Re-Vamped Front Line Indicates Signs Of Strength For Youthful 1999-2000 Squad
You have to admit, a tough challenge awaited head coach Charles Bradley two years ago when he took over the program at Loyola Marymount. Although the incline to success has been steep, Bradley and his Lions have made steady improvements and will continue to surge forward as we embark on a new millennium.
Initially handcuffed with a program that had combined for just 51 wins in five seasons prior to his arrival, Bradley and his first-year Lions took their knocks on the chin, winning just seven games. With virtually no presence inside, Bradley simply used a scheme that took advantage of the offensive shooting talents of Ben Ammerman and Haywood Eaddy.
Last season, Bradley's squad showed the kind of progressive improvement LMU fans have been hoping for. After posting 11 victories in the win column, four more than the previous season, LMU also climbed out of the basement in the West Coast Conference standings, finishing fifth. Again, Eaddy led a corps of six seniors who have since departed from that team which again relied heavily on the success of its perimeter game.
The door has subsequently been left wide open for recharging the batteries. That so-called recharging ultimately has given Bradley the chance to return quickly to the mission at hand; bringing LMU and its winning tradition back to the forefront in the West Coast Conference and gaining a post-season appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
"It's been an exciting and challenging task," says third-year head coach Charles Bradley of bringing in the type and style of player he needs to make this program successful. "With a sizeable frontline missing last year, our focus was centered on beefing up the front line properly so we could establish threats both inside and outside offensively. This year, I think you'll find that we will have some weapons in the paint as well as the perimeter that will present our opponents with some tough challenges."
Re-energized with a renewed sense of optimism, Bradley is slowly piecing together the puzzle that continues to notch wins in the victory column.
The expectations remain high for Bradley who enters his third season at LMU. In turn, the goals he has placed on his 1999-2000 team are also lofty. With five returners and eight newcomers this season, LMU has some nice additions in height, which will help Bradley open up the court and establish his inside-out offensive philosophy that tended to be missing at times during his first two seasons.
"Without question, we need to establish our inside-out game this season," says Bradley who focused his front line in the off-season in order to meet that goal. "Although we lost a large group of seniors to graduation (6), we added some talented kids that should help us."
Last year's squad clearly showed vast improvement. Many could argue that 11 wins really could, and maybe should, have been 14 or 15. Finishing in the middle of the pack in the conference race, Bradley pulled the Lions out of the cellar in the WCC standings for the first time in three years. With a fifth-place seed in the post-season conference tournament, LMU exited gracefully after a first-round loss to Santa Clara. More importantly, the Lions finally gained back the respect that has escaped them for nearly a decade.
The goals this season will circle around consistency. Bradley preaches solid rebounding and defense, both areas of which should be vastly improved this year. With a talented incoming recruiting class, the signal lights are flashing this season and many LMU fans will be watching to see how Loyola Marymount's new frontline will respond. A youthful roster will take the hardwood this year, one that boasts a frontcourt full of size and talent, and a backcourt with just two veterans that should keep LMU's high-octane offense in tact.
"We've obviously been a pretty consistent scoring and rebounding team that last couple of years," states Bradley who admitted that the team still must do a better job of rebounding on the defensive side of the ball. "We didn't have a lot of size last year and I think with the size we added, we're going to able to do a better job on the glass this year."
Bradley Brings In New Front Line And A True Point Guard
The next two seasons should be very exciting for the Lions. Known for his talents of attracting players who want to flourish offensively, Bradley made some very nice acquisitions in the off-season. Without question, LMU's frontcourt significantly improved over the summer. Pablo Machado, a 6-10 junior who sat out last season after transferring from Georgia Tech, will anchor the frontline this season. Jean-Paul Afif, a 6-8 power forward also transferred from St. Catherine's Junior College, along with 6-7 forward J.J. Sola (Capistrano Valley High School) and 6-5 small forward Kevin Richard (Pasadena High School) strengthen LMU's presence in the paint. Stanley Thorne, a highly touted and true point guard, stands at 5-8 and enjoyed a solid career locally at Fairfax High School. Looming on the horizon are two other transfers who must sit this year. Probably the most exciting is 6-8 forward Greg Lakey, a highly potent offensive and defensive threat who transferred from USC. Philipp Czernin, a 6-6 swingman also bolsters LMU's roster after transferring from the University of Hawaii.
The Facts
Despite losing most of its corps of leadership last year with the departure of six seniors, the Lions will look to use the experiences provided by five returning veterans to lead LMU this season. Those five returners reported in August along with nine newcomers who are focused and ready to flourish. Only one starter returns, however, and four of the five have the benefit of knowing Bradley's system after seeing significant playing time last year. The new era for LMU basketball continues and the Lions are looking to maintain a steady incline of success.
"Any time you lose half your squad to graduation, some of the chemistry you have built is lost," says Bradley who will essentially have an entirely new lineup this fall. "We're going to have to find our chemistry again and identify what works for us. We may rely on a totally different philosophy this season, both offensively and defensively. It all depends on how the players respond to the system."
