Team Preview: University of San Francisco

 

    Last year San Fransisco was able to put together a solid 20 win season, and they are surely looking to improve upon that record. however after losing its top 4 scorers and two more very talented players, improvement would require quite a miracle. This year San Fransisco will most likely be rebuilding and trying to work on team chemistry for the future. It will be interesting to watch the early chemistry of this team, and to see if they can build upon their pre-season trip to Cancun where they beat on some Mexican teams who were less than competitive.

What they Lose: EVERYTHING...Almost

San Francisco knew they would be losing Seniors Angelo Caloiaro (14.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and Rashad Green (11.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg), but had to be surprised by the early departures of both Mikey Williams (11.1 ppg) and Perris Blackwell (12.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg) to Cal State Fullerton and the University of Washington respectively.

Losing four starters in the up and coming WCC will not help your season, even worse when those 4 starters are each averaging double figures. Luckily the loan returner is point guard Cody Doolin (9.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.8 apg)."When you have five starters and four of them are averaging double figures, that means your point guard's probably doing a good job of distributing the basketball," Walters said. "And that's what we needed him to do. This year we'll probably need him to score the ball more."

That should prove more difficult for Doolin this year as he was the beneficiary of teams allowing, and at times wanting him to shoot as Coach Walters explains "Teams wanted to make Cody score last year for maybe a couple of different reasons.  They wanted to get the ball out of other people's hands and make him make more finishing plays."

All told, the Dons lost 71 percent of its scoring (1,814 of 2,563) and 70 percent of its rebound production (794 of 1,129) from a year ago.

What they gain:

A wide variety of question Marks.
 The Dons gain Freshman center is 6-11 Tao Xu, Freshman Matt Christiansen, Freshman Avry Holmes, 6-3 Freshman Tim Derksen, Junior college transfer Frank Rogers (11.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg), and finally UCLA transfer De'End Parker.

Parker gives the Don another scoring point guard in the back court, he shot 43 percent from 3-point range at City College of San Francisco as a freshman, and the best part for the Dons is perimeter shooting isn't even his forte. He can play all three perimeter positions and contribute at each end of the court. Parker has the ability to come in and keep this team relevant and has already scored 20 and 18 in their exhibition games.

The front court looks to be run by committee this year, but will be anchored by Frank Rogers and Junior Cole Dickerson.

Cole might have been the most consistent player in Mexico and Frank Rogers was the most impressive big man, however that doesn't tell us much because" the competition wasn't great."(Coach Walters)

Most Valuable Player 

There should be no surprise that this team will be reliant on Doolin. The only returning starter should get some help from some transfers, but ultimately this team will go as far as he can carry them.

"Doolin is a great player and is probably best in big games  he scored 28 points in an 83-78 WCC semifinal loss to St. Mary's, and had 18 points, five rebounds and five assists in a 70-67 loss to an excellent Murray State last year and we should see even more improvement as he moves into his Junior Season.

"I haven't had a better freshman and sophomore in terms of playing really good when it matters the most," Walters said. "Now he has to understand that it's gonna matter more often."

This team only returns only five players and one starter from last year's team, and has a wide variety of question marks this year. They need team chemistry, and they need it fast. Luckily they may have gotten that chemistry in Cancun and they may have picked up the WCC newcomer of the year in De'End Parker, but will it be enough? No.

San Francisco will end their post season streak a 2, and will finish in the bottom half of the WCC. If they are to surprise the WCC we should see it week 1 however as the Dons play Stanford to start their season.  It is possible they win that game too as USF is 4-1 in last five season-openers...

Schedule:

Date	Opponent	Predicted Result
10/27	San Francisco State (Exhibition)	W (0-0)
11/5	UNC Pembrook (Exhibition)	W (0-0)
11/9	Stanford	L (0-1)
11/13	Cal State East Bay	W (1-1)
11/19	@ American University	L (1-2)
11/24	Colombia	W (2-2)
12/8	Univ. of Montana	W (3-2)
12/8	St. Johns	L (3-3)
12/15	@ Pacific	L (3-5)
12/18	@ Nevada	L (3-6)
12/23	Holy Cross	W (4-6)
12/24	San Diego State Univ. (Neutral)	L (4-7)
12/29	Dominican	W (5-7)
1/2	@ Santa Clara	W (6-7)
1/5	BYU	L (6-8)
1/10	San Diego	L (6-9)
1/12	@ Saint Maries	L (6-10)
1/17	Santa Clara	W (7-10)
1/19	Loyola Marymount	W (8-10)
1/24	@ Portland	W (9-10)
1/26	@ Gonzaga	L (9-11)
1/31	Saint Maries	L (9-12)
2/2	@ Pepperdine	L (9-13)
2/9	@ BYU	L (9-14)
2/14	Portland	W (10-14)
2/16	Gonzaga	L (10-15)
2/21	@Loyola Marymount	W (11-15)
2/23	Pepperdine	L (11-16)
2/28	@San Diego	L (11-17)
3/6	WCC Championships	?
3/7	WCC Championships	?

The Dons will be disappointed as their team takes a giant step back this year and tries to come on strong for the following year.  "If people want to pick us in the bottom half, go right ahead," Walters said. "That's never bothered me, because the game's played on the court and I like the group that I've got and who we're taking on the court."

Ultimately predicting USFs season is a complete dice throw, even Coach Walters is unsure, "I know how we played when the lights are on in Mexico. I don't know how it's gonna go when the lights are on in America."