Odell’s honor heads a parade of Cougars who also received conference recognition for their efforts during the 2004 campaign. Seniors Brett Michel and Ryan Dillon along with junior Larry English were all named to the All-GSAC team as well. For each player, this is their first-ever All-GSAC recognition.
Odell’s honor, his fifth GSAC Coach of the Year recognition in the past 11 seasons, is well deserved after leading a “starless” set of Cougars to the most wins in the GSAC’s 18-year history. The Cougars went 19-1 in GSAC play this year, eclipsing the 17-win campaigns of the 2001 and 2003 Cougars along with the 2002 Biola squad.
Four months ago, few people, if anyone, could have imagined this honor being bestowed on Odell. The Cougars dropped 3 of their first 5 games of the season, a first since Odell’s initial campaign in 1991-92, and less than 6 weeks into play they lost their leading scorer, Dennis Coutee (15.2 avg.), for the season. Additionally, a 16-point loss at defending NAIA champion Concordia on Jan. 8 (Azusa Pacific’s worst GSAC loss since 1996) seemed to indicate that a new era was emerging in the conference. However, Azusa Pacific won its final 14 GSAC contests, including a 94-88 victory at home over Concordia on Feb. 21 to pull the Cougars even with the Eagles in the conference race, and when The Master’s upset Concordia 11 days later, Azusa Pacific had clear sailing into another out-right title.
All told Azusa Pacific has won 26 of its past 27 games. What makes the achievement more remarkable is that there isn’t a Cougar among the top 15 scorers in the GSAC. Michel leads the team with a 13.4 clip. One of the finest all-around players in the conference, Michel also averages 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists (11th in the GSAC) and 1.2 steals. He has converted 43% of his 3-point attempts (sixth in the GSAC) and 87% of his free throws (third in the GSAC). He opened the season with a 19-point, career-high 15-rebound effort vs. Montana-Western for his first-ever double-double. In the middle of conference play, he put together back-to-back games in which he scored a career-high 25 points vs. Christian Heritage followed by a 24-point effort against The Master’s. When he takes the court in Thursday’s GSAC Postseason Tournament first-round game vs. Vanguard, he’ll break the GSAC record for most games played, appearing in his 141st game at Azusa Pacific. He has never missed a contest in his 4-year career and has started the past 72 in a row, dating back to his 2002 sophomore campaign.
Dillon transferred to Azusa Pacific last year after playing 2 seasons at Cal State Fullerton, where he set the school record for most 3s in a game (11) and rated among the Big West Conference’s top 3-point shooter for 2 seasons. This season Dillon moved into the Cougar starting line-up and averaged 12.6 points overall, 13.2 in GSAC play. He has tallied a quartet of 20-point games this year, including a career-high 24 vs. The Master’s. Over the past 9 games, Dillon is averaging 16.1 points and 3.2 assists. He is currently third in the GSAC with 96 3-point field goals, just 2 shy of the Azusa Pacific single season record.
English transferred to Azusa Pacific last summer after playing 2 seasons at NAIA power Barat College in Illinois. As the point guard, English spearheads a Cougar offense that is averaging 85 points a game and a GSAC best 20 assists per contest. He currently tops the GSAC with 190 assists (5.9 avg.). He is averaging 9 points a game after pouring in a season-high 22 in Monday’s victory at Point Loma Nazarene. He also leads the GSAC in assists-to-turnover ratio at a hefty 2.88. He has had 7 games this season without committing a turnover, including a 40-minute effort in a victory over nationally-ranked Biola.
With this year’s individual honors, 28 Cougars have earned All-GSAC honors since the conference’s 1987 inaugural season. In addition to this year’s award, Odell was named GSAC Coach of the Year in 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2003. Since 1993, when Azusa Pacific posted the only perfect conference season (12-0) in the GSAC history for its first-ever conference title, the Odell-led Cougars have carved an unfathomable 165-25 (.868) GSAC record over the course of 12 seasons. Odell heads into the postseason with an overall 13-year record at Azusa Pacific of 362-88 (804).
Click here to view the entire 2004 All-GSAC men's basketball team.
