NCAA BK

San Francisco Getting Inside

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Updated Oct 23, 2009 12:05 AM ET
     
 
Whatever happens with San Francisco is now is the responsibility of second-year coach Rex Walters, not his predecessors.

He began to assume ownership of the program late last season when he jettisoned four players, including one of his top scorers, for failing to follow instructions during a practice. That established that Walters was the man in charge, and that things would be done his way.

Walters completed the takeover of the program this season, because every player on the roster except for standout senior forward Dior Lowhorn was brought into the program by Walters.

Lowhorn is a vital piece, of course, and could be the best player in the conference this season. Whatever success USF has this season will be the result of Lowhorn's high-level all-around play.

But the Dons are not expected to challenge for the conference title this year, and Walters' chore is to groom the many young players on the team into a squad that can compete for the title in a year or two.

None of the four suspended players is back, and that includes Manny Quezada, a high-scoring guard who was a senior anyhow, and center Hyman Taylor, a frontcourt player who had another year of eligibility.

A more significant loss is the departure of guard Chris O'Brien, who started 20 games last season as a freshman but has transferred to Cal Poly.

Still, five players who started at least 12 games are back. Plus, the six newcomers will get a lot of playing time right away, and at least one could be in the starting lineup.

Guard Rashad Green, a transfer from Manhattan College, is eligible to play this season and will be counted on to help immediately in the backcourt. Dominique O'Connor is probably the best of the freshmen, and he may end up starting at point guard, a critical position for the Dons this season.

The centerpiece remains Lowhorn, who continues to expand his game by improving his perimeter skills.

Blake Wallace will probably join him in the frontcourt, with sophomore guard Kwame Vaughn expected to do big things this year after showing flashes of brilliance last season.

Without significant offensive help from Vaughn and sophomore swingman Angelo Caloiaro and improved outside shooting, defenses will continue to focus on Lowhorn, who was the Dons' only reliable scoring threat last season and was often smothered by opponents' defenses.

Three freshmen and a junior college transfer are expected to supply the size inside, because Lowhorn and Wallace are both about 6-7. None of the four new big men is likely to score a lot of points, though.

The Dons played better toward the end of last season, after Walters' suspension seemed to set the tone, and they should get better as this season goes along. The Dons want to run more this season, but that will require an improvement in their defense and rebounding, areas in which USF was lacking last season.

Tagged: San Francisco

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