San Diego Toreros: A Comedy of Basketball Errors & Triumphs!
By Your Favorite Humorists
SAN DIEGO — Gather ’round, folks! It’s time for some basketball banter and a sprinkle of sarcasm as the Toreros prepare for a showdown against Idaho, just a couple of days after getting slightly torpedoed by the Southern Utah Thunderbirds.
Set to groove at the Jenny Craig Pavilion—yes, the same place where they keep the snacks out of reach for us mere mortals—the Toreros will hit the court at 2 p.m. this Sunday! They’ll be streaming live on ESPN+, where at least you can mutter “Wow, nice shot!” into your couch cushion when a Torero sinks a three-pointer.
Home for the Holidays: A Multi-Team Extravaganza
This isn’t just any ordinary game, oh no. This is a multi-team event (MTE)! The Toreros are playing host for the first time during Feast Week since 2012, and trust me, there’s nothing like stuffing yourself with turkey while watching your favorite team stuff the ball through the hoop.
It was a bumpy start for the Toreros, who found themselves clinching their defeat over the Thunderbirds with a final score of 67-72. But hey, on the bright side, junior guard Kjay Bradley Jr. decided to treat us with a phenomenal 27 points, showcasing that while the Toreros may have lost the battle, individual brilliance still left us clapping from our couches.
Series Snapshot: Toreros vs. Vandals
Talk about a historical rivalry! This Sunday marks the second ever meeting between our beloved Toreros and the Idaho Vandals. The last time these titans clashed was back in the 1980s—because what says “I take sports seriously” quite like a 39-year gap? The Vandals won that one too, 75-63. Let’s hope the Toreros got their homework done this time and actually plan to win!
Highlight Reel: Last Time Out
It was a night to forget—or a night to use as teaching fodder in sports classes—when the Toreros faced off against Southern Utah. The first five minutes were like watching paint dry; both teams struggled to score. But wait, enter Tony Duckett, who made his debut and scored a stylish six points. A spinning fadeaway? Really? If I could spin like that, I’d be lucky to even get my sock on in the morning!
And credit where credit’s due—coach Steve Lavin rolled out an all-California starting five. That’s right, three cheers for California and the endless beach vibes, even if they do imply our players’ tan lines might be stronger than their basketball skills at this moment.
Past Meets Present: Year Three of the Lavin Era
2024-2025 marks head coach Steve Lavin‘s third season. With a track record that includes a resume worthy of a basketball Hall of Fame and more rebounds than my grandma’s laundry, Lavin is stacking up the players like they’re coupons for all-you-can-eat tacos!
The Toreros have roped in nine new recruits this season—because what’s better than a fresh start? A fresher start! Meanwhile, top returners like senior center Steven Jamerson II are prepared to flex their muscles and show the youngsters how it’s done. With averages like 8.3 points and 8.1 rebounds, you might think Jamerson’s just picking up loose change on the court!
What’s Next for the Toreros?
Upcoming schedule? Exciting! They’ve lined up several home games to embrace and nurture the win-loss records. The Toreros are determined to reclaim the court glory and, perhaps more ambitiously, find out if they can finally dunk without fearing for dear life. A game against cross-town rival San Diego State is also looming, which is always a thrilling rivalry—mostly for the gossip that follows.
SAN DIEGO — The University of San Diego Toreros are set to conclude their exciting multi-team event by facing the Idaho Vandals on Sunday, scheduled for a 2 p.m. tip-off inside the intimate confines of the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
The highly anticipated matchup will be broadcasted live on ESPN+, featuring the play-by-play commentary from Jack Cronin, alongside analyst Braden Surprenant expertly breaking down the action as it unfolds.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAY MTE
• Joining the Toreros in this competitive multi-team event is the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, who claimed victory over the Toreros with a narrow 72-67 win on Friday night, and subsequently defeated Idaho 82-67 on Saturday afternoon, both contests held in the JCP.
• This marks the fourth consecutive year the Toreros are participating in a three-team multi-team event, making it their first hosting opportunity during the Feast Week since 2012.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE VANDALS
• Sunday’s game will be only the second meeting ever between the Toreros and the Vandals, with the initial encounter dating back to 1984.
