Noah Hilton | Sports Editor | The USD Vista
When Lamont Smith took the reins as head coach of the University of San Diego men’s basketball team prior to the 2015-16 season, there was an understanding that success would not come quickly or easily.
That first team of Toreros carried just three upperclassmen — junior Brett Bailey and seniors Duda Sanadze and Jito Kok — and won just nine games on the season.
The team’s on-court struggles covered any signs of potential promise the program flashed that year, including an upset win over crosstown rival San Diego State University.