Here we go
AGAIN
LONG BEACH STATE | VOL. LXX, ISSUE 24 | JANUARY 22-27, 2019
2 NEWS
JANUARY 22-27, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | CITYD49ER@GMAIL.COM
INSIDE
THE
NINER Remembering Misty Jaffe page 4
ON THE COVER
As winter fades and the spring semester starts, the campus trees begin to change colors. PHOTO BY RYAN GUITARE Daily 49er
A series of photos from the MLK parade page 6 & 7
Daily 49er Editorial Office Phone (562) 985-8000
Business Office Phone (562) 985-1740
1250 Bellflower Blvd., LA4-201 Long Beach, CA 90840-4601 Kat Schuster Editor in Chief eicd49er@gmail.com
Samantha Diaz Managing Editor managingd49er@gmail.com
Austin Brumblay d49ernews@gmail.com
News Editor Sports Editor
Kevin Colindres sportsd49er@gmail.com Carlos Villicana artsnlifed49er@gmail.com
Interim Arts & Life Editor
COLUMN: Booker leads Long Beach to impressive start in Big West page 12
Multimedia Managing Editor Advertising Account Executive
Paula Kiley Eddie Infante d49ads@gmail.com
Copy Editor Design Editor
A rare sighting
Photo Editor
Ryan Guitare Lizbeth Galeno
Video Editor
Adam Pacheco Mia Bradford
Assistant Copy Editor
Sarah Vehrs
Assistant News Editor
Hannah Getahun
News Assistant
Suzane Jlelati
Deputy Sports Editor
Alex Manfredi
Assistant Sports Editor
Bryan Aparicio
Assistant Sports Editor
Sierra Martinez
Assistant Photo Editor
Sabrina Flores
Social Media Assistant
Cristal Gomez
Social Media Assistant
Brenna Enos
Design Adviser
Gary Metzker
Content Adviser Advertising and Business Adviser
The lunar event, known as the super blood wolf moon, lit up the sky Sunday night.
Claudia Mehranbod
Social Media Editor
Assistant Design Editor
AUSTIN BRUMBLAY | Daily 49er
James Chow
Barbara Kingsley-Wilson Jennifer Newton
Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in this issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinions of the Daily 49er are expressed only in unsigned editorials and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the journalism department or the views of all staff members. All such editorials are written by the editorial board of the Daily 49er. Letters Policy: All letters and email must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words. The Daily 49er reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.
NEWS 3
JANUARY 22-27, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | CITYD49ER@GMAIL.COM
Photo Illustration by RYAN GUITARE | Daily 49er
Long Beach State proposed an update for the Alumni center and additional on-campus housing for students Saturday, Jan. 19. The area in red represents the projected location of the Alumni center.
CAMPUS
LBSU updates community on housing and alumni center At a neighborhood meeting Saturday, attendees express concern about the construction projects as well as a Puvungna study dropped from the agenda. By James Chow & Hannah Getahun Staff Writers
L
ong Beach State will undergo its first on-campus housing initiative in 30 years this summer. The plans for a residence hall along Atherton Street is expected to phase into construction this August. In accordance the campus’ 2008 master plan, LBSU officials are undergoing this housing initiative to double the number of beds on campus. Updates on this construction project were revealed at a Long Beach State sponsored community meeting at the Barrett Athletic Administration Center Saturday. Currently, the plan calls for building a three-story residence hall along Atherton and a four-story building facing campus. The net-zero housing, which will use as much renewable energy as it produces, will be offered to freshman. The residence halls will provide an additional 450 beds for students, and officials hope the project will be finished by May 2021. “Students living on campus have been shown to increase student success, student retention, reduce[d] time to graduation,” said Michael Gardner, capital projects manager for Physical Planning and Facilities Management. Another construction project in the works is the alumni center, which is still in
