Pepperdine’s Gardner Shooting to End Slump

SANTA CLARA â€”  This is not how Jelani Gardner envisioned his college career ending.

After being named to his second consecutive All-West Coast Conference men’s basketball team, the fifth-year senior guard and his Pepperdine Waves will be playing for survival against San Francisco today at noon as they open the WCC tournament at Toso Pavilion.

But at a time when it seems the second-place Waves need him most, Gardner is experiencing one of his coldest streaks since coming to Malibu from Berkeley after his sophomore season.

In the last four games, three of which the Waves lost, Gardner is averaging fewer than 10 points on 30% shooting, 25% from three-point range. Against San Francisco two weeks ago, Gardner made one of 11 shots, and last Friday, when the Waves defeated first-place Gonzaga, Gardner found himself someplace he hadn’t been in 54 games at Pepperdine--on the bench. Coach Lorenzo Romar told Gardner he wasn’t pleased with Gardner’s defense.

But that hasn’t gotten Gardner down.

“I don’t think I’m in a slump,� said Gardner, averaging 14.2 points this season. “My confidence has not waned at all. I feel good, but shots just aren’t falling right now.�

Gardner also mentioned that in the last game of the regular season, a 59-53 loss to last-place Portland, he was taken out in the second half because of his defense after he had made a three-point basket and a three-point play.

In that game and the night before against Gonzaga, Pepperdine seemed to play better without him.

“That’s good,� Gardner said. “I have the utmost respect for my team. When they can play well without me, that’s when we’re at our best and that’s when we’re an NCAA team.�

Another reason for Gardner’s refusal to let his and his team’s slide get him down comes from home. On Feb. 1, Gardner’s son, Jaice, was born. With that and the coming NBA draft, Gardner has more than the WCC tournament on his mind.

But he said when noon comes, the focus will be there.

Pepperdine is 18-11 overall and 9-5 in the conference; San Francisco is 12-17, 4-10.

At 8:30 tonight, Loyola Marymount (11-15, 6-8) plays Santa Clara (12-14, 8-6) in what could be the closest first-round game. The Lions are seeded fifth, the Broncos fourth, and the teams split this year, each winning at home.

The Lions won three more conference games than a year ago, and moved up three spots from their No. 8 seeding in 1998. And this year, Haywood Eaddy will be carrying a little hardware into the tournament.

Last year, the Loyola Marymount point guard did not receive All-WCC recognition, though it seemed deserved. This year, the 5-foot-4 senior was a unanimous selection.

“It’s definitely good to know you’ve earned some respect around the league,� Eaddy said.

Eaddy is looking to carry the momentum of his selection onto the court at Toso Pavilion.

“I’m not holding anything back,� he said. “I know I’m going to have to do something special for us to win.�

WCC Tournament

TOSO PAVILION, SANTA CLARA

FIRST ROUND, TODAY

* No. 2 Pepperdine (18-11, 9-5) vs.

No. 7 San Francisco (12-17, 4-10), noon

* No. 1 Gonzaga (22-6, 12-2) vs.

No. 8 Portland (9-17, 3-11), 2:30

* No. 3 San Diego (18-8, 9-5) vs.

No. 6 St. Mary’s (12-17, 5-9), 6

* No. 4 Santa Clara (12-14, 8-6) vs.

No. 5 Loyola Marymount (11-15, 6-8), 8:30

SECOND ROUND, SUNDAY

* Highest seed vs. lowest seed

* Second-highest seed vs. third-highest

CHAMPIONSHIP MONDAY

* 9 p.m., ESPN

Note: In second round, games are at 5:30 and 8, but who plays when is uncertain. The only guarantee is that the winner of the 8:30 game tonight plays in Sunday’s 8 p.m. game.