TM

SoCal College News

A Really Big Team in the Big West
Cal Poly SLO--(October 30, 1997)

This is SoCalHoops; the big question is, where is "SoCal"? We think it runs at least up to San Luis Obispo (although there are some who call that the "Central Coast"). SLO's pretty clearly in the southern half of the State, so we're going to go with it, and give you some news about what's happening there. From time to time we'll feature stuff about high school teams, Cuesta College players, and the Cal Poly SLO team. First, Cal Poly. You can get some great information and keep up with the Cal Poly Mustangs by checking in to their unofficial website throughout the season. We'll also provide summaries here as the season progresses. So here's our take (and in the words of Jim Rome, we hope it doesn't suck):

Cal Poly SLO is a really Big team. A very good reason to belong to the Big West Conference.

How Big are they? Take a look:

Brandon Beeson (6'-7" Fr. F 215 lb).
Chris Bjorklund (6'-9" Fr. F 230 lb.)
Russ Bryden (6'-9" So. C 245 lb.
Watende Favors (6'-2" Fr. G. 175 lb.)* redshirt
Steve Fleming (6'-5" Jr. F 225 lb.)
Ross Ketcham (6'-8" Jr. F 235 lb.)
Rick Kinner (6'-0" Sr. G 160 lb.)
Ben Larson (6'-0" Jr. G 160 lb.)
Joe Madrid (7'-0" So. C 235 lb.)
Jeremiah Mayes (6'-8" Fr. F 220 lb.)
Matt Pfefferien (6'-10" Sr. C 225 lb.)
Josh Porter (6'-4" Sr. G 210 lb.)
Jabbar Washington (6'-3" Fr. G 180 lb.)
Mike Wozniak (6'-2" So. G 175 lb.)

We've included the weights so you can see just how really big the big guys are. Even the guards have very good size, and the two smallest, Kinner and Larson, at 6'-0" are speedy and lightening quick, and effective outside shooters. We like this team very much, and believe they'll finish high in the Pacific Division, a lot higher than most of the pundits are pickikng. This should be a completely different type of team than last year. Last year's biggest player, 6'-7" Damien Levesque was tallest starter. This year he'd be tied for sixth. Last year's team was able to score without really presenting any threat on the offensive (or defensive) boards. The team last year was outrebounded 38-33, and finished 14-16 , 6-10 in the Big West.

This year though with so much rebounding ability, the big question will be, "who's going to be doing any fast-breaking" to take advantage of all that height off the glass? Larson, Wozniak, and Kinner for starters. The team has some great guards in Wozniak who was freshman of the year in the Big West last season (look for him to light it up from three-point land), and Larson, who was the top freshman and top player in the now defunct American West Conference two years ago. Look for a three guard wing rotation, with Larson carrying the point most often.

The team is coached by Jeff Schneider as head coach, and his father Bob,(an assistant coach--but more about that later), and assistants Kevin Bromley, Brian Loyd and John McCutcheon. Schneider intends to still play a fast-break, fast-tempo game. Schneider believes that the team this year can actually run the ball pretty well, and even some of the big guys are fairly quick. Brandon Beeson played incredibly well last year, and it's still a shocker that he didn't end up playing Pac-10 ball somewhere. He's got great hands, great feet, and plays very aggressive defense and can also shoot it out to about 15'. If the rest of the big guys are as athletic as he is, they'll do just fine with a three guard set and two big, fast guys cleaning the glass; he can also dunk like nobody's business.

Chris Bjorklund, is an incredibly intense player, who, for a guy his size has pretty good moves and quickness. Steve Fleming, will play a big role this year, and he's probably going to be more of a defensive threat than offensively, although he can put it up from the perimeter too. Look for Rick Kinner to play more at the two/three spot, and he's very good from three-point range. Jabbar Washington will add some needed speed and defensive threat.

The team did lose a few players from last season, most notably Mitch Ohnstad, who transferred to Minnesota. Without Ohnstad, who averaged 10.9 ppg, Larson will be called upon most often to handle the chores at point, with Wozniak and Kinner in relief. Look for them to finish very high in the Big West this year. Especially if the coaching brain trust has anything to say about it. Who's that?

The father-son combination, or rather the son-father duo.

This year Jeff Schneider will have his dad, Bob, 56 years old as an assistant coach. His father had coached him in high school, and also was a seven-year assistant coach at Virginia Tech (he was there when Jeff Schneider played at Va. Tech). He fills a spot vacated by Greg Gottlieb, who moved to Sac State. It should be an interesting pairing since Bob Schneider has been out of coaching for the last 10 years. Bob also coached as an assistant at Tulsa under Tubby Smith, so he really brings a wealth of talent to the coaching staff. That's why they call it the "Brain Trust" at SLO.

Look for Cal-Poly to make a serious run at the Big West this year. They've been consistently ranked in about the middle of the Pacific Division of the Big West (Street & Smith - 5th; Sporting News - 3rd; Athlon Sports-4th; and Ultimate Sports-4th). We look for them to finish higher than all the preseason polls predict, and to really challenge the preseason favorite Pacific.

©This site copyright SoCalHoops 1997
All rights reserved
Questions? Comments? Need Information?
Contact: jegesq@SoCalHoops.com