Feb 12, 2008

The new mantra

Two Gators paving the way to the playoffs at SF state

By Vytas Mazeika / Daily News Staff Writer

There's a ritual the San Francisco State men's basketball team performs at the end of practice and before every game. It's a ritual that invokes the word "playoffs." It's also a ritual that would've sounded ludicrous only a season ago.
"I think everybody believes in it, that's why we've been doing so well," said junior transfer Darryl Robinson, in his first year with the Gators since coming over from Canada College.

It's quite a simple routine. The team gets together and says "March on 3" - significant because the regular season end Feb. 29. It's also a sign that SF State has turned the corner.

An NCAA Div. II program and member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association, the Gators won only six times last season and went 2-20 in conference. Now ready to start a five-game road stint before finishing off the regular season at home, SF State finds itself a winner of three in a row and currently stands 14-7 overall and 9-5 in CCAA.

A spot as one of the eight teams in the inaugural CCAA conference tournament is virtually guaranteed, and that doesn't start until March 4. There's no slowing down the Gators right now.

"It's like a car," said freshman guard Phoenix O'Rourke, a Serra High product. "We're trying to see how fast this thing can go."

Along for the ride are Robinson and O'Rourke, two local products who only met one another this, their first season at SF state.

"The first day so practice you could tell something special was developing," said Robinson, who graduated from San Mateo High in 2005 but never heard of O'Rourke, who graduated from Serra in 2007. "I had no idea who that kid was. I know a couple of guys of who went to Serra and I was, 'Who is this Phoenix kid?'"

Now O'Rourke is one of his best friends on the team.

"He's like my little brother now," Robinson said.

And what do families tend to do well? Stay in touch. That's how Robinson ended up at SF State.



Robinson's journey

Coach Bill Treseler, in his third year with the Gators, tried to recruit Robinson out of high school while at Dominican University in San Rafael. A series of events led Robinson to choose Canada instead, but after two years at the J.C. level the 6-foot-3, 195-pound swingman found himself in search of a four-year program.

Robinson, 20, got a push from former San Mateo coach Eric Williams, who told him to call the new man in charge at SF State.

"And coach Treseler remembered exactly who I am," Robinson said. "It worked out for the best. Just kind of got reunited with him."

"Darryl is a high-quality person," Treseler said. "The guys really have a ton of respect for this work ethic. ... He's improved more than any guy in the program from Oct. 15 until now."

Treseler called Robinson the leader of the pack when it came to the vigorous fall training program. When Robinson pushes himself, it often rubs off on his teammates.

"Whenever someone starts to get close to me on a sprint or something, I try to pick it up a little more," Robinson said. "I usually don't settle for anything else than first."

Robinson rebounds well and scores when he needs to, but most importantly he plays defense. On this level he can't guard in the post like he could at San Mateo and Canada, but that's about his only limitation.

"He always gets matched up with the other team's top gun," Treseler said. "And he always holds those players below - sometimes significantly below - their scoring average."



O'Rourke's journey

Treseler saw O'Rourke, 18, play at Serra his junior and senior years.

"I really like his whole approach to the game, his mindset, his shooting ability, his toughness," Treseler said.

Hoping to play close to home, the 6-foot, 175-pound O'Rourke played some open gyms at SF state and... well, let him explain it.

"It just seemed like a perfect fit for me," O'Rourke said.

A team player, O'Rourke can hit the open shot, function within the system and has adjusted to coming off the bench to provide the Gators with a spark. In his first college game against Rio Grande in Ohio, O'Rourke hit the game-clinching free throws.

"His first college game, he's in there at the end," Treseler said.

"For a first actual game that counted, that was a good way to start off the career," O'Rourke said. "Coach was happy for me and my mom gave me a call and congratulated me. It was definitely a good feeling."

An injury to a teammate in the ninth game of the season expanded O'Rourke's role. The fact he excelled with the Padres in the West Catholic Athletic League prepared him for the next level.

"There's no nights off and there's definitely not going to be any blowouts, so we have to come prepared every night," O'Rourke said.

"His experience in the WCAL was like gold," Treseler said. "Every night in that league is a war."



Driving influence

Both Robison and O'Rourke commute to SF state.

Robinson, who is studying psychology, is still getting used to classes in an auditorium with 500 students.

"A little bit of an environmental change," Robinson said.

He thinks next year a move closer to campus is likely so he can be more involved with the community and get the full college experience.

O'Rourke spent his first semester in the dorms before moving back home. He enjoys the independence college life offers, and even got straight A's.

"Which is the first time I ever did that in my life," said O'Rourke, who is leaning toward business management.

The two Peninsula products couldn't be happier with their decision to attend SF state, to become a part of a men's basketball program moving in the right direction.

"And the way we're headed, it looks like we have a real good shot right now," Robinson said.

Everyone ... Together ... "March on 3!"



E-mail Vytas Mazeika at vytas@dailynewsgroup.com.