BigWest.org chatted with Cal Poly head coaches Joe Callero (men's basketball) and Faith Mimnaugh (women's basketball) to preview the upcoming 2014-15 season.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN 2014-15
Where Do They Go Now?: Cal Poly enjoyed a remarkable run last March, becoming the first No. 7 seed to capture the Big West Tournament title and winning the program’s first NCAA Tournament game in a first round triumph over Texas Southern. The program received unprecedented national and local attention for those exploits. So what can the Mustangs do for an encore? We’ll all have to wait and see how the season plays out.
Valuing The Ball: A cornerstone of head coach Joe Callero’s program is the ability of his players to make smart decisions with the basketball. Simply put, the Mustangs don’t allow opponents many cheap, easy baskets. In 2013-14, Cal Poly ranked No. 4 in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (8.9). Committing a combined 18 turnovers in three games certainly boosted Cal Poly’s run through the Big West Tournament. Callero summed it up thusly: “We’re not the most talented team. We are really a down-to-earth, old school, take-care-of-the-basketball team. One coach described us as ‘a trip to the dentist.’ I took that as a compliment as we’re not very fun to play against.”
The Defense Never Rests: Another hallmark of a Joe Callero-coached program is an insistence on stingy defense. Cal Poly has topped the Big West in scoring defense in each of the last four years, the longest such run since Utah State owned that distinction from 1999-2005. The Mustangs held opponents under 60 points in 10 of their 14 wins last year. Expect lots more of low-scoring affairs this year too.
Replacing The Heart And Soul: Callero described last year’s leading scorer and rebounder Chris Eversley as the “heart and soul” of his team. Having moved on to the professional ranks, Eversley will certainly be missed in terms of his production, but perhaps even more so tied to his leadership abilities. Who steps up and leads this year’s Mustangs is an item of intrigue. Senior point guard Maliik Love is expected to handle that role, and Callero is also high on juniors David Nwaba, Joel Awich and Brian Bennett.
Who Hits From Distance: Despite ranking last in the Big West in field goal percentage (.409) last season, the Mustangs were No. 3 in three-point field goals made per game (6.62). However, they lost two of top marksmen in Eversley and Kyle Odister, so someone will need to provide perimeter production. Sophomore guards Ridge Shipley and Taylor Sutlive, and junior Reese Morgan are all candidates for that role.
QUOTABLES – JOE CALLERO
(On how the NCAA win affected his program): “It helps with season ticket sales. It helps with promotion. It helps with recruiting. It helps with the overall enthusiasm that Cal Poly basketball has arrived and now we’re ready to climb that mountain higher. We’re not at the top of the mountain. We made it to the NCAA Tournament. We’re looking for more now.
(On the graduation of Chris Eversley): “Chris Eversley was a great person. He was a great leader. He was a great community person. What Chris has done is set the bar, and he’s taught others how to achieve that. He’s taught others that no matter what happens, leadership is the key to Cal Poly basketball.”
(On the belief instilled in the program): “I think that once you’ve had success, that others believe they can have success. I think it’s harder to get through the glass ceiling. Now, others in our program believe that it’s doable. So what’s the price you’ve got to pay?”
(On Maliik Love): “Maliik Love is physically strong, but he’s also smart, and he understands that ball possession and control is kind of our brand. We don’t give you easy baskets by turning it over and throwing crazy passes. He kind of sets that tone.”
(On returning talent): “We really believe that there are important players who can score baskets, guys like Brian Bennett, David Nwaba and Joel Awich. The biggest part for us realistically is it’s not who’s just scoring, it’s who’s leading. And for us I think our senior leadership is going to be great.”
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2 – Double-digit scoring efforts by freshman Ridge Shipley in the Big West Tournament, the only two of his entire 2013-14 season
4 – Consecutive seasons that Cal Poly has led the Big West in scoring defense
7 – Lowest seed in Big West Tournament history to win the title and advance to the NCAA Tournament
9 – Cal Poly’s number of turnovers per game, which ranked No. 4 nationally
21 – Total games in 2013-14 in which the Mustangs committed single-digit turnovers
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN 2014-15
Catch Us If You Can: Head coach Faith Mimnaugh stressed that speed will play a significant role in Cal Poly’s efficiency in 2014-2015. As the Mustangs welcome a large incoming class of newcomers, they hope to highlight that personnel and exploit their overall quickness. The Mustangs sport quick guards and forwards this season looking to create space and opportunities with their entirely revamped offensive system.
Trifecta: Cal Poly boasts three seniors in Ariana Elegado, Taryn Garza and Kristen Ale. While the Mustangs have made back-to-back trips to the Big West Tournament championship game, taking the title in 2013, coach Mimnaugh notes that exceptional senior leadership gives the squad a good shot at another deep run in the tournament. The trio combined to average 31.3 points per game last year.
Elegado Does It All: Calling her one of the best players in Cal Poly history, Mimnaugh emphasized not only Elegado's energy and talent, but her knack for elevating everyone else's game. The five-foot-six guard led the Mustangs a season ago in points per game (17.0), assists (144), three-pointers made (86) and minutes played per game (35.4). The San Diego native is currently eighth in career scoring in the Mustang record book with 1065 points and enters her senior season just 63 assists shy of No. 2 in program history. Starting all 32 games a season ago, the 2013 All-Big West First Team honoree sunk a career-high 32 points versus rival UC Santa Barbara in a Blue-Green rivalry game on March 8, 2014.
Double Trouble: Keep an eye out for incoming twins Dynn and Lynn Leaupepe who are expected to contribute right out of the blocks. The five-foot-nine guards from Camarillo bring tremendous athleticism, rebounding efficiency and scoring abilities. Coach Mimnaugh foresees at least one Leaupepe in the starting lineup in the season opener.
Young Bucs: With 11-of-19 underclassmen heading into the new season, the Mustangs are busy reworking their entire offense, and leveling the playing field with everyone learning a new system. How quickly the team can assemble as a unit will be telling of how the team will fare come preseason. The Mustangs look to reduce turnovers in order to come out of the gate strong.
QUOTABLES – FAITH MIMNAUGH
(On team’s energy): “This group is tightly woven shall – everyone’s connected, everyone gets along. Everyone is reliant upon each other and everyone’s excited so it’s got to be a brightly colored shall.”
(On senior Ariana Elegado): “She makes everybody around her better. She’s easily able to get to the basket or knock down the three, but it's her ability to set up her teammates and be totally unselfish.”
(On young squad): “The things that I’m enjoying about this team, they’re already developing great chemistry even though it’s a very young squad, if you consider half of our team are newcomers.”
(On 2013 Big West Tournament championship game): “Because of what’s happened the last couple years at Cal Poly they expect to be in the mix. So many great teams in the league this year, especially teams that have a lot more experience than we do. Our team has adopted that mentality of what it takes to win. So I think that they’re even hungrier.”
(On getting back to the title game): “They have the talent to win a championship if they can come together. I’m very impressed with how they’re coming together and how they’re for each other. It’s really quite rare that you see this from a group that’s as young as it is.”
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
3 – The number of seniors who will wear the Green and Gold in 2014
4 – Number of Big West Tournament championship game appearances in the last six years. The Mustangs claimed the title in 2013
7 – The number of freshmen on the young Cal Poly team this season
70 – The average height in inches of the Mustang squad (5-foot-10)
75.6 – Cal Poly's league-leading scoring average in 2013-14