Everybody's back from the team that in March became the first Division I basketball affiliate from San Diego to win an NCAA Tournament game.
But USD men's coach Bill Grier said that for all the familiar faces there will be a new look, physically, to the Toreros when they stage their first preseason practice this afternoon at Jenny Craig Pavilion. A look that should be noticeable when they make their first public appearance in an exhibition against Cal State Los Angeles on Nov. 8 at JCP preparatory to the season opener a week later at UNLV.
Trumaine Johnson weighed 165 pounds arriving on campus last year for a true-freshman season in which his development into a starter was instrumental in a 12-3 run to end the season. A year later, Johnson is carrying 195 on his 6-2 frame, Grier said this week.
And there's Devin Ginty, the walk-on freshman who lit up Rupp Arena for 18 points in the Toreros' stunning December upset of Kentucky.
“He looks completely different,” Grier said. “He has worked hard in the weight room and on the basketball floor. His confidence is high.”
Rob Jones, who played in 35 of 36 games with 32 starts and lived up to the expectations of being one of the strongest impact freshmen in school history, returns with unabated hunger.
“He has stepped up his game,” Grier said. “He was really driven and motivated over the summer. He's shooting the ball from the outside more consistently and can still take it strong to the basket.”
Senior guard Brandon Johnson has “slimmed down a little,” without losing strength.
“He has been working more on his flexibility and, believe it or not, he might be even quicker than in the past,” Grier said. “And he's always been really quick.”
Senior forward Gyno Pomare is ahead of the same point a year ago, when recovery from offseason foot surgery was still progressing.
“He's been able to do more, but really not as much as we'd like,” Grier said. “That foot (issue) is something he's still going to have to deal with and we've got to be aware of it and help him in dealing with it.”
The first practice is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. today at JCP. USD will commence two-a-day practices tomorrow. Workouts are not open to the public.
The USD women's team will follow the men on the court tonight for its first practice.
Coach Cindy Fisher is committed to freshman Dominique Conners (La Jolla Country Day) as the replacement for graduated star point guard Amanda Rego. Another key is 6-5 senior center Amber Sprague who, Fisher said, has added 10 pounds of muscle through offseason weight room work.
The women's team opens Nov. 14 at home against UCSD.
Hank Wesch: (619) 293-1853; hank.wesch@uniontrib.com
