After a 2-1 start to what seemed to be a promising season, the Long Beach State men’s basketball team has been stuck playing “Where’s Waldo” with its star player, losing two of its last three games.
Just over a week ago, LBSU was on the verge of cracking the top 25 rankings. After visiting “upset city” with a 86-76 victory over then-No. 9–ranked Pittsburgh, the 49ers received eight votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
After a disheartening overtime loss at San Diego State, a less than convincing win over Boise State at home, and an unexpected loss on the road against Montana, the ‘Niners have fallen out of favor with top 25 voters.
The recent struggles might be attributed to a tough schedule and a lack of toughness on the road, but the recent drop in production of star guard Casper Ware is a cause for concern.
Through the first three games, Ware averaged 24.6 points per game, while shooting 47 percent from the field, and dropped a career-high 28 points against Pitt.
Ware’s performance as of late, however, has been Houdini-esque where the only trick up his sleeve has been the disappearing act. In the last three games, he averaged just 11 points per game while shooting 30.3 percent (10 of 33) from the field, including a five-point night against Boise.
The 49ers came into this season with hopes of securing a NCAA Tournament bid for the first time since 2007. Led by four returning senior starters, The Beach is expected to compete for another Big West Conference championship.
Let’s face it, though. As good as Larry Anderson, T.J. Robinson, James Ennis and Eugene Phelps are, Ware is the engine that makes this squad run. He is the go-to-guy when the team is faced with adversity.
Ware showed signs of life against No. 6 Louisville on Monday, scoring 13 points and dishing out eight assists at the KFC Yum! Center, but it still wasn’t enough to knock off the Cardinals.
If this team is to live up to the expectations that have been placed on them, they need to start with Ware.
After all, he was named to the preseason Wooden Award Top 50 watch list, preseason Mid–Major All–American team, and is looking to repeat as Big West Player of the Year. Over the summer, Ware was also named Drew League MVP — a Pro-Am league that featured the likes of NBA players James Harden, Nick Young, Josh Smith and Derrick Williams.
Not to mention, Ware was named to the 2011 Lefty Dreisell Defensive All–American Team, received The Lou Henson Player of the Week Award that honors the top Mid–Major player and was also named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All–District 9 Team.
Ware has a chance to get himself and The Beach back on the right track, though. With three games left against ranked opponents (No. 14 Kansas, No. 5 North Carolina, No. 11 Xavier), and conference play a month away, Ware can put any doubts about his ability to take his team to the next level to rest.
There may not be an “I” in team, but a player of Ware’s caliber can be the difference between an NCAA Tournament bid and an appearance in the National Invitational Tournament. Just ask UC Santa Barbara’s Orlando Johnson.
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