Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer
Those quirky team names such as Branch West Basketball Academy, Love 'N Basketball and EA All-Stars won't be on Division I schedules anymore.
As part of several NCAA rule changes in college basketball, programs will no longer play traveling or club teams. Instead, they must play accredited four-year universities, meaning NAIA teams such as The Master's College or Cal Baptist will now be on big-time schedules.
The Master's College men's basketball coach Bill Oates, who also serves as the school's athletic director, welcomed the change.
``We like it from the standpoint that we enjoy playing Division I schools and haven't been able to schedule them,'' Oates said. ``Usually, they'll play exhibition or club teams. It's a chance for us to play against great competition and see where we're at.''
Division I schools can play two exhibition games but NAIA schools are allowed to play only one. The Master's College will play USC as an exhibition game on Nov. 12 but its Nov. 8 game against Cal State Northridge will count as a regular-season game. For Cal State Northridge, it is an exhibition game.
``Actually, I think it's a good thing because of the competition and we have the opportunity to help NAIA schools and Division II schools,'' CSUN coach Bobby Braswell said. ``I feel better giving these teams (guaranteed) money than these traveling teams and all-star teams.''
CSUN plays The Master's and UC San Diego as part of its exhibition schedule. USC plays Occidental College and The Master's. UCLA plays Simon Fraser, a university in Canada, and Centro Universitario Mineiro Uberlandia, a university from Brazil. Pepperdine plays Fort Lewis (Colo.) and Cal Baptist.
Local basketball gurus Dana and David Pump used to run as many as six EA Sports All-Star teams that played games at schools throughout the country. David Pump said they made anywhere from $3,000-15,000 a game.
--Pepperdine transfers: Pepperdine senior guard Terrance Johnson did not meet NCAA requirements and was ruled academically ineligible. He transferred to NAIA Cal Baptist. Johnson was the Waves' third-leading scorer with 14.8 points per game. Shaun Davis, who averaged 8.1 points as a freshman last year, was ineligible and transferred to College of Southern Idaho.
--News and notes: Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun was named the recipient of the Legends of Coaching John R. Wooden Award at the college basketball tipoff luncheon Thursday at the Los Angeles Downtown Athletic Club.
Jill Painter, (818) 713-3615
jill.painter(at)dailynews.com