its conceptual stage. The proposed alumni center was presented as a 7,000-square-foot, one-story building next to the Walter Pyramid. It will consist of a library, a board room, a lobby for small receptions and some office spaces. The Pointe, which is connected to the Pyramid, will be utilized for banquets, pre-game activities and conferences. “This space that we chosen really does make the most sense as we utilize space concerns and existing infrastructure that we already have here on campus,” said Michele Cesca, vice president of university relations. Original plans for the center’s location had placed it at the corner of Merriam Way and Atherton Street. The center also initially encompassed 15,000 square feet. However, university officials changed the location after community concerns about the placement affecting parking. Constructing the center by the Pyramid sets the center back at least 70 feet from the street and takes up 2 percent of the lawn area. To prevent an obstruction of the view, administration decided to make the center one-story. “We have landscaped with trees only to help concerns with neighbors so that we are really mitigating any noise that would be generated … and just as a beautification type of activity,” Cesca said. During a community discussion at the
meeting, neighbors brought up concerns that the university had promised the green space near the pyramid would remain empty. Some believed the green space should be preserved for activities like women’s rugby practices and graduation. During the meeting, it was announced that the Puvungna study agenda item was dropped because there was not enough information to share with the community about it, Gardner said. According to Gardner, the study is to assess the land and its future. Melissa Soto, project manager at PPFM, said the study is a yearlong process that includes finding out what the American Indian community, students and faculty on campus feel about the space. “Right now I feel like we are in the phase of understanding what the space means to different groups of people,” Soto said. According to Gardner, PPFM has been meeting with the American Indian studies program to discuss the Puvungna study and collaborating with Craig Stone, director of American Indian Studies. “I think what should be done with that land is what we should be talking about,” Gardner said. “Should the current uses be more formalized?” Community members, some of whom were also American Indians, expressed concern that the school’s plan to meet with a landscape architect meant that they were
going to develop on the land. “We don’t want development in Puvungna,” said Jan Sampson, LBSU alumnus and Long Beach resident. “No big cement buildings, no cement or concrete.” Gardner said this study was not about development, but rather about making sure there is a defined plan for the space to deal with issues such as construction debris, non-native trees and fire protection. “I think everyone is better off if there is a plan rather than waiting to see what is going to happen to it,” Gardner said. According to Gardner, examples of what they are looking at include turning a storm drain back into a natural creek. “[Puvungna] is a home base for a lot of Native people in Long Beach and sometimes I just feel like the school is doing all this stuff with Puvungna and Native people around here don’t always know what’s going on,” Sampson said. While the American Indian studies faculty on campus is being updated, she said, the greater American Indian community is left in the dark. “The entire Indian community has to be told what’s the future of Puvungna and what the future of these meetings are involving,” Sampson said. For information on future meetings and community updates, visit csulb.edu/ beachcommunity.
4 NEWS
JANUARY 22-27, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | CITYD49ER@GMAIL.COM
OBITUARY
LBSU remembers Alexandra “Misty” Jaffe Friends, family and faculty share their thoughts and memories in honor of the late professor. CSULB
Professor and chair of Long Beach State linguistics department, Alexandra “Misty” Jaffe, who passed away Nov. 20, 2018, is remembered by colleagues and staff.
