PEPPERDINE NOTEBOOK: A DEFINING TIME FOR PEPPERDINE.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

MALIBU - Two games into Pepperdine's West Coast Conference men's basketball schedule, the Waves face a season-defining weekend.

Gonzaga, the nation's 13th-ranked team and consensus favorite to win the WCC title, comes calling to Malibu tonight, a game Pepperdine (9-6, 2-2) almost must win if it hopes to win the conference title.

But first-year Waves coach Paul Westphal isn't even certain tonight's game is the most important of the weekend. Westphal, looking at the big picture, considers Saturday's game against Portland just as critical.

``If we beat Gonzaga and turn around and lose to Portland the next day, we didn't accomplish our goals,'' Westphal said. ``And if we lose to Gonzaga, then we really need to win the Portland game. Either way, it's imperative that we remember we have two big games this weekend.''

First comes Gonzaga. The Bulldogs (15-2, 2-0) are on a 12-game winning streak and are big, tough and physical as ever. Point guard Dick Dickau is one of the best in the nation, a smooth, fearless court leader.

Up front, 6-foot-9 freshman Rony Turiaf of Martinique is averaging 8.2 points and 5.8 rebounds.

``They are an impressive team,'' Westphal said. ``What they do so impressively is develop players over a period of time, so that by the time they're juniors and seniors, they're ready to contribute at a high level.''

Turiaf contradicts that plan. As a freshman, he's provided the Bulldogs with surprising production.

``He's athletically an upgrade from what they've had,'' Westphal said. ``But I don't know if he's going to stay all five years. He looks like he's ready for the NBA to me.''

This isn't the same Pepperdine team Gonzaga played over the two years Jan van Breda Kolff was in charge. Brandon Armstrong, who left after his junior year and was drafted in the first round by the NBA's New Jersey Nets, is no longer here, and David Lalazarian and Kelvin Gibbs graduated.

In their place, senior Craig Lewis has become a leader and newcomers Terrance Johnson, Jimmy Miggins, Devin Montgomery and Gary Colbert have all come along nicely.

Miggins, a junior college transfer, is averaging a team-high 14.9 points, and Johnson, a redshirt freshman, is averaging 14.5 points per game.

Pepperdine received a lift recently with the return of power forward Glen McGowan, who was reinstated after a first-semester suspension for fighting with a teammate. McGowan, a 6-8 forward, frees center Cedric Suitt and forwards Miggins and Boomer Brazzle to concentrate on their strengths.

Pepperdine has won four consecutive games, including road victories over San Francisco and St. Mary's to open WCC play last weekend.

``Obviously they lost some key personnel,'' Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. ``But they've also added some really good athletes to the mix.''

Few isn't ready to declare this weekend the most important of the season - yet. The Bulldogs play Loyola Marymount on Saturday.

``I don't know if it's any bigger than the one we just got done with,'' Few said of the Bulldogs' victories over Santa Clara and San Diego. ``When you're winning, every weekend becomes huge.''

GONZAGA vs. PEPPERDINE

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m., at Firestone Fieldhouse.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net; 830-AM.

Pepperdine (9-6, 2-0) update: The Waves take a four-game winning streak into their most important game of the year. They've done it with better defense, stronger rebounding and more consistent shooting, getting timely contributions from Craig Lewis, Jimmy Miggins, Terrance Johnson and Glen McGowan, plus consistent performances from Cedric Suitt, Devin Montgomery and Boomer Brazzle. Pepperdine opened West Coast Conference play last weekend by sweeping a two-game trip to Saint Mary's and San Francisco.

Gonzaga (15-2, 2-0) update: The Bulldogs take a 12-game winning streak into tonight, doing it in their usual impressive way. They aren't the most fancy team around, but with excellent point guard Dan Dickau running a well-coached offense, and big men Zack Gourde, Cory Violette and Rony Turiaf providing size and strength up front, the Bulldogs just keep winning.

-Vincent Bonsignore

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GONZAGA vs. PEPPERDINE (see text)