USD taps big beast

UConn, mammoth center awaits Toreros in NCAAs

By Tom Shanahan - For The North County Times | Sunday, March 16, 2008 9:53 PM PDT ∞

With his team's pairing with Connecticut projected behind him, University of San Diego basketball player Brandon Johnson is all smiles while being interviewed after the televised NCAA basketball tournament selection announcement at USD in San Diego on Sunday. Photo Hayne Palmour IV

SAN DIEGO ---- Bill Grier preached a consistent message to his University of San Diego men's basketball team this season, especially before big games: Don't read the name on the opponent's jersey.

It worked when the Toreros traveled to Rupp Arena on Dec. 29, played without intimidation and beat Kentucky.

It was successful when USD upset then-21st-ranked Saint Mary's on Jan. 28 at home and again when the Toreros surprised 20th-ranked Gonzaga on March 10 in the West Coast Conference tournament final at home to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Now Grier hopes it works at least one more time when the Toreros face 15th-ranked Connecticut on Friday in Tampa, Fla., in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

UConn (24-8), one of the elite names in college basketball, drew the No. 4 seed in the West Regional, while the Toreros (21-13) drew the No. 13 seed.

"They're big, they're aggressive on the glass and they're so good defensively," Grier said. "I'm sure I won't sleep well, but I'm excited for this program to have an opportunity to play a program like UConn."

USD is making its first NCAA appearance since 2003 and only the fourth in school history. The Toreros have never won an NCAA tournament game.

The Huskies, NCAA champions in 1999, finished fourth in the Big East Conference. They're one of five Big East teams ranked, following No. 9 Georgetown, No. 13 Louisville and No. 14 Notre Dame and ahead of No. 25 Marquette.

UConn will have a decided size advantage on the Toreros, starting with center Hasheem Thabeet, a 7-foot-3, 263-pound sophomore from Tanzania by way of Cypress Christian School in Houston.

Thabeet, averaging 10.4 points and 7.9 rebounds, is one of five Huskies averaging double figures in scoring.

Junior guard A.J. Price averages 14.9 points and 5.9 assists; sophomore guard Jerome Dyson 12.4 points; junior forward Jeff Adrien 14.7 points; and sophomore forward Stanley Robinson 10.5 points and 6.5 rebounds.

USD's tallest starter is 6-8, 240-pound junior Gyno Pomare of El Camino High.

The notion that Pomare, averaging 13.7 points and 7.4 rebounds, plays like a 7-footer with his Bill Russell-like wingspan and soft shooting touch will certainly be tested against Thabeet.

Additionally, USD's three-guard alignment will presumably have 6-1 sophomore guard De'Jon Jackson matched against the 6-7 Adrien. Freshman forward Rob Jones, at 6-6, presumably will draw the 6-9 Robinson.

But the specific matchups of Friday's game is for later. Sunday was for enjoying the NCAA tournament hoopla, as the Toreros gathered on campus at the University Center to watch the CBS broadcast announcement of the tournament bracket.

"Connecticut is huge, a great team and a great program with a lot of great players," Pomare said. "But it was great sitting here and feeling the anticipation build up about who we'll play instead of watching other teams make it. It's awesome."

Junior Brandon Johnson, the Toreros' leading scorer at 16.9 points a game, stood up and pumped his fists when "San Diego" appeared on the screen opposite UConn.

"We played Kentucky, and that was a big stage," Johnson said. "They weren't up at the time, so that took some of the edge off. But if we can come out, play with poise and win this game, it will be great for our program and the conference."

Although Kentucky was struggling when the Toreros beat them, the Wildcats regrouped to earn an NCAA at-large berth and the 11th seed in the South Region.

"We have to play with poise and not read the name on the shirt," Johnson said.

"We have to go at them, focus and compete."