By Zulema Suarez Staff Writer
Long Beach State professor Alexandra “Misty” Jaffe passed away Nov. 20, 2018. Her life is remember by her family and colleagues. Jaffe was born Jan. 11, 1960 in Lansing, MI. She grew up in a loving home that valued higher education. From the early age of 10, Jaffe knew she wanted to be involved in academia, and nothing would get in the way of her goals. She grew up grew up working towards a Ph.D, and her trajectory was clear and attainable, according to a document obtained by Jaffe’s husband. She grew up in a home that assessed people based on their values and actions above all else. Her mother taught her that just because she was smart, it did not mean there wasn’t someone smarter than her. Jaffe’s mother died when she was 13, and her father died when she was 18. In spite of these tragedies, Jaffe said she considered herself to have a very happy childhood, because her parents provided “a baseline of love and emotional stability” that gave her the strength to take care of herself. Jaffe was 16 years old when she enrolled at the University of Delaware. Her father encouraged her to sign up for ROTC, where she
got a full scholarship that paid for her undergraduate degree in English and French. She got her master’s at Indiana University in Linguistics Anthropology while she was serving in the reserves. Upon completing her master’s degree, she went on to serve four years in Germany, then returned to complete her doctorate degree. Her doctorate research took her to the island of Corsica, which soon became her second home. She did research there every year during the summer, and bought a small house there as well. She moved to California with her husband and two daughters in 2001 to teach at LBSU. In 2005, she became a professor, and in 2008 she received a joint appointment in Linguistics and Anthropology. She was the chair of the linguistics department, and served as the College of Liberal Arts Faculty Council Chair for six years. She was also the editor of “Linguistics and Education and the Journal of Linguistic Anthropology.” Jaffe considered herself a resilient, adaptable and successful woman, as did many others. Jaffe is survived by her husband, Jeff Pachuilo, her daughters, Olivia and Eleanor Jaffe-Pachuilo, her brother Chris Jaffe and his family and her step mother, Jo Ann Jaffe. A memorial service will take place on campus in January 2019.
“She was a visionary who saw what the future could hold. She then set her sight on that goal and with dogged determination, she achieved all those goals. My place was the enabler, ensuring that she had the resources and time, and then executing the plans to make our dreams reality,” -Jeff Pachuilo, her husband “She was my best friend. She was so calm, even when dealing with tough issues. An amazing human, we often joked around and said she must be a robot because she seemed like she had endless time. She never made anyone feel like she had somewhere else to go, even though she was so busy all the time. I cannot imagine how my life is going to be without her in it.” -Barbara LeMaster, director of ASL linguistics and deaf cultures “She took a lot of time mentoring students. She was involved with so many campus initiatives. She was very busy, energetic, dedicated, great at multitasking. She had a brilliant mind. It’s rare to find that kind of leadership. She will leave a big hole here at CSULB.”
-Gabriel Anton, linguistics department coordinator “Misty’s energetic and supportive leadership and collaborative spirit brought people together. She worked tirelessly to foster intellectual growth among her students and colleagues and always emphasized inclusion and the importance of diversity in participation and representation. Misty was also incredibly fun to be around. Her amazing sense of humor brought light and laughter to those of us who were fortunate to work with her. We will miss her deeply.” -Wendy Klein, associate professor, joint appointment in linguistics and anthropology “Misty’s knowledge of our college, campus and community, and her generosity with that knowledge was such that I always had a running list of ‘questions to ask Misty. She was a full participant in every aspect of our faculty lives from service, to students, to her own scholarship. She was deeply thoughtful and kind. I will miss her.” -Deborah Thien, geography professor, human development chair
NEWS 5
JANUARY 22-27, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | CITYD49ER@GMAIL.COM
ACADEMICS
Projected Translation Studies minor coming to LBSU Fall 2019 As translation services become more of a necessity, LBSU hopes to set up a new minor. Long Beach State is the first CSU school to offer a translation studies minor.
