ESPN's Diamond Leung gives some love to USF

San Jose native Rex Walters enjoyed what I call the ultimate season in coaching during 2010-2011 in that the the sum of his players were greater than the parts and the squad got better as the schedule progressed. Walters and Kerry Keating at Santa Clara should have been named the co-coaches of the West Coast Conference (Randy Bennett nabbed the honor for another superb Gael go-around).

The season included a win against Colorado (a borderline Big Dance possibility), one against Gonzaga in overtime, plus a pair of victories over Santa Clara and Portland.

Having the 'Nightmare on Fulton Street' finally conclude for USF athletics with the naming of new AD Scott Sidwell can only better a situation that was untenable for far too long.

Northern California prepsters who contributed to the success of the Dons (19-15 overall) are:

* Angelo (Archbishop Mitty) Caliaro, a senior-to-be starter who started all 34 games, averaged 33+ minutes of playing time and led the team in rebounding

* Charles (Capital Christian) Standifer was injured his freshman year, participating in but nine games and hopefully can gain an extra year of eligibility. There's a lot of potential in that young man.

Plus, 6-foot-8 San Ramon Valley star Mark Tollefsen is entering the program.

Here is Diamond Leung with some post-season USF admiration.

A fascinating idea

This could only have come from the mind of a younger coach:

The laptop screen showed that Cody Doolin's heart rate had reached the red zone, meaning he was giving his maximum effort during a recent basketball practice at the University of San Francisco. 

The freshman guard is one of the team's hardest workers and among its fittest players, typically burning 1,700 calories over the course of a 40-minute game. These days, the coaches know this not just based on a hunch but because they have scientific evidence to prove it...

Read more.

Charles Standifer to USF

Rivals' Eric Bossi is reporting that former Capitol Christian and Woodcreek High star Charles Standifer has signed on with Coach Rex Walters and USF. Go here.

Here's Standifer doing his Phi Slamma Jama imitation. Here is more of a game highlight film.