MEN'S BASKETBALL: No. 15 comes to Cox

Senior forward Lorrenzo Wade entered this season as an All-Mountain West Conference Player of the Year candidate, a year after making the all-conference first-team.

The San Diego State men’s basketball team came into the campaign returning all five starters and hoping to compete for an MWC title and a birth in the NCAA Tournament.

How mid-major of SDSU to have such goals.

When Arizona State comes to town tonight, the Aztecs will get a first-hand look at what it means to hold national expectations. At 8 p.m. at Cox Arena, they take on No. 15 ASU, one of the most hyped teams in the country.

The Sun Devils (1-0) entered the season expecting to not only challenge UCLA for a Pac-10 title, but also to have a shot at a Final Four appearance. Like SDSU (1-0), much of that hype comes from the return of all five starters, including one of the best players in their conference.

James Harden, who donned the cover of Sports Illustrated’s college basketball preview earlier this month, returns for his sophomore year after averaging 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game last year. The preseason all-American choice is projected as a lottery pick, assuming he enters the 2009 NBA Draft after the season.

“We’re gonna have to have a lot of people conscious of where he is,” Aztec head coach Steve Fisher said. “But obviously he’s not the only guy they have. (Jeff) Pendergraph is a potential pro player, they’re veterans and Ty Abbot had (18) points in their opener.”

ASU might just be the most complete team SDSU will face all year. But as far as the Aztecs are concerned, the Sun Devils will have just as much trouble containing them. Both teams scored an identical 66.8 points per contest last season.

“They’re going to try and slow us down,” sophomore guard D.J. Gay said. “They are a zone-playing team, which makes it harder to run. We have to push the ball when we can and try to get to that zone.”

Scoring will be even more difficult for the Aztecs without the presence of Wade, who is suspended following a felony burglary charge. The senior forward led SDSU in points (14.8) and assists (3.6) per game last year.

That puts even more pressure on the Aztec defense to force turnovers and get easy, fast break baskets. In Saturday’s victory against UCSD, SDSU scored 40 points while forcing 12 turnovers in the second half, as opposed to just 19 points and three turnovers in the first half.

Unfortunately for the Aztecs, top teams are rarely undisciplined. ASU averaged 12.6 turnovers a game last season, one less than SDSU.

“It’ll be a test to see if we’re capable of competing with an upper-echelon team,” Fisher said.

The Aztecs will be getting the services of senior forward/center Ryan Amoroso again. The All-MWC third-teamer missed Saturday’s game with a back injury, but is expected to start against the Sun Devils.

Comments

1 comments

Aztec

Tue Nov 18 2008 17:02

GO AZTECS

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