By Suzane Jlelati News Assistant suzanejlelati
L
ong Beach State plans to introduce a translation studies minor in fall 2019. In the California State University and University of California systems, there are courses in translation but no institute or center with a focus on translation studies. The translation studies minor is under the Romance German Russian Language department. The minor will be composed of 15 units. Courses include TRST 201, an introduction to the world of translation, TRST 301, a theory and methods class and TRST 401, a workshop styled course to apply what they have learned on translation projects. Students must also take two electives: a third year of language with an option to test out of it and the second elective can be anything from their own disciplinary major. The university is also in the works of
creating an internship program and post baccalaureate certificate program for translation studies. Two textbooks have been developed and one has been picked up by a publisher. The Clorinda Donato Center for Global Romance Languages and Translation Studies, set up by the Chancellor’s office on Jan. 21, 2017 and created through a donation from Mario Giannini a supporter of Italian Studies, is hitting its two year mark. It will serve as a research center for Romance Languages and Translation Studies. Clorinda Donato, the director of the center and a professor of French and Italian, will oversee all of the operations. Manuel Romero, associate director of the center, will assist with the development of courses. “One of the great things about this minor is that it gives you the baseline understanding and skills and immediately allows you to put together with your major and the language you’re working in,” Donato said. A term Donato emphasizes is localiza-
tion, or making products and ideas accessible in the local environment. Translation studies can help market product differently in every country to fit the local language and culture. According to Donato, audio visual translation, which includes everything from dubbing to subtitles and voice overs, also plays a major role in the world of translation. A publishing house is also in the works and would function in translating fiction and nonfiction. As of now, the current focus would be in Romance languages but will soon include Asian languages and as many other languages deemed possible. Announcements will be made soon when the publishing house will be made official. “[With] the courses, students add from their area of expertise,” Donato said. “It is our hope that over time each department will create a special course that links their discipline to translation studies.” The first course, RGRL 490, an exploration of a specific topic related to language, literature, linguistics, translation, or culture within RGRL, is being offered
Pixabay
now as a pilot Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. in LAB 200. There is still room for students to enroll. One goal for incorporating translation studies on campus would be creating more courses in technology and translation, audio and video translation, as there is a need to acquire more knowledge in how the software works. Another goal is to become a center which offers translation services, which could generate revenue for the university and provide work for students. A master’s degree program is another aim for those who already work in the translation industry. Donato said the goal is to create a program with a baseline of three courses in the M.A. level. Students would specialize in a thesis that includes a translation, which would offer the opportunity to have a fully developed course offering. “Our goal is to allow students to have translation studies work in as great a synergy as possible with their own discipline,” Donato said.
6 ARTS & LIFE
ARTS & LIFE 7
JANUARY 22-27, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | ARTSNLIFED49ER@GMAIL.COM
EVENT
A great day for a parade
Christopher Garcia, 13, of Long Beach Latino Community, Power and Justice carries a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. (above) Rita, 9, of Long Beach Latino Community, Power and Justice organization proudly holds a sign for equality during the parade. (bottom, right) A Port of Long Beach float participant shows his banner quoting Martin Luther King Jr. to the crowd. (below, left)
Long Beach celebrated its diversity on Saturday as politicians, schools and churches marched together for the 31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade. The crowd lined Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to vibrant dance, music and speeches as the 89 floats made the one mile journey down the street. The Christ Second Baptist Church proudly dances down the street, waving their flags (above) and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia (right) greets spectators and delivers a speech as his float opens the parade. Two young parade watchers (center) enjoy the parade floats in the sunny weather. Photos by AUSTIN BRUMBLAY| Daily 49er
BRENNA ENOS | Daily 49er
8 NEWS
JANUARY 22-27, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | CITYD49ER@GMAIL.COM
PERSONNEL
Associate VP says farewell to the Beach Terri Carbaugh will move to Brandman University in March. By Hannah Getahun Assistant News Editor hannahgetahun
A
fter serving the Long Beach State community for six years, Associate Vice President Terri Carbaugh is leaving to work as vice chancellor of public affairs at Brandman University in Irvine. “It was a bittersweet decision,” Carbaugh said. “It’s been a privilege representing the campus community in Sacramento, Washington D.C. and through the press … [but] I view Brandman University as … a continuum of the work I’m doing at Long Beach. It expands my horizons in that it is an independent institution and an online system.” Carbaugh’s last day was Jan. 15, but no
one has been hired to replace her yet. For the time being, Jeff Bliss, executive director of media and digital news, will serve as interim associate vice president. Carbaugh will begin her job at Brandman University March 11. During her time at LBSU, Carbaugh helped campaign for the Long Beach Promise, which is a plan that gives all students in the Long Beach Unified School District the opportunity to go to college in Long Beach. “That’s a pretty extraordinary opportunity, and it was really a pleasure to be a part of such a meaningful educational endeavor,” Carbaugh said. She said she has also enjoyed her role training faculty experts in communicating their research and its relevance to the public. “Long Beach is a treasure trove of exper-
tise and so having had the opportunity to help convey why the knowledge generated on our campus is so relevant to the larger community was really important work,” Carbaugh said. Carbaugh said she has learned many lessons from the faculty, administration and mostly, students. She is grateful for the “top notch team” of local and national journalists she worked with at LBSU and the experiences that she will carry with her when she goes to Brandman. She added that she looks forward to keeping up with the future of Long Beach and its students while working at Brandman University. “I’ll miss the energy and the synergy of the campus community,” Carbaugh said. “It’s a community that comes together in good and in bad times.”
