These Toros Failed to Hit the Bull’s-Eye : Basketball: Cal State Dominguez Hills had plenty of promise, but never lived up to preseason expectations.

There is a lower row of bleachers just inside the door of the gymnasium at Cal State Dominguez Hills where, at any given home game, an assortment of former Toro basketball players often sit for games.

It has been jokingly said that so many players with remaining eligibility show up there that Toro Coach Dave Yanai doesn’t need to leave the campus to recruit, he can merely field a team by gesturing across the court from his seat on the bench.

But the Toros’ play this past season appeared to be as frustrating to the former players as it was to Yanai.

“What do you think of this team?” asked one of the players after Friday’s 68-55 loss to Bakersfield. “Was this what you are used to seeing here? I don’t think so.”

After the Toros played poorly in an 80-60 homecoming loss to Cal State Los Angeles, a member of the 1987 conference championship team that advanced to the Western Regionals said: “That was one of the two worst basketball games that has ever been played by a Dominguez Hills team. The other was last week (an 85-74 loss to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo).”

The Toros, who finished 16-11 overall and 5-7 in California Collegiate Athletic Assn. play, had a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality. Yanai’s trademark

defense was inconsistent, as was the team’s overall play. The Toros were 0-6 in CCAA games played on Friday, but 5-1 on Saturday. The mental tenacity characteristic of previous Yanai clubs was spotty and a leader never emerged.

But mostly, it was a team that appeared to lack heart. After a last-second, 70-68 victory over Cal Poly Pomona Feb. 16, Yanai said: “This game was one between two teams that didn’t want to win. Only Pomona just didn’t want to win a little less than we did.”

This was expected to be the most talented group ever assembled on the Toro basketball court. Dominguez Hills had three transfers from Division I schools, a couple of sophomores who started as freshmen and a senior guard once voted All-CCAA. Yet it failed to advance to postseason play when it finished in a tie for fifth in the CCAA with Cal State L.A. It marked the third time in four seasons that the Toros failed to earn a postseason berth.

The Toros also had an increased budget, thanks to a successful fund-raising campaign. Until recently, because it could not fund more than two scholarships, Yanai was unwilling to go after highly regarded players. Instead, he built his program around inner-city kids recommended to him by a network of City Section coaches, many of whom had been assistants under him at one time.

He would split the equivalent of two scholarships between 12 players, but drew praise for his ability to get maximum performances from players who could not have played elsewhere. In 1988, despite seeing his team finish in a tie for fourth place, Yanai was voted conference coach of the year.

Said an official from a CCAA school: “He’s always had one or two pretty good players, but never had the supporting cast. He never had depth. His ability to get the other guys to play above their (heads) with good defense was always his trademark.”

Division I transfers Keith Billingslea (Northern Arizona), Brian Jones (Cal State Long Beach) and Michael Moore (Coastal Carolina) were expected to make big contributions. But it quickly became apparent none of the transfers fit perfectly into Yanai’s defense-oriented attack. The team lost its first three games--all in overtime. By season’s end, none of the three were starters. Jones scored 32 points, three short of the school record, in a 78-63 victory over Sonoma State Nov. 26. But by February, the 6-foot-4 junior forward was seeing less than 10 minutes of playing time. He did, however, finish as the team’s leading scorer (13.8).

Billingslea, a senior who did not become eligible until the 10th game, took an unwarranted three-point shot that angered Yanai and killed a Toro rally in a 67-60 loss to Chapman College Feb. 1. He saw very little playing time after that.

Moore appeared to be the most talented player among the transfers, averaging 11.8 points and 5.2 rebounds, but Yanai often substituted for the 6-8 junior in certain defensive situations.

Having those three transfers also proved to be a learning experience for Yanai. Following the Feb. 1 loss to Chapman, Yanai was asked to assess the problems confronting the team.

“When it comes down to it, they’re all freshmen in my program,” he said.

Yanai explained that transfers need time to adapt to his strenuous practice schedule and intense style of play. He said that transfers have not been taught to play tough defense and may be set in their ways offensively.

Robert Barksdale, a senior guard who was an All-CCAA choice in 1988-89, finished as the conference leader in assists. Although he played point guard, he was better suited to play off-guard. When Barksdale was slowed because of a groin injury prior to the start of CCAA play, his scoring ability decreased. He averaged 9.5 points and five assists.

Sophomore guard Raymond Bennett ended the season with a flourish by leading the team in scoring six of its last eight games. Returning starter Vince Washington, who spent much of the early part of the season on the bench, also increased his productivity as the season grew to a close.

Washington, a forward, Barksdale, Bennett and 6-foot-5 sophomore center Norm Francis were among the team’s best defensive players. But when they weren’t on the floor, defense took a break.

The team allowed an average of 68 points, about seven points higher than past teams. Eleven times the Toros allowed opponents to score 74 or more points and only five times did it hold opponents under 60 points.

In the previous season, when Dominguez Hills was 10-17, the Toros held opponents to an average of 64 points. Nine times opponents failed to score 60 points.

Yanai will not get carried away with accepting Division I transfers, as many other coaches already have, now that Division I players can transfer to Division II programs and become immediately eligible.

But the Toros need a point guard, one who can share duties with Bennett, or free Bennett to shoot more three-point shots. Freshman Sal Serrano and perhaps freshman John Brown, better known for his defense, will be called on for some of the ballhandling load.

In the post, 6-6 freshman Albert Kiilehua showed flashes of brilliance, but he hit a 10-game mid-season slump that severely crippled the Toros’ post defense. Further, even with Kiilehua, Washington, Jones, Moore, Francis and freshman center Cesar Uballe returning, the Toros could use an impact player in the front line, one who can play Yanai-style defense and score as well.

With only Billingslea and Barksdale having completed their eligibility, Yanai will no doubt work on building the character of the team in the offseason.

“Maybe next year they will mature,” he said.