This season has been a struggle for Cal State Fullerton's first-year coaches in men's and women's basketball, but Donny Daniels and Barbara Ehardt say they're not discouraged.
The men's team is 2-12 under Daniels after ending its nine-game losing streak with a Big West Conference victory Saturday at Idaho. The women's team is 0-15 after losing Sunday to Long Beach State.
"We can't drop our heads and feel sorry for ourselves," Daniels said. "We just have to get better."
Ehardt and Daniels said they expected this season to be a challenge. The Fullerton men finished 8-19 last season, and the women's team was 2-25.
"I'm not at all discouraged because I think I came in with realistic expectations," Ehardt said. "The good thing is that when you start from the point we did, it's going to feel so much more rewarding when you start getting better."
Ehardt expects an immediate boost next season from two players who are redshirts this season. Guard Tricia Lamb is sitting out this season after transferring from Washington State. Guard Trilena Amos, a freshman from Crenshaw High, is academically ineligible as a partial qualifier.
Lamb was an All-Pacific 10 Conference selection as a sophomore but played only six games as a junior last season at Washington State.
"She didn't click with the new coaching staff there last season," Ehardt said. "But we think she'll be an outstanding player for us."
Amos was named to the City Section all-star team and was The Times' Central City area player of the year.
"They've made it very difficult for our other players in practice," Ehardt said. "They, and the other players we bring in for next season, will make a difference."
Injuries and illness have taken their toll on the men's team this season.
A stress fracture in his foot cost Ike Harmon four weeks of practice before the season, then he missed the first two games of the season because of a suspension. "You can't miss that much time and come back sharp," Daniels said.
Brandon Campbell, a starter last season, played in only two games because of a knee injury before deciding to redshirt, and center Matt Caldwell has been sidelined since Dec. 22 because of swollen lymph nodes.
Guard David Castleton didn't become academically eligible until the eighth game of the season.
"One of our problems is that we have some guys playing too many minutes to be effective," Daniels said. "And that's a matter of depth."