CSULB Office of Public Affairs
Long Beach State Associate Vice President Terri Carbaugh is leaving to work as vice chancellor of public affairs at Brandman University in Irvine.
Help People Thrive with a Master’s in Social Work or Psychology Advance your skills as a professional social worker or counselor with Azusa Pacific’s Master of Social Work (MSW) or M.A. in Clinical Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) programs and graduate equipped to empower others with tools to thrive.
Master of Social Work
M.A. in Clinical Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy
Prepare to help others through professional counseling, community-based interventions, and nonprofit leadership. California prelicensure courses are available.
Help couples and families restore relationships through this program that meets current California licensure requirements.
Full-time, part-time, and Advanced Standing options I 60 units
apu.edu/mft
apu.edu/msw
GET STARTED TODAY!
Call (626) 815-4570 or email gpadmissions@apu.edu.
2-4 year program options I 67-86 units
ARTS & LIFE 9
JANUARY 22-27, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | ARTSNLIFED49ER@GMAIL.COM
IMDB
“Friends from College” released its second season in January, presenting a more polished and enjoyable story with the same talented cast.
REVIEW
Hang out with ‘Friends from College’
The Netflix original comedy series perfectly balances humor and drama in a relatable manner. By Samantha Diaz Managing Editor samanthadiaz98
W
hile the world is still rejoicing that $100 million Netflix spent to keep “Friends” for another year, there is a much better, funnier and painfully underrated show that no one is talking about, and its second season just came out. The Netflix original, “Friends From College,” a comedy series dealing with the strains of adulthood which premiered last summer, returned for a second season in January with more self-deprecating humor and less happy-go-lucky friendship than the first. The season pulls us into the aftermath of the group falling out, a year after finding out that two of their friends, Sam and Ethan, were having an affair — for decades. Each character is still dealing with their own problems, such as struggling to get pregnant, trying to write a book or planning a wedding, all played out with comedic grace. The facade of happiness is gone for the group of middle aged friends as a result of revealed affairs within the circle. The care-
free laughter we’d gotten used to has been replaced by cutting jokes at the expense of each other and a sense of uncertainty: Can their friendship survive the strain of adulthood? Is it better if it doesn’t? It all sounds very “Lifetime-y,” with the adultery and romantic flings, which is why it’s impressive that creator and executive producer Nicholas Stoller is able to make it so enjoyable rather than cringy and predictable. It also helps that the cast is so fun to watch — where else can you get Keegan-Michael Key, Fred Savage and Nat Faxon performing with imaginary instruments at a funeral wake? It’s also weirdly comforting to watch the show as a college student, imagining what you’ll be like 20 years down the road. Hopefully with a wardrobe like Sam and a somewhat put together life and relationship like Max and Felix (Billy Eichner). Yes, you’re watching a group of well-off Harvard graduates go through their midlife crises, and yes, it is annoying that most of them never seem to be working (unless it’s suddenly convenient for the plot), but you’re actually able to sympathize and relate to the characters. Stoller doesn’t try to make every character likeable and he doesn’t rely on cliché
