CSUN NOTEBOOK: BRASWELL BACK IN HIS ELEMENT.Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer Bobby Braswell Bobby Braswell, an American basketball coach, is currently the head coach for Cal State Northridge. Braswell was named the fourth head coach in Northridge history on April 30, 1996, succeeding the retired Pete Cassidy. knows how to win in postseason tournaments. Never mind his team's seeding. Forget the record. Ignore popular predictions. The Cal State Northridge coach has a knack for guiding his teams on spirited runs through tournaments. In Braswell's five seasons in the Big Sky Conference, he took CSUN CSUN California State University Northridge to the final of the conference tournament three times. Even in the 1996-97 season, when the Matadors had a losing overall record and low seed, they knocked off Montana State and Northern Arizona Northern Arizona is dominated by the Colorado Plateau, the southern border of which in Arizona is called the Mogollon Rim. In the West lies the Grand Canyon, which was cut by the flow of the Colorado River while the land slowly rose around it. before losing to Montana in the championship game. ``We know we've been prepared for everything that's going to happen,'' junior forward Lionel Benjamin said of Braswell's success. ``Our goal is to get to the conference tournament (final) and anything that comes up, we're totally prepared.'' Braswell said he tries not to stress the need to win. Even during this year's regular season - especially during CSUN's 2-9 start - he tried to focus on improvements. ``Sometimes, as coaches, you have a tendency to put too much emphasis on winning,'' Braswell said. ``But I find with a young team that I talk less about that and more about getting better and doing the things that we need to do well. ``Sometimes you take it for granted. Someone just said the other day that every team I've coached has been to the postseason. We should be proud that we played in those championship games and had opportunities to win. Hopefully, we'll do something special this week.'' The Matadors have as of late. CSUN (12-15, 11-7), which has won four consecutive games, and Long Beach State, winners of five in a row, are the two most dangerous teams in the tournament, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. many Big West coaches. Fifth-seeded CSUN plays No. 4 Pacific (19-9, 11-7) on Thursday in the first round of the Big West tournament at the Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim Convention Center is a major convention center in Anaheim, California. It is located across from the Disneyland Resort on Katella Avenue. Much of the Anaheim Convention Center has been renovated in recent years with state-of-the-art facilities. . ``(Braswell's) a master at getting guys to peak at the right time,'' said former assistant Mike Johnson, who worked with him for five seasons. ``And he's an innovator. He's very good at X's and O's and very good at making adjustments - good and bad - as to how you played them the first couple of times. That always makes Northridge very scary.'' --The early bird: CSUN will forgo a morning shootaround Thursday because its designated slot is 7 a.m. Braswell wants the team to be well-rested and have a chance to eat a pregame meal, although not before the crack of dawn. The Matadors won't have any time to adjust to the Anaheim Convention Center today, either, because the Big West is holding the women's tournament all day. CSUN will practice at Fullerton College Fullerton College, in Fullerton, California, is the oldest community college in continuous operation in California, having been established in 1913. Fullerton College’s roots can be traced back to a time when the city of Fullerton was primarily an agricultural community at 2 p.m. CSUN guard Markus Carr wasn't concerned. ``I'm pretty sure the baskets are still 10 feet and the court is however long,'' he said. ``Once the ball goes up in the air, you're not thinking about anything else.'' --A look ahead: If CSUN beats Pacific, and top seed Utah State beats Idaho, CSUN and Utah State would have a rematch REMATCH Cardiology Clinical trials–Randomized Evaluation of Mechanical Assistance Therapy as an alternative in Congestive Heart failure–related to use of a portable, electric left ventricular-assist system–LVAS–eg, HeartMate® less than a week after the Matadors' 62-54 victory at the Northridge Gym. Utah State has won the Big West tournament the past two years and upset Ohio State in the first round last season. --Injury report: CSUN guard Curtis Slaughter (tendinitis tendinitis or tendonitis Inflammation of a tendon sheath, due to irritation of this thin, filmy tissue by overuse of the tendons, which slide within them, or to bacterial infection. in his lower right leg) hasn't practiced this week but is expected to do so today. ... Walk-on freshman Tony Johnson
Tony Johnson is a former American football wide receiver. He played collegiately at Penn State football from 2000 to 2003. suffered a high left ankle sprain ankle sprain Orthopedics A stretching of the ankle ligaments and/or muscles with swelling Monday and is done practicing for the season. BIG WEST Championship Saturday, 9 p.m. CAPTION(S): box Box: BIG WEST CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT |
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