Wilner: Walters looks to USF's future By Jon Wilner

http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_11778566?nclick_check=1
Wilner: Walters looks to USF's future

By Jon Wilner
Mercury News
Posted: 02/24/2009 09:07:21 PM PST

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Yes, it has been tougher than he expected. It's USF basketball — of course it's tougher than he expected. It's tougher than anybody in their right, wrong or upside-down mind could possibly expect.
But that hasn't stopped Rex Walters from sticking to his principles, identifying incremental progress and squeezing a morsel of fun out of his first season with the Dons (10-17, 2-10 West Coast Conference).
"It has been difficult, no question, and it's going to be difficult in the future," said Walters, the former Piedmont Hills High star who took over USF in April.
"There have been times when I haven't felt like we were getting any better."
Like when the Dons lost at Portland and Gonzaga, back to back, by 52 points.
Or when they dropped five consecutive games by double digits.
Or when they lost 10 of 11.
Or when Walters suspended four players, including two seniors, for violating team rules "....
Actually, the suspensions, announced two weeks ago, were Walters' shrewdest move of the season.
Given the chaotic state of the program — coaching changes, academic problems, losing season after losing season — Walters has tried to stay focused on the long haul.
He's trying to win now but coaching for two years down the road, installing a system and establishing a standard of conduct that he hopes will turn the program around. The suspensions were his way of raising the bar.
"The firstthing you try to do is lay the foundation for what you're all about," he said. "The last two weeks (since the suspensions), we've played a lot harder and smarter."
Down to eight scholarship players, the Dons pushed Gonzaga and Portland to the brink, then rallied to beat Santa Clara in overtime.
They're playing well enough to get a split this weekend at Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount, and perhaps even a sweep.
"I'm really impressed with how Rex has kept their intensity up through all their struggles," Santa Clara Coach Kerry Keating said. "They've obviously been through a lot, and he has them playing hard."
n"‚Decensae White's first season at Santa Clara is officially over. It didn't last long.
The former Serra High star and Texas Tech transfer played in 10 games, then was removed from team-related activities last month because of attitude issues.
Keating has declined to discuss specifics of White's situation but said, "He won't be playing the rest of the way."
White's status for the 2009-10 season will be determined this spring.