stereotypes and catchphrases for you to relate to someone. Everyone is fully formed, with their own issues and unique traits and you don’t need to like or even enjoy all of them. There’s no villain, but you’re certainly validated to be annoyed by some of the characters, then rooting for them an episode later — no wait we’re annoyed by them again, okay we like them again. Just like real friends, right? The characters are complicated and deal with their problems, stumbling and constantly second guessing themselves, just like the rest of us. You don’t really hate Sam and Ethan for cheating on their spouses; you empathize with them as they try to cope with their guilt and do the right thing. You might even start rooting for them when you see the actual chemistry Key and Annie Parisse have together. While the show opts for a more serious tone in its second season, it’s done subtly and doesn’t try to be something it’s not. There are moments just like the first season that make you ache for the characters, but this time it’s not undermined by simultaneous attempts at humor anymore. When Lisa is struggling to have a baby, you’re allowed to feel her sadness. There’s no elaborate scheme to break into a clinic for a vial of hor-
mones this time. The show doesn’t forget its humorous roots, though. There are few attempts at humorous gags, but most of the comedy comes from the characters’ ability to laugh at themselves and their situations, and it’s reassuring to watch. It’s as if the show were telling you, “Life is going to kick your ass sometimes, but you might as well laugh while it’s happening.” The friends use humor to cope, but it doesn’t feel forced when they all make jokes at each other’s expense. It’s the best portrayal I’ve seen of a group of friends just hanging out and enjoying the company, and it’s one of the funniest shows I’ve seen in a long time. Although it doesn’t have a huge following, hopefully more people will catch on and give the show a chance, so I can spend more time with my “Friends From College.”
Rating
10
JANUARY 22-27, 2019
DAILY49ER.COM
SPORTS 11
JANUARY 22-27, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | SPORTSD49ER@GMAIL.COM
BASKETBALL
Long Beach has hot start By Kevin Colindres Sports Editor kevinjcolindres
O
ver winter break, the Long Beach men’s and women’s basketball team wrapped up their preseason and began Big West conference play. Both teams went 2-1 to open up conference play. Men’s Basketball The 49ers picked up wins against UC Davis at the Walter Pyramid and a road win against UC Irvine before dropping their first match against Fullerton. Senior point guard Deishuan Booker is averaging 31 points in this three-game stretch, while redshirt senior Temidayo Yussuf has been out with knee soreness. While the scoring may not be sustainable, it has been a good start for Long Beach against stronger opponents. Senior forwards KJ Byers and Mason Riggins have
been crucial to the team’s recent success, combining for 19 points and 17 rebounds per game. Women’s Basketball Long Beach had a rough preseason, only winning three games to start the year. The 49ers have picked it up where it matters most: winning two of their first three conference games. Sophomore guard Shanaijiah Davison continues to be a standout averaging 14.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. While UC Riverside and Cal Poly aren’t the strongest teams in the Big West, defeating them is a confidence booster for the 49ers as they haven’t experienced much winning in the preseason. Freshman guard Justina King has contributed as well, averaging 10.7 points, while sophomore forward Naomi Hunt has been contributing 10 points a game. It’s still early in conference play, but both teams have proven they can possibly contend for a Big West championship come May.
AUSTIN BRUMBLAY | Daily 49er Sophomore guard Shanaijah Davison attempts a layup against a Grand Canyon defender Dec. 16. The sophomore leads the 49ers in scoring with 10.7 points a game.
Join the Fast-Growing Athletic Training and Physical Therapy Fields Develop the advanced skills and knowledge needed for careers in athletic training and physical therapy with a graduate degree from Azusa Pacific. You’ll study with faculty who are active professionals in their respective fields as you learn to care for patients holistically. Graduate equipped to help people thrive.
M.S. in Athletic Training
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Gain the skills and knowledge to become an athletic trainer and prepare for successful completion of the national Board of Certification, Inc. (BOC) examination.
Complete the doctorate in just 34 months as you become equipped for one of the fastest growing areas in health care.
apu.edu/athletictraining
APPLY TODAY!
