Nov. 13, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format
USF OPENS REGULAR SEASON HOME SLATE AGAINST HORNETS: USF hosts Sacramento State in the 2007-08 home opener Saturday, November 17 at War Memorial Gym. The Dons look for their second straight victory after earning a split in the 2007 2K College Hoops Classic, benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. San Francisco dropped its season opener 71-55 to Oklahoma (11/8/07) at the Lloyd Noble Center, before bouncing back for an 87-70 win against East Central (11/9/07). The Hornets are coming off a rugged 10-19 campaign, finishing eighth in the Big Sky at 5-11. The Dons took a 89-64 road victory last November 14 against Sacramento State at the Hornets Nest. San Francisco leads the all-time series 8-2, although the two teams have split the last two meetings. Manny Quezada LEADS DONS OFFENSE: Junior guard Manny Quezada looks to improve upon a solid sophomore season for the Green and Gold in 2007-08. The Dons leading returning scorer (13.2), Quezada was named as one of six West Coast Conference "Players to Watch" by the league's coaches. In his first season after transferring from Rutgers, Quezada ranked 11th among WCC scoring leaders to go along with 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Capable of instant offense, Quezada tossed in 28 second half points en route to a career-high 35 points, on 11-of-19 shooting from the field at Saint Mary's (2/19/07). Quezada scored a game-high 29 points against East Central (11/9/07) and scored nine points in less than 90 seconds to close out the first half against the Tigers. The New York native averages 21.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Dior Lowhorn SHINES IN GREEN AND GOLD DEBUT: After sitting out the entire 2006-07 season under NCAA transfer rules, sophomore forward Dior Lowhorn is ready to begin his USF career when the Dons take on Oklahoma in the first round of the 2K College Hoops Classic. The Texas Tech transfer and Bay Area native averaged 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game as a freshman for the Red Raiders and scored a career-high 20 points in a road loss to the Dons (12/3/05). Lowhorn was named NorCal Player of the Year also captured "Bay Area Player of the Year" honors from the Oakland Tribune and the San Francisco Chronicle following his senior campaign at Berkeley High School. Lowhorn averaged a team-high 22.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic, scoring a career-high 26 points against Oklahoma (11/8/07) and then turned in his first career double-double performance with 19 points and 12 rebounds against East Central (11/9/07). DONS TWO-HEADED MONSTER: USF's one-two punch of sophomore forward Dior Lowhorn and junior guard Manny Quezada made their 2007-08 regular season debuts Thursday night against Oklahoma in opening round action of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic, benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. The duo, combined for 39 of San Francisco's 55 points in a 71-55 loss against the Sooners, accounting for a remarkable .701 of the team's offensive output. The pair scored a combined for 48 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists in an 87-70 victory against East Central (11/9/07). Through two games on the 2007-08 campaign, Lowhorn and Quezada account for 43.5 points per game - .613 of the Dons total offensive production. USF DONS ON GREEN 960 AM: USF men's basketball returns to the airwaves and cyberspace for the 2007-2008 season and all games will be available live at USFDons.com, while all games starting after 7:00 PM (PT) will air live on Green 960 AM. Join Pat Olson for the play-by-play in his 17th year behind the microphone courtside. USF Hall-of-Famer Jim Brovelli will join Olson on selected broadcasts throughout the year. Other features available on USFDons.com include GameTracker, courtesy of CSTV.com with live play-by-play and streaming video of all non-televised home games courtesy of Yahoo Broadcast. A LOOK AHEAD: USF travels south to Santa Barbara Tuesday, November 20 for a showdown against the Gauchos in the Thunderdome. The Dons dropped a 74-69 decision to UCSB last December 17 at War Memorial Gym, despite a 24-point effort from Alan Wiggins, Jr. San Francisco leads the all-time series against UC Santa Barbara 22-11. GAME #3 - SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE: The Hornets enter the week with an 0-1 record after dropping their season opener 94-63 at Kansas State (11/9/07). Sacramento State got 23 points from junior guard Loren Leath, but did not get much help as no one else scored more than six points. The Hornets torched Simpson College 104-71 and host Southern Utah in a midweek contest before traveling to the Hilltop Saturday night. Sacramento State posted a 10-19 record last season and finished eighth in the Big Sky with a 5-11 conference slate. Leath leads all returning scorers at 12.8 points, while senior guard Roderick Adams chipped in 5.8 points per game last season. Jerome Williams is in his eighth season at the Hornets helm and owns a career record of 77-124 - all in the state capital. LAST MEETING: USF 89, at Sacramento State 64 (11/14/06) SERIES RECORD/STREAK: USF leads 8-2/Dons won one ON THE AIR/ON THE WEB:
