DAVID NAKAGAMI
Staff Writer
A 7-20 overall record, managing only one win out of 14 contests as the visiting team.
A 3-11 in-conference record, with no wins (0-7) on the road against conference rivals. Outscored by a combined total of 138 points in the second half alone.
Finished the season on an 8-game losing streak, and going 2-11 in their last 13 games. Beaten out by opponents in nearly every statistical category, including scoring, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds, assists, turnovers and blocks.
Disappointing would not begin to describe last season’s men’s basketball campaign.
To add salt to the wound, Pepperdine lost its leading scorer (15.5 ppg) and rebounder (5.8 rpg) from last year, Tashaan Forehan-Kelly, to graduation. Another key hit the team took in the off-season was the graduation of another senior: team leader, all-out scrappy player and fan favorite Keith Jarbo.
However, this offseason proved to be more exciting than those of years past. Amid the height of the March Madness college basketball postseason, Pepperdine relieved Head Coach Paul Westphal of his duties. Athletic Director Dr. John Watson and the rest of the administration began the process of seeking his successor, and within a month, Pepperdine handed over the reigns to former Fresno City College Head Coach Vance Walberg and his up-tempo AASAA (Attack, Attack, Skip, Attack, Attack) offense.
When asked about his goals for the team this upcoming season, Walberg replied, “I want my players to play hard, play smart and stay together. It’s about how hard we play and everything goes from there.”
The newly-implemented system was put on display and put to the test in a thriller of an exhibition game against Cal Baptist on Nov. 1. After a see-saw battle through the majority of the game, Pepperdine found itself down five points with 4:37 left to play. Opportunely, sophomore sharp-shooter Tomas Pranciliauskas exploded for three 3-pointers in a span of less than two minutes. The first of his treys cut the Cal Baptist lead to 2, the second knotted the score at 93, and the final make put the Waves up by 3 with 2:35 left to play.
Trying to end the game in regulation, Pranciliauskas launched a shot from downtown with the score in a dead heat 96-96 as time expired. The ball ricocheted off of the back of the rim as the buzzer rang, and the game was forced to a five-minute overtime period.
In overtime, two three-balls from junior point guard Kingsley Costain upped the Waves lead to four. Lea sealed the game with four clutch free throws, as Pepperdine outscored Cal Baptist 11-6 in OT and by a final tally of 110-102.
Pepperdine upped their preseason record to 2-0 Tuesday night when visiting Fresno Pacific became the second victim of the AASAA technique. The Waves ran off to a 10 point halftime lead, and persevered to end the game 103-91. Costain easily filled the stats sheet, pouring in 23 points to go with his 5 assists and 4 steals. Forward Willie Galick contributed 12 points and ripped down 7 rebounds in the winning effort.
From observation of these two games, there are several key elements of the new system that can be picked up.
First, immediately after scoring, the Waves defense presses the opposing offense. This not only forces opponents to work to get the ball over half-court, but makes the opposing offense look for the open man, find him, and make the clean pass. When the full-court press is effective, the results can be seen in turnovers, points off turnovers, steals and fast-break points. The proof is in the numbers for the first two games. The Waves forced 52 turnovers in their exhibition games, scoring 40 points off of those turnovers. In addition, the Waves recorded 23 steals and 30 fast break points. All of these stats are well above those of Cal Baptist and Fresno Pacific.
Another aspect of Coach Walberg’s technique is the constant substitution of players into and out of the game. The reason for this is to keep the players on the court fresh at all times, as the pressing and fast-paced offense fatigues players quickly. The constant movement of players double high-fiving off of and onto the bench is apparent in the distribution of playing time among the teammates and bench scoring. Take the Cal Baptist game for example. Walberg played 11 people, 10 of which recorded double-digit minutes of playing time. Additionally, Pepperdine’s bench outscored the opponent’s bench by a combined margin of 107-35 in both games.
Finally, the on-the-move offense is another critical feature of the new Waves basketball philosophy. Very much like the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, this style of play requires all 5 players to run the court while the team has possession of the ball. The point guard will hustle the ball down the floor, trying to catch the opposing defense off guard and at the same time, looking for an open teammate. In many cases, the ball handler will drive into the lane, attracting help from several opposing defenders. This will leave a Wave open, and when the pass is made, an open look at the basket usually results. A team that successfully employs this hectic offensive method will have a solid field goal and 3-point percentage, as well as scores of fast break points. Pepperdine shot a respectable 48.3% from the field and 38.7% from distance combined in both exhibitions.
Along with ushering in a new coach and a new style of play, Pepperdine also added four transfers and four first-year players to the ten returning players.
“Everyone is buying in (to the new approach),” said senior guard Marvin Lea. “We all want to win. This season, everyone is more hungry.”
A new coach with a radically different system will be a breath of fresh air for fans and players alike. Nonetheless, the success of the team throughout the season will hinge upon the amount of trust and effort put into learning and perfecting the quick-paced technique that has made Walberg so successful at the high school and junior college level. In his career at Fresno City College, Walberg accumulated a preposterous record of 133-11, a winning percentage of 92.4%. In his final season at the helm of FCC, Walberg’s team went 34-0 and won the 2005 California State Championship. In spite of all of this, Walberg remains humble and realizes that a Division I basketball program is different beast in itself.
“We have a lot of work to do,” stated Coach Walberg frankly in response to the Cal Baptist game. “We’re not playing smart. 26 turnovers is too much against a team that doesn’t press.”
There is certainly much room for improvement, but Walberg can be pleased with the way his team is coming together.
“We’re a family,” Lea said. “We’re all in it together.”
With one game (albeit an exhibition) under their collective belts, the Waves begin their trek as one. One team, one goal, one game at a time.
So what can we look forward to this season?
“Hopefully winning,” said Lea, smiling.
One game at a time, one win a time. Let the regular season begin.
Pepperdine opens the regular season against No. 16 Washington on the road in Seattle, Wash. for the Basketball Travelers Classic on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
11-09-2006