• Idaho won the first and only matchup, a 75-63 decision on a neutral court on December 15, 1984.
• The Toreros will face their second opponent from the Big Sky Conference this season, having previously lost to Portland State by a score of 76-85 on November 12.
LAST TIME OUT
• In their opening game of the home multi-team event, the San Diego Men’s Basketball team suffered a tough defeat against Southern Utah, finishing with a 67-72 scoreline at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on Friday night.
• Though the Toreros fell short, several players delivered standout performances, particularly junior guard Kjay Bradley Jr., who scored an impressive 27 points, marking his third game with 20-plus points in just five games at the Division I level.
• Freshman guard Tony Duckett made a notable debut with six points and finished with a plus-11 rating, while senior forward Colby Brooks made his USD debut with a team-leading plus-12. Senior forward Bendji Pierre also contributed with six points and six rebounds in his season debut.
HOW IT HAPPENED
– Under the leadership of USD Head Coach Steve Lavin, the Toreros fielded an all-California starting five, featuring freshman forward Gavin Ripp earning his first career start alongside senior guard Dominic Muncey, who made his first start of the season.
– The game began slowly for both sides, managing a combined 2-7 shooting from the field in the first five minutes of play.
– Duke entered the court for the first time in his career and made an impressive spinning fadeaway shot that broke the Toreros’ two-field goal drought lasting 7:19.
– At halftime, the Toreros found themselves trailing narrowly, 30-32, after shooting 38.5% from the field.
– The second half commenced with the Toreros struggling again, falling into an 0-5 shooting slump in the first 3:26.
– The Thunderbirds gained momentum with a staggering 14-0 run, shooting 4-5 from three-point range during that stretch, ultimately achieving a game-high 16-point lead.
– The Toreros responded determinedly, launching a nine-point scoring run in a span of 3:25.
– Continuing to fight back, the Toreros outscored Southern Utah 30-22 in points in the paint, with Pierre and Brooks leading the charge.
– San Diego managed to close the gap to within four points on several occasions, including after a dramatic four-point play by Bradley Jr. with just 30.7 seconds left, but could not bridge the final distance.
HOT START
• Kjay Bradley Jr. began the season with a bang, being the first Torero to surpass 24 points in consecutive games since Isaiah Pineiro achieved 28 and 25 points at the start of the 2018 season, making him also the first Torero to do so in his first two Division I games since at least 1999.
• Following his early season performances, Bradley’s average of 26.0 points per game on November 10 ranked him T-17th nationwide and third among all players making their debut in Division I.
• The junior from Inglewood, California, notched the highest single-game scoring output by a Torero (28) since Deuce Turner scored 30 against Pacific on March 2, 2024.
BUILDING ON LAST SEASON’S SUCCESSES
• The Toreros are on a path of growth and development, aiming to build upon their successes in the 2023-24 season, which already saw significant milestones such as:
– Achieving the program’s highest win total (18) since the 2018-19 season.
– Notably, the program secured its first winning record since 2018-19.
– The program recorded its best regular-season finish in the West Coast Conference (WCC) since 2014-15, finishing fifth.
– Making history, the team celebrated its first victory over a Power-5 opponent since 2018, triumphing against Arizona State on December 9, 2023.
– Impressively, the Toreros showcased resilience with eight double-digit comeback victories, leading the nation in this category.
INTRODUCING, YOUR 2024-25 TOREROS
• In an exciting roster overhaul for the 2024-25 season, head coach Lavin and his coaching staff have welcomed 21 players, with a remarkable 14 being underclassmen, the highest representation in the WCC and the most for the program since at least the 2005-06 season. The team’s average age prior to opening day stands at 20.96 years.
• The Toreros boast a notable roster statistic, leading the WCC and tying with Long Beach State for the most players from a single state, with 11 talented athletes hailing from California.
