MEET THE MATADORS

BOBBY BRASWELL

Coach

5th Year

College: Northridge

High school: Cleveland

* He has an 85-62 record in five years at Northridge, including 22-9 this season for the school’s best mark since moving to Division I in 1990. Twice before this season he led the Matadors to within one victory of an NCAA tournament berth, losing in the conference tournament final. Had success at Cleveland High (79-16 in four seasons, two City Section finals) and as an assistant at Long Beach State and Oregon. His assistants are Michael Johnson (7th year), Shon Tarver (1st year) and Eric Brown (3rd year).

JOEY BUSCH

Height: 6-7

Year: Junior

Position: Forward

Hometown: Upland

High school: Upland

* The Chaffey College transfer started at times this season. He provides quality minutes on the front line with his defense and has a soft touch around the basket. He averages 4.0 points and 3.4 rebounds, and will likely get a lot of playing time against the taller Jayhawks, although he often gets into foul trouble.

DENNY OGDEN

Height: 6-2

Year: Senior

Position: Guard

Hometown: Arcadia

High school: Temple City

* The Glendale College transfer was known for his long-range shooting before arriving at Northridge, but has had trouble scoring in the Big Sky. He averages 1.4 points playing less than six minutes a game.

DAN READ

Height: 6-10

Year: Sophomore

Position: Center

Hometown: Eugene, Ore.

High school: North Eugene

* He averages 1.1 points and 1.2 rebounds while playing eight minutes a game. He’s listed at 225 pounds, same as Heinle, but looks much lighter and had problems defending in the post this season against conference opponents.

CRAIG CALLOWAY

Height: 6-1

Year: Sophomore

Position: Guard

Hometown: Long Beach

High school: Jordan

* An athletic player whose role diminished as McCain and Benjamin improved during the course of the season. He averaged less than a point and rebound in six minutes a game.

JERMAR WELCH

Height: 6-7

Year: Senior

Position: Forward

Hometown: Moreno Valley

High school: Canyon Springs

* He provided solid minutes during the Big Sky Conference tournament and is averaging 2.9 points and 2.1 rebounds in 8 1/2 minutes. On track to gain another year of eligibility after he was an academic nonqualifier as a freshman.

KEITH JACKSON

Height: 6-0

Year: Freshman

Position: Guard

Hometown: Inglewood

High school: St. Bernard

* A walk-on who redshirted last season and has seen little playing time this year. He averaged more than 13 points and six assists as a senior point guard at St. Bernard.

BRIAN HEINLE

Height: 6-9

Year: Senior

Position: Center

Hometown: Eugene, Ore.

High school: Sheldon

* The Big Sky Conference player of the year averaged 20.4 points and 9.4 rebounds while reaching double figures in both categories 18 times. He faces a formidable task in trying to score and play defense against a front line that includes 7-foot-1 Eric Chenowith and three players 6-9. Matadors need him to play well and stay out of foul trouble.

LIONEL BENJAMIN

Height: 6-4

Year: Sophomore

Position: Forward

Hometown: Long Beach

High school: Lakewood

* Pushed into more playing time because of an injury to senior Jeff Parris, Benjamin has been a surprising force up front. A good interior defender, he averages 2.5 points and 1.8 rebounds, but those numbers in the last month of play have nearly tripled since becoming a starter.

CARL HOLMES

Height: 6-2

Year: Senior

Position: Guard/Forward

Hometown: Harrisburg, Ore.

High school: North Eugene

* A consummate role player who usually guards the other team’s top offensive swing player. He averages 7.4 points and 3.7 rebounds a game. He is Coach Bobby Braswell’s nephew and often makes clutch plays, especially defensively, down the stretch.

MARCO McCAIN

Height: 6-3

Year: Senior

Position: Guard

Hometown: Cerritos

High school: Long Beach Jordan

* The second-year transfer from Cerritos College, where he helped the team win a state championship, is another defensive stopper who averages 8.4 points and 2.7 rebounds. He also provides quality minutes as backup point guard.

MARKUS CARR

Height: 6-1

Year: Junior

Position: Guard

Hometown: Palmdale

High school: Palmdale

* He leads the nation with 8.8 assists a game and is Northridge’s career leader. He averages 8.4 points and 2.4 rebounds, is an outstanding defensive player and usually takes the Matadors’ final shot with the game on the line.

JEFF PARRIS

Height: 6-5

Year: Senior

Position: Forward

Hometown: Long Beach

High school: Long Beach Jordan

* A back injury slowed him in the second half of the season, but he could get the start today over Benjamin, Holmes or McCain. He averages 13.9 points and 4.5 rebounds. He was the first recruit Braswell signed five years ago and the Matadors are tough to beat when he plays well.

JOHN BURRELL

Height: 6-3

Year: Senior

Position: Guard/Forward

Hometown: Palmdale

High school: Highland

* A former starter and streaky shooter who can provide instant offense and carry the scoring load for minutes at a time. He averages 14.5 points and 2.7 rebounds. He transferred to Northridge after three years at Nevada.