Torero Basketball: Cheering the Way to a Slimmer You

Forget Weight Watchers. Don’t bother watching calories. Skip that daily run. Health spa? Who needs it?

Hank Egan has a better idea. Go see the University of San Diego play basketball.

Egan was there last Thursday night when the Toreros played Pepperdine at the USD Sports Center. He came away with a sales pitch that could put weight-control plans out of business.

“You get to watch a great game,” he said, “and lose some weight at the same time.”

Understandably, Egan greatly enjoyed himself on this particular occasion. He happens to be the USD basketball coach, and his athletes did a rather thorough job of dismantling Pepperdine, a team which was ranked 20th nationally by United Press International.

The Toreros beat the Waves by a modest 69-64, but led by as many as 18 points in the second half. Pepperdine did make a rather intimidating run down the stretch, but that only made it more interesting.

Regardless, USD’s fans would not have fallen asleep even if their heroes were up by 30. These people were going to enjoy a win by any margin.

USD fans must think Alcala Park is in North Carolina. They approach a big game with that kind of fervor and fever.

They come with painted faces, and they come early. The USD Sports Center is not much bigger than a sauna, and not much cooler, either.

This was an occasion reminiscent of that climactic game two years ago, when USD needed to beat St. Mary’s to win its first West Coast Athletic Conference championship and make its first visit to the NCAA tournament. The Sports Center was filled more than two hours before that game, and the celebration reverberated a long time in the aftermath.

Once again, the Toreros are in a position to make a run at another WCAC title.

However, Pepperdine would not be an easy mark. Consider that the Waves, before Thursday night, had suffered three losses in the 1985-86 season--to Kansas, Kentucky and DePaul. Not bad company.

And so the multitudes clamored for a viewing point at the Sports Center. Not necessarily even a seat. These fans know they better get there before sunset if they want to be sure they have a seat.

A couple minutes before the game began, the public address announcer asked the fans to slide toward the center of the bleachers to make room for folks standing in the aisles. I couldn’t figure how the people in the middle could get any closer if they were actors in an X-rated movie.

Amid this din, it was up to Egan’s Toreros to maintain discipline and order. The frenzy of the crowd was more in tune with the rhythm Pepperdine would have preferred, an up-tempo game bordering on the fringes of insanity. The Toreros had to be the calm in the eye of the storm.

And they were.

They committed only one turnover in the first half, a remarkable statistic for a game in which every second brings an opportunity for error. A diamond that close to perfection would be worth a fortune.

While the crowd whooped and hollered, the Toreros methodically built a 39-22 halftime lead. They allowed themselves an occasional high-five or maybe a fist thrust skyward, but, for the most part, they built their lead without outward emotion. They should have been wearing hoods, so calmly were they accomplishing this execution.

However, Pepperdine came out for the second half the way the fans came out for the first. The Waves gambled and the Waves attacked, and the Toreros had to be feeling like a bunch of guys with their feet in the sand watching a tidal wave cross the horizon.

Would that magnificent lead be washed away?

Pepperdine cut the margin to three points in the final minute before the executioners put on their hoods again. Two free throws by Paul Leonard and two more by Scott Thompson put away the game.

The game ended with Thompson, the 7-foot junior center, shooting behind his back from near half-court. It didn’t go in, and it didn’t really come close, but it didn’t matter.

Once again, the music was playing at the Sports Center. The fans danced out of the stands and the celebration was on.

“It’s nice to have the thrill back at USD,” said forward Mark Bostic, who was also a starter for that championship team two years ago. “The crowd was into it, and that really helped us. I’m glad to be a part of this.”

Egan allowed himself a smile.

“This was fun,” he said. “What more could you want? The band played pretty good, too.”

Egan, of course, understands that this was not an occasion to be long celebrated or savored. This was no time to cut the nets off the rims or spray champagne or overturn police cars. This was not the culmination of a dream, but rather a taste of what might be accomplished.

“This was one game,” he said. “The next three are our toughest three of the season. This is a critical time for us.”

Loyola Marymount will visit USD’s cozy little steam room tonight. It will be another very big occasion in Alcala Park because Loyola (5-0) is now the occupant of first place in the WCAC. A quirk of scheduling will cause USD to play Loyola and Pepperdine again next week, but on the road.

However, first things first. Another night, another game. At least another party and maybe another celebration.

Oh yes, also on the agenda is Hank Egan’s Special Program for Shedding Pounds While Exercising Nothing More Tiring Than Vocal Chords.