Radio Broadcast: Green 960 AM Television: None LAST TIME AGAINST THE HORNETS: Danny Cavic - WCC'S TOP LONG DISTANCE GUNNER: Senior guard Danny Cavic enters his final season in the Green and Gold focused on leading USF to the top of the West Coast Conference standings. Despite battling a chronic back injury, which hampered his mobility for most of the 2006-07 season, Cavic led the league in 3-point field goal percentage, converting on .462 (36-78) from long distance. Cavic is the first Don to lead the league in long distance connections since Tomas Thompson accomplished the feat in 1992. Cavic averaged 6.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game for the Dons last season and scored a career-high 19 points at Pepperdine (1/15/07), converting on 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Cavic enjoyed a good night against East Central (11/9/07) in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic, scoring 14 points with seven rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes. The long range shooter has converted on .556 (5-9) from 3-point range this season and has 77 career treys. TRANSFERS READY TO COMPETE FOR THE DONS: Sophomore post player Dior Lowhorn is set to make his much-anticipated debut on the Hilltop after red-shirting last season under NCAA transfer rules. The Texas Tech transfer is expected to make an immediate impact for the Dons this season and averaged 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game for the Red Raiders as a freshman. Sophomore post player Hyman Taylor will also be eligible to play for the Dons this season after transferring to the Hilltop prior to the 2006-07 campaign. Taylor also sat out last season under NCAA transfer rules. DONS LOOKING FOR A BIG SEASON FROM THE BIG CANUCK: Sophomore center Jared Casey worked out hard during the summer and looks prepared to make an impact for USF this season. The 6-11 Canadian averaged 1.1 points and 1.5 rebounds last year, but has drawn raves from the Dons coaching staff during preseason workouts. Christian Hernandez READY FOR AN ENCORE: Sophomore guard Christian Hernandez made some big contributions for USF last season and figures prominently in the back court mix once again in 2007-08. The former walk-on averaged 8.9 minutes in 29 games and scored a career-high five points at Saint Mary's (2/19/07). Hernandez matched his career-high with five points to go along with three rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot in 13 minutes against East Central (11/9/07). WALKING IN MEMPHIS: Freshman guard Myron Strong turned in a solid performance in his Green and Gold debut Thursday against Oklahoma, scoring four points to go along with an assist and a game-high three steals. Strong turned in an outstanding prep career at Memphis' Hamilton High School and teamed with current USF sophomore forward Jay Watkins to propel the Wildcats to a 39-0 record en route to the 2006 state title. Strong scored seven points with a pair of assists before fouling out in 25 minutes against East Central (11/9/07). Jay Watkins NOT ELIGIBLE UNTIL END OF SEMESTER: Sophomore forward Jay Watkins is not eligible until the end of the Fall semester due to academic issues. DONS NEWCOMERS LOOKING TO CONTRIBUTE: San Francisco added four additional newcomers to the fold this season. Junior forward Dean Hadley, freshmen guards Pierce Brooks, Kenny Perry and Myron Strong will bring plenty and talent and energy to the Dons this season. Hadley is a 6-6 swingman, who comes to USF after playing one season at Holmes Community College in Mississippi where he averaged 9.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.7 steals per game. An all-state honorable mention selection, Hadley originally attended IUPUI as a freshman, appearing in four games during the 2005-06 season. Perry averaged 14.9 points and 6.5 assists at Vanier College Prep as a senior and was named second team all-Nova Scotia when he recorded 20.8 points and 3.5 assists per contest during his sophomore campaign. A prep teammate of current Dons forward Jay Watkins, Strong turned in an outstanding high school career at Hamilton in Memphis, helping the Wildcats to a 39-0 record as a junior - the first time in 31 years a Memphis prep team went undefeated. Strong averaged 20.0 points, 8.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game as a senior, lifting the Wildcats to a 22-9 record and a district runner-up showing. NEW FACES ON THE DONS BENCH: In addition to four player newcomers for the 2007-08 season, USF fourth-year head coach Jessie Evans welcomes two new assistant coaches to the bench this season. David Grace enters his first season with the Dons after serving the 2006-07 season at Sacramento State. USF Hall-of-Famer Mike Quick also joins the staff at his alma mater. A 1973 graduate, Quick helped the Dons to three consecutive NCAA Regional appearances. USF IN SEASON OPENERS: Following a 71-55 loss to Oklahoma in the 2007-08 regular season opener, San Francisco owns a 12-11 record in season openers since 1985-86. The Dons had won two of their last four lid-lifters, including an 87-77 victory against Sonoma State (11/11/06). Before breaking through for a 73-62 victory against Tennessee-Martin in the 2003 Guardian's Classic, the USF had dropped four consecutive season debuts. The Dons most lopsided win came in the 1986-87 kick off - a 64-19 pasting of St. Thomas (Minnesota). DONS NOTCH PROGRAM VICTORY NUMBER 1,181: San Francisco collected the 1,181st victory in program history in a 87-70 victory against East Central (11/9/07) in the consolation game of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic - Norman Regional. In the 94th season of basketball on the Hilltop, the Dons have their eyes set on 1,200 program victories.
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