Collegehoopsnet - SDSU Starts Season 3-1

The start of the 2004-05 San Diego State men’s basketball season has been an exciting brand of basketball but not exactly impressive. We’ve seen the good, bad and ugly all make guest appearances, but which Aztec team will show up next? And will they hang around?

U-G-L-Y, Do They Have an Alibi?

By losing the season opener 80-72 on their home court to UC Santa Barbara, the Aztecs invited naysayers to buy into their 7^th place MWC projection and call for Coach Fisher’s head after a single night of basketball. And when sophomore starter Marcus Slaughter said that “We learned our lesson quick and early tonight. We're not going to let it happen again,” did people really believe him? Could a couple of sophomores really lead this team? In the absence of the academically-ineligible senior point guard Wesley Stokes and an injury-hampered senior Chris Walton, the young guns will be thrown in front of the mirror for all to see.

Bad Isn’t All Bad

Playing poorly at times forces you to play really well in other stretches if you’re going to come out on top. That’s what the Aztecs did against Monmouth. Both teams were coming off losses in their openers, but only the team from New Jersey looked hungry for a win at the start. Down by 18 points early in the first half (26-8) and demonstrating a lukewarm basketball IQ, the Aztecs appeared on the verge of taking a knockout blow. But Coach Fisher reshuffled the lineup and fired up the defensive intensity with walk-on Tyler Smith and fellow-freshman Matt Thomas. Smith played 17 minutes of turnover-free basketball and helped shut down the perimeter shooting of the Hawks. Thomas attacked from the point and finished with 8 points and 6 assists in 27 minutes. And so by halftime, the Aztecs narrowed the margin to just three points, even with a sub-30 field goal percentage. But the second half began with more of the same. This time the Aztecs trailed by 14 points. Then a technical foul on Monmouth helped swing momentum toward the home team. In the final minute, the Aztecs took the lead and held on for 69-65 victory. Slaughter led the Aztecs with 18 points, while Brandon Heath contributed 16 points and nine rebounds.

There’s A Lot to Like About Good

After taking care of business against Division II UCSD, the Aztecs hosted the real cross-town rival, USD, on Wednesday, December 1. Coach Brad Holland always has his team ready to play against SDSU. The Toreros got off to a good start, hitting some three pointers and playing with good energy. But after the Aztecs settled in, they went on to play their best ball of the season. They led by 11 at the break and finished with a 20 point victory. Considering that the last four games between these schools were decided by a combined total of 17 points, this was quite a decisive statement for San Diego State. Center Mohamed Camara neutralized USD’s Brice Vounang for most of the night, forcing him to take shots outside the paint. And for the first time in many moons, the Aztecs shot better than 50 percent on the night. A solid defensive effort, dribble penetration by Heath and Thomas, outside shooting by Chris Manker and John Sharper, and inside rebounding by Slaughter resulted in a balanced effort on both sides of the court. In Walton’s absence, Manker put together back-to-back 20+ point games and is scoring down low and from beyond the arc. Finally the good showed up, and it was very good.

To learn more about the author Brad Best and how to contact him, please click here.

Collegehoopsnet.com: About | Media Kit | Write for CHN | Site Map | Fan Shop