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The Daily Aztec
Sports
Nov. 3 - 9, 2021 EDITOR: Jason Freund • sports@thedailyaztec.com
Column: Aztec men’s basketball hopes to remain king of the Mountain West By Jason Freund SPORTS EDITOR
Last year could’ve been seen as either a success or a disappointment for the San Diego State men’s basketball team. A 23-5 record. First place in the Mountain West Conference. Ranked as high as No. 16 in the AP Top 25. Winners of the Mountain West Tournament and granted a six seed in the NCAA Tournament. The same SDSU squad only lasted one game in the NCAA Tournament, getting thoroughly beaten 78-62 by the Syracuse Orange in the first round. But, it is a new season filled with new expectations. There were losses in the offseason, but there were plenty of additions to strengthen the team. With a blend of old faces and fresh blood, the Aztecs are once again looking to remain at the peak of their conference. However, the Aztecs will regain their top weapon that was taken from them last season. No, it’s not a new player coming off the bench. It isn’t an old scheme that head coach Brian Dutcher can properly utilize. It is the crowd. Gone are the cardboard cutouts of last year and in is a rabid fanbase led by one of — if not the most — passionate student sections who will watch each game with great interest: The Show. With their season opener against UC Riverside coming up on Nov. 9, here are three plot points for the upcoming season. Replacing lost production Believe it or not, nearly 50% of SDSU’s offense is no longer with the team. Matt Mitchell, Jordan Schakel and Terrell Gomez have all graduated onto the greener pastures of professional basketball. Last season, SDSU scored 2,062 total
Photo by Jason Freund
Senior guard Trey Pulliam and the Aztecs look to start where they left off in 2021 after winning the Mountain West Conference tounament, and finished the season ranked just outside the AP Top 25.
points. The trio of Mitchell, Gomez and Schakel combined for a total of 1,028 points on 44.6% field goal shooting. Even with those three gone, Dutcher has a plethora of options to fill the void. Seniors Trey Pulliam and Joshua Tomaic are back thanks due to an extra year of eligibility granted to all athletes by the NCAA. Seniors Adam Seiko and Nathan Mensah both enter their senior season after averaging 4.2 and 8.1 points per game, respectively, while sophomore Lamont Butler has nowhere to go but up after a promising freshman season. All of the above players bring different scoring capabilities to the team with one exception: three-point shooting. Last season, Schakel was the main shooter behind the arc, shooting 46.1% from the three point line. That is six points higher than the second-highest three-point shooter Gomez, who posted a 40.2 three-point percentage. Enter senior transfer Matt Bradley and
sophomore transfer Chad baker-Mazara. From Cal comes Bradley, who averaged 18 points per game and connected on 38.1% of his shots from three point land. Baker-Mazara, meanwhile, set the freshman record for three-pointers at Duquesne University with a sterling 41.7%. One of his best performances came against Fordham University, where 21 of the 23 points he scored came from beyond the arc. Pulliam, who has spent time in practice going one-on-one with Bradley, likes what he sees so far in the Cal transfer. “He’s a guy that can help bring up that scoring that we are losing,” Pulliam said. “He’s just a guy that can come in and we can rely on.” Plenty of depth, but who gets the starting nod? So Dutcher has options, which is always a good thing in a team sport such as basketball. But here’s the thing — there can only be five players on the court at a time. Someone will have to come off the bench.
