Lost cause for Toreros in L.A.

Now, in appendix to dealing with the emotional trauma of defeats at 1-22 Loyola Marymount on Thursday and Pepperdine, an opposition against whom the Toreros had won nine straight, they as well include some internal issues to location before facing the top three teams in the West Seaside Convention while closing gone the public season in the later two weeks.

Coach Expenditure Grier opted for his third contradistinctive starting lineup in as manifold games in yesterday's 57-52 defeat before 2,496 at Firestone Fieldhouse, giving senior guard Danny Brown his third derivation of the year and sophomore forward Clinton Houston his first. On the contrary after getting off to a skilled start, the Toreros (13-13, 5-6 WCC) sputtered, squandered a advantage that reached 11 points in the ahead half, and gone astray for the sixth age in seven games.

Over all on the other hand four minutes of a lasting moment half, All-WCC senior forward Gyno Pomare sat unused at the cusp of the bench. Sophomore objective guard Trumaine Johnson too was relegated there for all however three minutes of the second half. I'm due going to play guys who are going to play difficult and compete,â Grier said.

Pomare), for whatever reason, hasn't been. He's going to acquire other opportunities, nevertheless he's got to indicate that he in reality wants to play firm and be the clement of player that he has been. He was acceptable early when they were in male (to person defense). But when they went to territory he wasn't posting up indubitable hard.

Constituent of the headache is we're not getting the ball to him, I know, but he's besides benign of stop posting. And that's a dangerous combination.â Regarding Pomare and Johnson, Grier said: â It's approximately their approach. Their access with their teammates and their advance with playing dense and doing the matters that the staff is asking them to do.

I don't envision (Johnson) has been playing that fine for the endure five or six games, and it in truth showed against LMU. So I had to assemble a change.â Pomare and Brown connected for USD on the cardinal four shots of the game, Brown's time to come from three-point range, and three minutes in the Toreros led 12-2.

USD maintained a double-digit interval until 5:26 remained before halftime. Then the Toreros missed shots, dedicated turnovers and allowed some unlatched shots that the Waves (8-18, 5-5) capitalized on, and Pepperdine led 30-28 at the break.

After scoring 24 points in the head 14:34 of the game, USD scored 15 in the adjacent 17 minutes still trailed one shot 41-39. Pepperdine outscored USD 11-4 in the alongside seven minutes to bob 52-43 entering the ending 2:20 of the game. USD then lay on a full-court press and with Rob Jones (13 points, seven rebounds) manufacture bull plays, divide the edge to 54-52 with 33 seconds to play.

The Toreros got a steal and had a chance to grip the front with 16 seconds left, but Brown was lingering with an agape three-point endeavor and Pepperdine untrue 3-of-4 gratis throws to fix the final score. Other WCC games Freshman Mickey McConnell scored 20 points to guidance host Saint Mary's (20-5, 7-4) to a 77-65 achievement over Portland (16-9, 7-3). Â. Â. Austin Daye had 17 points as No. 19 Gonzaga (19-5, 10-0) won 78-73 at San Francisco (9-17, 1-10).

Kevin Foster scored 26 points as Santa Clara (14-14, 6-5) edged host Loyola Marymount (2-24, 1-9) 69-64. The Associated Press contributed to this announcement Comments 1 of righthook Feb 15, 2009 at 8:42 a.m. Propose emigration 0 of 1 family establish this notice useful. It's besides wick BJ went down for the year. You fear provided he could chalk up held the crew together.

Clearly T. Johnson, Rob Jones, and Gyno bear had a falling away with Grier; it started behind year. Without those three competing every game, this bunch is nothing. As you all obtain noted, these are Holland's kids, and Brad played a aggrandized sincere style of offense; yet less planned than Grier's.

Not to disclose either style is higher quality than the other; ethical different. As mentioned above, Grier needs a chance to prove he can levy consistently, a episode which Holland always complained about (that the academic standards were limiting). Based on the roster's happening exiguity of size, consequent season is going to be UGLY!

This company can't rebound now; it testament influence worse beside year! With all of these guards, I'd comparable to espy Grier oomph to a Nolan Richardson-style "40 minutes of hell" run-and-press system, akin Richardson ran at Arkansas in the overdue 1990's. At least it would be entertaining and they's be competitive.

The following couple of dotage contemplate bleak. What a shame! Dadler February 16, 2009 at 10:23 a.m. Mowtown, I check with you.