, both former San Francisco prep stars, were instrumental in getting USF into the NCAA Tournament in 1998. Mathews expects Russell to be among the league's assist and steals leaders. Thomas, who has exceptional range on his jump shot, should be one of the WCC's top three-point threats. USF's young front line includes 7-foot sophomore Hondre Brewer (2.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 53 blocked shots), 6-10 sophomore Russell Hinder (6.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg), 6-9 sophomore forward Eugene Brown (1.1 rpg, 0.9 rpg) and 6-6 junior forward James Lee (10 ppg, 6.0 rpg). The added element is 6-10, 270-pound senior center Kenyon Jones, who comes off a redshirt season after playing three years at Cal. Jones (6.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg in 1997-98) is a tough, physical player who combined an inside game with an outside touch and an ability to run. He started 14 games at Cal his junior year and shot .474 from the floor. If Jones doesn't make an immediate impact on The Hill, there are other possibilities: Former Bay Area Prep Player of the Year Darrell Tucker comes to mind first. Tucker, a 6-9 freshman, averaged 27.5 points and 12.5 rebounds at Redemption (N.Y.) Academy, a prep school. His postgraduate year followed a stellar career at fabled McClymonds High in Oakland. He averaged 23.5 points and 15.2 rebounds his senior year at McClymonds, the school that produced USF great Bill Russell. "Tucker is a big-time, national-level recruit," Mathews said. "After he went to Redemption and played on some touring teams last summer, he was recruited hard by the top teams. Darrell stayed good to his word. He told them he wanted to come to USF." Russell and Thomas have company at guard. The Dons brought in 6-4 freshman John Cox, the son of former USF standout Chubby Cox. Cox a cousin of Lakers' star Kobe Bryant was the player of the year in the Philadelphia High School Public League and a first-team all-state pick. He averaged 29.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists at Carver High. His 1,798 career points was the ninth-highest total in Philadelphia history. "A big-time player," Mathews said. "Chubby really wanted him to come to USF." Good thing for the Dons. The Dons also expect big things from 6-5 freshman Shammell Stallworth, a high-scoring off-guard who averaged 22.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists at Washington Union High in Fresno, Calif. "He's got a great shot from outside the arc," Mathews said. "He's got a great chance at being an outstanding all-around player." USF added two players during the spring recruiting period 5-10 junior point guard Chris Barideaux and 6-9 freshman forward Shomari Sarpy. Barideaux (8.8 ppg, 6.1 apg) led Western Nebraska Community College to the NJCAA Tournament two straight years. "He's an excellent point guard who will challenge LyRyan for the starting spot," Mathews said. Sarpy, from Pomona (Calif.) High, is a shot blocker. He was Pomona's MVP after averaging 18.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 5.0 blocked shots. "He's a quick, athletic player who shoots the ball well for a big man," Mathews said. With all of that potential on one roster, no wonder the other league coaches expect the Dons to go from seventh place to contender without so much as an excuse-me. "We'll have more experience, depth, and athleticism," Mathews said. "We should compete."
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