It is safe to presume that Pulliam will be the starting point guard. Mensah started 27 out of 28 games as the primary power forward. Bradley will be leaned on as this season’s version of Gomez or Malachi Flynn. For now, the three mentioned above should be locks for the starting five. But from there, where do the Aztecs go? There are plenty of options to slot into the final two spots. Any combination of Seiko, Baker-Mazara or Butler can fit into the lineup to add versatility and offensive opportunities. SDSU could also go with an extra big man and slot one of Tomaic, senior transfer Tahirou Diabate or sophomore Keshod Johnson into the lineup. It is a good problem to have and one that can be tinkered with. Perhaps the Aztecs choose to load up on the defensive side of the ball or go heavy on the offense. A good defense is a good offense Ever since Steve Fisher served as the SDSU’s head coach, the Aztecs have been known for their defense. Last season, they finished the season with the 21st ranked defense according to KenPom. This year, KenPom places the Aztecs as the 10th best defensive team in the nation. Last season, the Aztecs were at the top of the MWC in both average points against (61.2) and steals (8.18). SDSU also placed within the top five in both offensive (279) and defensive (724) rebounds. Mensah was the overall leader in terms of rebounds with 170. He led the team in offensive rebounds with 56 while his 114 defensive rebounds were two less than Mitchell. “To be a great defensive player comes from your teammates. With the front court defensively, a big man struggles a lot with all the foul trouble you get when you drive to the paint,” Mensah said on his defense. “All credit goes to my teammates.”
Women’s basketball is eager to climb to the top in 2021 By Jayden Hanzy STAFF WRITER
Following a disappointing 2020-2021 season, the San Diego State women’s basketball team is looking primed and prepped to make a big splash this season. The Aztecs finished seventh in the Mountain West Conference last season, but have brought back most of their talent from last year and have brought in new pieces that should contribute to their success this year. During last season’s “COVID Year,” the Scarlet and Black found it difficult to find their groove. SDSU took on some tough opponents, and were able to gain experience through their difficult schedule. The Aztecs finished 7-17 while finishing 5-12 against Mountain West Conference opponents. During the Oct. 13 Mountain West Conference Media Day, head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson was more excited than ever about her team as she enters her ninth season as the Aztecs head coach. “They know what we are doing, they know what is going to be asked of them, and we have pushed them harder than they ever have been” Terry-Hutson said about players returning this year. “We have a level of expectations that has been raised and we are definitely doing everything we can to get better, and ultimately win a Mountain West championship.”
Photo by Kyle Betz
After an injuried filled season last year, SDSU’s women’s basketball team looks to climb to the top of the Mountain West Conference.
This year the Scarlet and Black have made major strides when it comes to the quality of their players. Through consistent hard work this offseason, both returners and new players have developed expeditiously. “It’s been really nice. We can go deep into our roster which allows our guards to get some rest and we won’t lose much as we sub,” Terry-Hutson said about the team’s depth.“We have a great deep team this year so I’m excited to see how that helps us move forward.”
Senior Sophia Ramos said she is once again looking to be the catalyst for the team’s success. During the 2020-2021 season, Ramos averaged 15.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. Ramos has received high praise from her head coach, and has the potential to carry her team to a Mountain West championship. “I am just going to be a leader. I have so much experience in playing basketball all around, and playing under coach Stacie for these last three years and having a relationship with her there is a good level
of trust between us,” Ramos said about her role on the team. “My big thing this year is just to be a leader and a coach on the court for us.” On a team with five seniors, leadership will be crucial on the court. SDSU has potential throughout their roster, and the experience that the returners were able to gain last season will be key for the team this year. Perhaps one of the biggest players to keep an eye on this year will be redshirt freshman Asia Avinger. Avinger won honors this year for Mountain West preseason freshman of the year. Avinger — fresh out of high school — is already putting the conference on notice and is becoming a key piece for the team. Ramos and Avinger are just two of the threats on the Aztecs deep roster. With their exceptional depth and wealth of experience, expect the Aztecs to have a bounce back year and become one of the biggest competitors in the Mountain West. In a few weeks, the Scarlet and Black are set to play the Biola University Eagles in an exhibition match that will kick off the season. The game on Nov. 1 will be the teams first game in the Viejas Arena this season and the commencement of another exciting schedule. Outside of their conference, the Aztecs take on some strong competition such as Ohio State, University of San Diego, and Ole Miss.
