Toreros slumping for second straight year

Confusion grips the mind after a night of hazy recollections. The details are blurry and explanations are needed: Why are a dozen egg yolks on the dining table? Why are Cameron’s pants in the sink? Are these two perplexities somehow related?
Fortunately, there is always that one guy who remembers everything and can convey the story of the night. Most details are pretty expected: Julio passed out on the couch? Emmett left his carne asada fries in Dane’s car? Javie fell through a windshield?
 But surprises always emerge from the haze: David started crying uncontrollably? Jack went home with that girl?
As the pieces materialize, the picture of the night grows clearer.
Well, that is exactly what it was like to follow USD basketball over the weekend. Untelevized away games are like those nights of hazy recollections. We know the score, but explanations are needed: With Brandon Johnson injured, did the freshmen carry the load against Portland? Exactly how disgusting was the trouncing by Gonzaga? Were Bill Grier’s loafers able to withstand the immense stomping he must have done during the weekend road trip?
Fortunately, the box score answers most of these queries and can convey the story of the games. Just like the nights of hazy recollections, most details are pretty expected: the Toreros shot an atrocious 3 for 10 from the free throw line against Portland? USD’s offense was only effective against Gonzaga when the aching Johnson was on the court? The Zags’ lead was never less than 12 in the second half?
Of course surprises emerged: Patrick McCollum had 11 of the team’s 17 assists and Chris Manresa had 11 of the team’s 20 rebounds against Portland? Gonzaga jumped out to a 19-0 lead?
 
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The struggles of the Toreros have become woefully expected. All year the team has struggled to start and finish halves. And too often offensive droughts have allowed USD opponents to go on extended runs.
The Toreros (9-18, 2-9) have lost nine of their last 10 games and now sit in sole possession of last place in the WCC standings.
But despite the poor play and troubling injuries, the players’ effort has yet to dwindle. In the 56-70 loss to Portland, USD kept the game close for 20 minutes, before getting overpowered by the bigger and deeper Pilots. Two freshmen, Manresa and guard Cameron Miles, started and two other freshmen, McCollum and wing Ken Rancifer, played extensively.
McCollum’s 11 assists are especially impressive considering the team made only 22 total shots. The young guard has shown flashes of excellence throughout the season, knifing through the lane at will and creating rare easy baskets. He sees the court like no other Torero in recent memory. He sees plays, angles and openings that no one else sees. Of course this leads to a few turnovers, freshman mistakes to be sure. But his jaw-dropping passes and ankle-breaking cuts absolve him for now.
Chris Manresa’s development has been the brightest star in this dark season of disappointment. The big man from Orange County has proven to be a phenomenal rebounder, with great hands and strong boxouts. In the Portland game, no other Torero had more than two rebounds. Great rebounding is generally more innate than cultivated, more instincts than tangible skills. Manresa possesses these instincts.
Manresa, Miles and McCollum all started the Gonzaga game. However, Ken Rancifer, coming off the bench, was the only player other than Johnson to score in double figures.
In just 18 minutes Rancifer had an impressive 13 points, a career high. Even though Grier has kept the reins on Rancifer, the super-athlete from Oakland has shown glimmers of brilliance: tomahawk jam, blocked shot, ferocious press, sky-high board. So while the team has lost, the Baby Bullfighters have progressed.
After the dreadfully slow start against Gonzaga, Grier brought Johnson, still a bit gimpy with a strained groin, into the game and the team immediately began to make a push toward respectability, eventually losing 65-82. With his 21 points Johnson became USD’s all-time leading scorer, passing Gyno Pomare.
 
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The view from the bottom is harsh and humiliating. Bright lights at the top of the standings shine down and blind the hope of those at the bottom. But blind hope is hope nonetheless. The once promising season has plunged into an abyss of repulsive losses and wretched injuries. The fight song has been drowned out by a cacophony of fruitless wails and communal sighs of exasperation.
The Toreros are the weak gazelle limping at the tail of the herd. The powerful Gaels of Saint Mary’s are the stalking lion, hungry for conquest after a pair of maddening road losses to Gonzaga and Portland. Saint Mary’s comes into the Slim Gym tonight in a desperate battle for the number two seed in the conference.
They are led by the mighty Omar Samhan, who may look like Private Pyle from “Full Metal Jacket,” but is also the most dominating force in the WCC. Samhan, who leads the conference in points and rebounds, poses a difficult match-up for the undersized Toreros.
Solid defensive rotation will be essential as the team will most likely have to double team Samhan, leaving USD susceptible to the three-pointer.
Saint Mary’s floor general is Mickey McConnell, whose name sounds more like that of a 1920’s boxer or a detective in bad buddy cop film.
McConnell leads the Gaels in three-pointers made yet still shoots an astounding 51.4 percent from beyond the arc. The Toreros’ success will begin with containing the potent inside-outside combo of Samhan and McConnell.
The Saint Mary’s game will be on ESPN2 so it is imperative that Torero Nation review the Fandom Manifesto on theusdvista.com. The game tips-off at 8 p.m.
Prepare the pillow cases and soap bars, the Toreros need all the help they can get.