Call (626) 815-4570 or email gpadmissions@apu.edu.
apu.edu/dpt
12 SPORTS
JANUARY 22-27, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | SPORTSD49ER@GMAIL.COM
COLUMN
AUSTIN BRUMBLAY | Daily 49er Senior guard Deishuan Booker celebrates a made basket by raising his arms to the crowd against Fullerton Saturday. The 49ers would fall in overtime 92-90, giving them their first loss of the season.
Long Beach will go as far as Booker takes them Booker’s ability to draw fouls can make Long Beach a legitimate contender in the Big West. By Alex Manfredi
Deputy Sports Editor alexmanfr3di
As far as Long Beach State men’s basketball goes, for the most part no one expected this strong of a start to Big West conference play. From Long Beach fans posting to online community message boards to the Daily 49er sports staff, Long Beach (8-11, 2-1 Big West) has been a pleasant surprise for many, just one week into conference play. Long Beach started its Big West journey with a home win over last year’s regular season conference champion, UC Davis 82-77. The result was impressive since the 49ers placed fifth in the standings last year. UC Davis also has the reigning conference player of the year in TJ Shorts II. Long Beach followed the win over Davis with an upset win on the road over UC Irvine 80-70. The Anteaters are the clear-cut favorite to win the Big West this year, and
BIG WEST STANDINGS
UC Santa Barbara UC Irvine
Long Beach
Long Beach went into the Bren Center and stunned them. After the game, the team surprised head coach Dan Monson in the locker room and showered him with water in a post-game celebration. On Saturday, Long Beach dropped a game in overtime to Cal State Fullerton 92-90. A dazzling statistic from Long Beach’s first conference game was how many times the 49ers got to the free-throw line. Led by senior point guard Deishuan Booker’s 19-for20 shooting from the stripe, the team shot 42 total free-throws compared to UC Davis’ 14 attempts. A crucial part of the 49ers’ early Big West success has been Booker and the team’s ability to draw fouls. Long Beach has 95 total attempts to its opponent’s 57. When your leading scorer is also tied for 20th in the nation in free-throw percentage (89.4 percent), it’s a sign that the team should continue attacking the paint. If Long Beach can continue getting to the line significantly more than its opponents,
W
L
OVERALL
3
14-3
3
0 1
2
1
8-11
15-5
Hawaii CSUN
Fullerton
the 49ers have a shot at being a top three team in the conference. Even more, they will have a legitimate shot at contending for a Big West tournament championship if Booker continues scoring at a torrid pace. Part of the 49ers’ steady improvement from the preseason until now has been at the hands of Booker. The Las Vegas native is currently averaging 31 points, four assists and four steals in Big West play. From clutch three pointers to key defensive stops, this team currently goes as far as Booker goes. Even though Booker has been the heartbeat of this team, senior forward KJ Byers and sophomore Drew Cobb have brought much needed energy on both ends of the floor. Senior forward Mason Riggins has stepped up in the post, grabbing eight rebounds per game since the departure of redshirt senior forward Temidayo Yussuf. Yussuf played a major role on this team throughout the pre-season, averaging 13 points and seven rebounds per game, but has not played since Dec. 29 due to knee
W
L
OVERALL
2 2
1 2
11-6 8-12
2
2
6-12
soreness. Without Yussuf the 49ers have played at a faster pace, and less of an “inside-out” brand of basketball. Yussuf is the team’s most physical presence, and Long Beach has had to adjust its use of big men. The 49ers have utilized more high-post entries to Riggins and Byers through pick and rolls and other set plays. When Yussuf returns, Long Beach will become even more dangerous. Booker, Yussuf and the rest of the 49ers have already proven they can hang with some of the top teams in the Big West. While it’s been quite the surprise, conference play is always a toss-up as to what team will take the title. This week will tell a lot about the current state of the 49ers, with a road matchup at Cal State Northridge and a home game against UC Santa Barbara. If they come out 2-0 over the Matadors and Gauchos, the 49ers will be a legitimate threat. For now, let’s enjoy what a surprise Booker and Long Beach have been.
UC Riverside
UC Davis Cal Poly
W
L
OVERALL
1
3
1
3
7-13 5-13
0
3
4-12