ARCATA — Parity has ruled the early stages of the California Collegiate Athletic Association men's basketball season, with one obvious exception. Cal Poly Pomona has established itself as a prime contender for the regular season title, standing at 6-1 and 9-1 overall heading into this week's games.
The Broncos visit Lumberjack Arena this week, putting their first-place status to the test against Humboldt State (8-4, 4-4) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. San Francisco State, at 2-5 and 4-9 overall, is the Jacks' Saturday opponent for the game that finishes HSU's brief two-game homestand.
On-the-Air
Every Lumberjack basketball game is broadcast live over the local airwaves on KATA, 1340 AM, beginning with the pregame show 15 minutes prior to game time. Bicoastal Media Sports Director J.B. Mathers describes the action from courtside.
LIve Streaming
Audio and video of home games are also streamed live over the Internet. The UStream format allows an interactive chat between listeners during the webcast. The specific URL for access is located at
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/humboldt-state-athletics.
Live Stats
All Lumberjack basketball home games can be tracked online by using the Live Stats feature on www.hsujacks.com. Real time statistics, momentum tracker and other information are included on the game viewer. The feature can be found at http://www.sidearmstats.com/humboldt/mbball/ .
Head-to-Head
Humboldt State gained two games in the all-time series a year ago, improving to 9-11 against the Broncos with wins on the road and at home. It wasn't easy, however, with a combined total of six points separating the teams. …San Francisco State was also a tough team to get past in 2010-11, losing to the Lumberjacks 73-70 in Arcata and also falling at home. Those results still left HSU trailing in the all-time series with 70 wins to the Gators' 90. San Francisco State was actually Humboldt State's very first collegiate opponent in a rivalry that began when the schools split two games in 1931.
Head Coach Steve Kinder
The "Kinder Era" began last year with a 26-4 record and a regular season conference title, finishing Kinder's inaugural season of 2010-11 with high standards to match in the future. But the National Coach of the Year hasn't been resting on his laurels, instead attending to the myriad of duties from recruiting to planning another run to the title. After serving as the Jacks' No. 1 assistant for the 20 seasons, Kinder took over for his mentor, Tom Wood, in 2010-11. As an assistant, he played critical roles in recruiting and coaching while helping the Jacks' 217-77 record achieved during the past decade. Kinder is a former HSU basketball player who was a member of the 1984-85 NCAC championship team. He previously served as a graduate assistant coach for the Lumberjacks (1986-88).
Projected Starters - Humboldt State
G - #3, D.J. Broome, 5-5, Sr., Castro Valley
G - #2 Scott Clark, 6-4, Sr., Pleasanton
G - #4 Brandon Sperling, 6-3, Sr., Fresno
F - #21 Randy Hunter, 6-6, Sr., Santa Maria
F - #21 Kyle Baxter, 6-9, Sr., Sacramento
Projected Starters - Cal Poly Pomona
G - #22, Matt Rosser, 6-5, Sr., Temecula
G - #24, Bryce Brady, 6-2, RsFr., Chatsworth
F - #25 Mitchel Anderson, 6-5, Jr., Temecula
F - #5, Tyquan Brown, 6-7, Sr., Bronx
C - #31, Dwayne Fells, 6-6, Sr., Fullerton
Projected Starters - San Francisco State
G - #5, Chad Delaney, 6-5, Sr., Yorba Linda
G - #16, Nephi Perdomo, 6-1, Jr., Oakland
F - #21, Griffin Reilly, 6-6, Sr., San Jose
F - #24, David Love, 6-6, Fr., Tulare
F - #44, James Albright, 6-6, Jr., Oakland
Lumberjack Notes
Balanced offense - but not quite enough of it - helped the Jacks split their two road games last week. Sophomore guard Austin Bryan led the Lumberjacks in scoring last weekend, with 10 and 13 points, respectively. As a team, Humboldt State made only 31 of its 103 field goal attempts, however, shooting 30 percent from the field. The Jacks averaged only 52 points over the two games, 30 points below the league-leading average of 82 points per game they held entering the weekend. "For a team that is leading the conference in scoring we were certainly having trouble putting points on the scoreboard," Kinder said. "We like the fast pace that leads to higher scoring, but the CCAA is traditionally a league of teams that emphasizes keeping the score down. We're in January and the heart of the CCAA season, so it's really no surprise that we're having a tough time with point production." The Lumberjacks remain the CCAA's top scoring offense (77 ppg), however, with four players averaging double figures scoring and one just shy of the mark at 9.8 points per game. …Being home again could be the boost the Jacks need amidst a tough schedule that includes seven road games in 29 days and only two in Arcata. The schedule flip-flops in February, offering six home contests and two on the road for the regular season's final stretch, perhaps setting up a strong finish for HSU. "This team will win a few games, and have our streaks, but we're going to stumble and lose a game here and there," Kinder said. "What is becoming more important is the ability to peak at the right time of the season. Improving and playing our best towards the end has always been one of our primary goals."
Opponents' Notes
One of the CCAA's most consistent contenders for the league title and NCAA postseason, Cal Poly Pomona has again embraced that role through the league's first seven games. The Broncos enter the week in first place at 6-1, one game ahead of Cal State San Bernardino. …The Broncos ranked No. 10 in this week's national poll, slipping from the previous week's No. 6 after losing for the first time, 57-54, to Cal State East Bay on Friday. …Perhaps the Broncos' strongest attribute is their persistent defense, which has held opponents to 55 points per game. …Guard Mitchel Anderson is CPP's leading scorer with an average of 13.7 points per game. Senior Tyquan Brown has been the Broncos' best rebounder with 6.7 boards per contest. …San Francisco State snapped a four-game losing streak with two home victories a week ago. The Gators knocked off Cal State Monterey Bay, 92-82, then defeated Cal State East Bay, 78-72. …Guard Nephi Perdomo has been the Gators' most notable scoring threat with an average of 15.6 points per game. Perdomo improved his average last week, scoring 18 points against CSUEB and 27 against Cal State Monterey Bay. The junior has also displayed his versatility this season by ranking second in the CCAA in both assists (4.3 pg) and steals (1.8 pg).
Kinder's Comments
"Cal Poly Pomona is a team that traditionally begins playing its best basketball at this time of the year. This year they started well, too, so they definitely have generated some momentum going into this part of conference play." … "(The Broncos) play a unique defense that has always been difficult to face. Their match-up zone has long been the backbone of their success." … "Preparing for Cal Poly Pomona is always a strategic struggle. And after the game begins, their coaches do a nice job of adjusting at any point during the game." … "San Francisco State's win against Cal State East Bay says a lot about the Gators' potential. They're a scrappy, aggressive team that plays hard. They'll be fired up to play us here in Lumberjack Arena."
