New Regime, Who Dis?

Checking Out The Matadors

July Workout at CSUN

Took a trip out to The Valley, to watch Summer Workouts at CSUN, and talk with new Head Coach Andy Newman. The session lasted about ninety minutes, as the team worked on a variety of things, ending in some five-one-five work between the two units. The PhD of the Hardwood, Alan Zinsmeister also joined in the festivities.

We picked a good day, because there was a tremendous turnout from CSUN brass. Athletic Director Shawn Chin-Farrell stopped by for a bit, as did Associate AD Tyler Mariucci. CSUN Learfield GM Will Carter also checked. Coach Newman's sons, Luke and Cade were also on the scene, running their own workouts, as the team practiced.

Had the chance to speak with assistant Scott Cutley, whose ties with Coach Newman go back to Cal State Fullerton's 2008 Big West Championship team, and CSUN DOBO Casey Norris, who played both at LMU and CBU. Cutley will coach the post players this season. Director of Player Development Bobby Brown also stopped by. Brown has ties to Newman from his Fullerton days, and brings an NBA pedigree to Premier America Credit Union Arena.

What's great about watching these workouts is seeing Alan's reactions, as he always gets excited for a new season. Immediately, he pointed out how comfortable De'Sean Allen-Eikens looked in Coach Newman's offense. Allen-Eikens was scoring from the perimeter and off the dribble in the Black vs. Gray scrimmage at the end of practice. He's coming off of a solid 2022-23 season for the Matadors, where he started all thirty-two games, averaging eleven points and five rebounds in thirty-one minutes.

As far as other returnees, Lamine Niang will be counted on to provide defense and athleticism in the post. All the coaches praised his great attitude and willingness to learn. He showed flashes last season in small samples, but working with Coach Cutley, should definitely help him to up his game. Dionte Bostick did not participate in the session, as he's still rehabbing back home in Florida, but was expected to be on campus by next week, and which time the Sports Medicine Staff at CSUN will evaluate him, and provide date when he'll be cleared to play. Bostick averaged twelve points a game in 2022-23, before missing the last eleven games with an injury.

Transfers Gianni Hunt (Bishop Montgomery HS/Sacramento State) and Jordan Brinson (Westchester HS/Fresno State) ran the point guard position, for the most part, but in Coach Newman's up-tempo system, multiple players will be expected to bring the ball up and down the court. Mahmoud Fofana, who followed Coach Newman over from CSU San Bernardino was relentless, if nothing else, particularly on the offensive glass. While he may be a bit undersized the play the four in the Big West, his energy is infectious, and can definitely reverse the rhythm of a possession at times.

Rounding out the guard play, Quincy McGriff (Santa Monica HS/Duquesne) and Keonte Jones (Midland TX College) showed versatility on both the offensive and defensive side. Perimeter defense should look a bit different this season, with six viable wing players, between 6'4 and 6'6. The Matadors last year, were sometimes forced to defend the perimeter with three players between 6'1 and 6'3. JC Transfer BJ Comer (Ranger TX College) was also not at the session, dealing with some off-the-court responsibilities, as he had family in town.

The two players that stood out to me were 6'8 Freshman Bryan Ndjonga from Cameroon, by way of Bella Vista (AZ) Academy. Ndjonga reclassified from 2024 to 2023 to join the Matadors, and while he's very raw, the talent is evident. Walk-On Kyle Frelow stood out just by his size, a wide-bodied 6-8 230 transfer from UT-Tyler, where he played for former CSUN Assistant Louis Wilson, who, incidentally, also recruited Head Coach Andy Newman to Southern Utah as a player. Frelow was a 2021 graduate of Heritage Christian, in Northridge, and averaged 3.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in fifty career games at UTT, to go with a .574 shooting percentage. He'll likely split time down inside, with Niang, and DeAron Tucker, another holdover from last year's roster.

After the workout, Coach Newman addressed the team-building process. When he took over, most of the incumbent players were already in the portal, but he encouraged them to investigate the program, and style of play he intended to implement. De'Sean Allen-Eikens, per Coach Newman, was the first one to buy in. He immediately withdrew his name from the portal. After that, Bostick also decided he was staying. Newman cited the style of play as the reason for their decisions, but if you talk to Coach Newman for any length of time, you can see he's a pretty good salesman for his brand of basketball.

While this year's schedule was mostly set before he came, Newman did manage to add a couple of guarantee games that should intrigue fans, along with return trips from last year (Northern Colorado and Idaho) to close up home-and-home contracts. The Matadors will also be part of a MTE hosted by Pacific. CSUN has also scheduled two exhibition match-ups in October, to tune up for the season opener. Expect an official schedule to be released sometime in September.

We also spoke about to Coach Newman about making the move from where he was living in Riverside, to The Valley. His older son, Luke, did make a comment about the recent heat in the area, but otherwise seemed happy with the move, shooting baskets on the side, with his younger brother, while his dad coached the session. The family sold their house in Riverside, so they're all-in, in terms of the Northridge area.

Newman was careful about making any kind of solid predictions, with regard to the team's performance, but make no mistake, he was pretty clear that he expects this team to be competitive immediately. They'll look to learn from the early non-conference schedule, as they build toward the opening of the Big West slate on December 28^th. For the second season, The Matadors will open conference play with two road games, at Cal Poly and Long Beach State.

As referenced in this tweet, some new paint has been applied at Premier America Credit Union Arena (or the arena formerly known as The Matadome). The sponsor name is now a bit more prominent on both sides of the floor, and a newly applied coat of red paint adorns the walls, behind the baskets, on either side of the gym. Hopefully by March, the new-look Matadors pop as brightly as the new red walls.

Before we left, we asked Coach Newman about his old boss, Bob Burton, now back up in Northern California, but can’t seem to stay away from the game. He’s moved over to the Women’s Side, as an assistant on Teri Oberg-Hearn’s staff, at San Jose City College. He and Coach Burton still talk a couple of times a week, and he’ll still watch games and offer feedback, when appropriate.

One final note, CSUN Student Manager Alex Fodor will be spending Monday through Thursday next week at The NCAA College Basketball Academy in Memphis. Alex has been tremendous to work with the past two seasons, and this is well-deserved. His ultimate desire is to be a college basketball coach, and this opportunity helps him further that goal. Alex has been such a hard worker over the past two seasons, under some tough circumstances, so nice to see him get a little reward. I have nothing but respect for all student managers. CSUN has seen a few of them move up through the ranks over the years. Hoping Alex continues in that tradition.