KEY RETURNERS
• Senior center Steven Jamerson II stands out as the leading returner for San Diego, with averages of 8.3 points per game and a remarkable 8.1 rebounds per game, claiming six double-doubles in the ongoing 2023-24 season.
• Emerging sophomore guard Dragos Lungu showcases remarkable potential after being named the 2024 FIBA U20 EuroBasket MVP and champion with the Romanian national team, averaging 16.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game during the tournament.
• The Toreros’ lineup will also see the return of experienced guards, graduate guard Deven Dahlke and senior Dominic Muncey, both poised to make impactful contributions this season.
KEY ADDITIONS
• The Toreros are bolstering their roster with nine new additions, comprising six freshmen and three transfers, which aims to enhance their competitive edge this season.
• Highlighting the incoming class is graduate guard Kody Clouet, a San Diego County native ready to play a pivotal role in the Toreros’ offense after an impressive season, averaging 17.6 points per game with outstanding shooting percentages of 50.3% from the field, 43% from three-point range, and 81% at the free-throw line last season at Southeastern Oklahoma State.
• Additionally, redshirt senior Colby Brooks transitions from Gonzaga, further strengthening the WCC side in 2024-25.
• Freshmen forwards Kean Webb and Gavin Ripp bring exciting new potential to the San Diego roster.
HEAD COACHES AS TORERO ASSISTANTS
• Enhancing the coaching staff’s expertise for the 2024-25 season, Lavin is joined by three former head coaches on the bench.
• A significant addition is former NBA player and head coach Earl Watson, who played under Lavin for four seasons at UCLA and ranks among the top-5 in several all-time statistical categories.
• John Moore, the winningest head coach in NAIA Westmont College history, is gearing up for his third season as a USD assistant alongside Lavin.
THE SCHEDULE
• The Toreros commence their regular season with a robust schedule that features seven home games throughout November before embarking on their first road game at Arizona State on December 3.
– Noteworthy, last season, San Diego secured a marquee victory against ASU, triumphing 89-84 on December 9 in San Diego.
• The multi-team event will take place in the familiar surroundings of the Jenny Craig Pavilion, with matchups against Southern Utah on November 22 and Idaho on November 24.
• An exciting road challenge is set for December 7, as the Toreros will clash with cross-town rival San Diego State for the first time since 2019, marking a highly anticipated return to Viejas Arena since their last win against the Aztecs in 2018.
• The non-conference schedule wraps up with a matchup against Grand Canyon at the newly built Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on December 28 as part of the West Coast Hoops Showdown, marking the first college basketball games to be held in this state-of-the-art facility, home of the LA Clippers.
• San Diego will face each league opponent twice, except for preseason favorites Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s.
• Additionally, the Toreros will engage in home-and-home series with new WCC opponents Oregon State and Washington State.
YEAR THREE OF THE LAVIN ERA
• 2024-2025 signifies head coach Steve Lavin‘s third year helming the program in San Diego since his hiring in April 2022.
• As the season approaches, Lavin holds a commendable career record of 266-185 (.589) with ten postseason appearances across 13 full seasons as a Division I head coach.
• Prior to his tenure at USD, he successfully led UCLA and St. John’s to eight NCAA Tournament appearances over the span of eleven years.
• A respected figure in college basketball for over three decades, Lavin is celebrated as the 14th head coach in USD’s history and the seventh coach since the program transitioned to NCAA Division I status in the 1979-80 season.
What key factors will determine the Toreros’ success against highly competitive opponents this season?
Against a series of competitive opponents. The Toreros will also participate in several key tournaments that will test their mettle against premier teams nationwide.
• As they gear up for the season, the coaching staff is emphasizing the importance of consistency and resilience, building on the momentum from last season while integrating their new players into the team’s culture and gameplay.
• With a focus on developing both individual skills and team chemistry, the Toreros are determined to make a significant impact this season in the West Coast Conference, striving for higher standings and potential postseason opportunities.
As fans eagerly await the Toreros’ journey through the upcoming season, the commitment from players and coaches alike to improve and succeed is palpable. The combination of skilled returning players and promising new talent positions USD for an exciting year ahead.