Bradley will rely on the talents of returning honorable mention All-West Coast Conference pick Elton Mashack. At 6-5 and a two-year starter for the Lions, Mashack often played out of position a year ago and was not able to unleash his true open-court talents. This season, Mashack returns as the team's leading scorer and rebounder averaging 12.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game (3rd among WCC leaders last year). He will be expected to provide a large part of the leadership that was lost after former point guard Haywood Eaddy completed his eligibility last season. LMU's roster lists three seniors, two of which saw significant playing time in 1998-99. Rupert McClendon, a 6-5 shooting guard and swing man who averaged 5.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game a year ago, is arguably the team's most athletic player on the roster. He will be joined by 6-7 power forward Ed Wolfe who beefed up to 245 pounds over the summer months while playing locally in a summer league in Los Angeles. Wolfe returns for his final year after averaging 4.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game a season ago. Mihail Papadopulos, a 5-10 point guard, redshirted a year ago and adds depth to the position. Curtis Slaughter rounds out the list of returners in 1999-2000 and will be expected to handle his share of duties running LMU's offense this season. Slaughter, who checks in at 6-7, is completely healthy after missing the second half of his freshman year due to a broken thumb on his shooting hand suffered in practice. Slaughter returns after posting averages of 3.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game a year ago.
Strengths in 1999-2000
Speed will again be a strength for LMU this year, an attribute that Bradley insists upon in executing his open-floor system. The level of talent has risen again this season and size on the roster is an evident improvement. Ranking second in the WCC last season in scoring averaging 75.9 points per game, the Lions have finished among the top three scoring teams in the conference for the past two seasons. Look for LMU's rebounding margin to improve with a larger frontline that features the conference's third-leading rebounder last year in Elton Mashack. Pablo Machado offers a new dimension for the Lions with his ability to score and rebound. The Lions ranked third in the conference in rebounding a year ago averaging 36.0 per game, an aspect of the game that Bradley places much of his focus on in order to fuel his offensive system.
Possible Weaknesses
The Lions rated eighth in defense in the conference for the second-consecutive season which has Bradley concerned about winning games. LMU allowed an average of 81.4 points per game last year, a mark that must be reduced. The Lions also watched as their opponents shot an average of 44.3 percent from the field and 76.7 percent from the free-throw line. Those marks, along with a reduction from an average of 16.1 turnovers per game, must diminish in order for LMU to achieve success. Additionally, LMU's backcourt and its lack of depth could become a concern as the season progresses. With only four guards who are eligible to participate, each must remain healthy in order to maintain a consistent level of winning. Any losses due to injury could make things interesting. The loss of a talented corps of shooting guards from last year's squad could be a cause of concern. The Lions lost Robert Davis in the off-season after he transferred to Chandler-Gilbert Junior College in Arizona. Davis was scheduled to enter the season as the expected starter at the off-guard position, and his long-range perimeter shooting abilities were sure to be a true threat to opponents with Machado anchoring the middle. This loss has presented Bradley with the task of finding a replacement, the likely solution being senior veteran Rupert McClendon.
Probable Strategies
With its fifth-place finish a year ago in the West Coast Conference standings, no longer is LMU expected to finish in the cellar. Conversely, the Lions likely will not be considered a threat to win the WCC title either. While the offense continues to flourish with Bradley's up-tempo style, the defense has to improve. With the addition of Machado in the middle, that improvement is very probable. Look for LMU to continue to run in transition, but also look for an inside-out dimension that has not been present the last two years. The guard line must step up and provide a threat from the perimeter. Not previously thought to start initially as the season opens, McClendon should figure to start at the shooting guard spot and must display a high rate of success.
In The Spotlight
Elton Mashack and Pablo Machado will likely reap most of the offensive and defensive accolades for the Lions this season. Mashack has proven both of those capabilities, while Machado, must prove himself after an injury-plagued career at Georgia Tech. Stanley Thorne could venture into the limelight if he can quickly pick up on Bradley's system and perform the expected functions of operating the offense. Look for Rupert McClendon to flourish with his athletic talents being unleashed this season.
The Schedule
The Lions open at home against California Baptist, but face only three of their first eight opponents at home to open the season. Trips to Pacific and Boise State over Thanksgiving and games at UTEP and Long Beach just prior to Christmas will play a key factor in LMU's rate of success. Featured home games include UC Irvine, USC, Dartmouth and UC Santa Barbara that highlight the non-conference schedule. Elite Eight participant Gonzaga will be the featured highlight at home during conference play. The Lions will battle the Y2K bug, traveling on New Year's Eve to South Bend, Ind. for a Jan. 2 game at Notre Dame. Following its first road game in January, LMU returns home to host four home games and six of its first eight to open the new millennium. The Lions will have to dig down deep, however, playing five of its last eight conference games on the road prior to the conference tournament, which again, will be hosted at Santa Clara.
