By Dressed in sharp suits and sitting in leather lounge chairs on stage, Dan Monson and ESPN’s Seth Greenberg resembled two characters out of a “Mad Men” episode as opposed to two great minds discussing basketball.
The coaches were at the Long Beach Convention Center to present The State of Beach Basketball on Thursday.
Boosters, alumni, fans and former players all gathered for a luncheon in downtown Long Beach to celebrate 49ers basketball and listen to head coach Monson speak about the upcoming season with the ESPN analyst.
Among those in attendance were LBSU Hall of Fame members, and former NBA players, Lucious Harris and Bryon Russell. Harris played for 12 years in the NBA and is the all-time scoring leader for both the 49ers and the Big West Conference.
Russell, more widely known for his starting role on the Utah Jazz’s Western Conference championship teams, scored 1,003 points in his collegiate career and led LBSU to the 1993 NCAA Tournament.
“To have this kickoff means a lot to me. To have former players come back, and I’m not so dumb that I don’t know that the players came back to see their former coach Seth [Greenberg],” Monson laughed. “But, I’m fine with whatever it takes to get them to come back and support the program.”
Monson furthered his glowing remarks of former 49ers players.
“The ultimate compliment to a coach is to have your players, after they’re gone, to appreciate what you have done for them,” Monson said. “And that appreciation is evident.”
Greenberg, who coached at LBSU from 1987-1996, chatted with enamored fans and worked the room as if he were running for political office. When the former head coach was at the podium, he commanded the room’s attention with his booming voice and charisma.
The former 49er coach fondly reflected back on his time with LBSU. He spoke of his 1993 team knocking off No.1 ranked Kansas on the road, discussed his joy of coaching his players and working with former Athletic Director Dave O’Brien, the construction of the Walter Pyramid and the raucous crowds in his era.
Greenberg even chuckled when he recalled the time he asked former California State University, Long Beach President Curtis McCray to sit on the bench for a game against undefeated and defending champion UNLV. The 49ers were down by 30 at the half and when Greenberg looked down at the bench, there was no McCray in sight.
Before Greenberg wrapped up his solo speech, he expressed his admiration for the LBSU basketball program.
“Probably one of the worst decisions I ever made was leaving Long Beach State,” Greenberg said. “This is a pretty special place.”
As the afternoon proceeded, Monson fielded questions from fans regarding fundamentals and protecting his players from off the court issues before furthering his dialogue with Greenberg.
After two straight losing seasons, the ESPN analyst, true to form, ribbed Monson on the difficulties of losing.
“How do you sleep? Do you lose sleep? The last three years I have slept like a baby,” Greenberg smirked.
Greenberg was referencing his termination at Virginia Tech in 2012.
“I sleep like a baby too,” Monson said. “I wake up every two hours.”
LBSU has not been to the NCAA tournament since 2012 and are far from being considered favorites in the Big West with UC Davis and UC Irvine returning a lot of their talent.
Monson will have to rely on three new transfers and last season’s rotation players in an effort to replace leading-scorer Mike Caffey.
“I just worry about us,” Monson said. “We’re not very good right now but this group is good enough and like each other and it matters to them, I really think the time league rolls around and we keep getting better, there’s no reason we couldn’t win this thing.”
Monson did not hesitate on his vision and aspirations for LBSU basketball.
“Can you go to the Final Four at Long Beach State? Well, it’s never been done but it had never been done before at Butler, VCU or George Mason either,” Monson said. “There’s no reason we can’t have those goals in mind.”
LBSU opens the season at home against BYU-Hawaii on Saturday Nov. 14 at the Walter Pyramid.
