Mark my words, this season’s team will go down as one of the best teams ever in San Diego State men’s basketball history.
No one should have been surprised to see students lined up Monday for tickets to see the Aztecs in action for the first time this year as they host Division II opponent, Point Loma Nazarene University on Friday.
If you were one of the first 2,500 students in line for a ticket, consider yourself lucky.
Although it’s just an exhibition game and won’t be televised, fans will get a first look at the No. 16 team in the country, and two of the four freshmen from the highly touted 2014 recruiting class.
Before “The Show” starts jumping up and down once again, I’ll be blunt in saying that yes, the hype surrounding this basketball team is real. As SDSU begins the preseason with its highest ranking in school history, the national media has started to recognize the best men’s basketball program in California.
Take note of this year’s incoming freshmen class. According to ESPN and Rivals.com, the Aztecs have a Top-20 recruiting class, the highest ever in the school’s history. This year’s class is even ranked higher than 2009’s, when last year’s NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard made his way onto campus.
There may not be a timetable for five-star freshman Malik Pope to return while he rehabs a broken leg, but there’s hope the Aztecs could get their next-highest recruit, Zylan Cheatham back in late December or early January in time for conference play.
You can argue all you want and say that this year’s team doesn’t have a point guard to rely on. Plenty of questions are looming around head coach Steve Fisher and how he’ll manage playing time. Particularly, with last year’s conference MVP Xavier Thames gone now, who’s going to pick up where he left off?
For those who followed SDSU’s second Sweet Sixteen team last season, fans might speculate that senior guard Aqeel Quinn might be the one to take over after being last year’s backup point guard to Thames. However, the Aztecs have options with sophomore guard D’Erryl Williams.
They could also opt in playing an all-natural point guard that they recruited, and word from junior forward Winston Shepard is he’s pretty good. If this freshman class is going to be as good as advertised, don’t be surprised to see Fisher go with freshman guard Kevin Zabo calling the plays.
Aztec fans should have no fear in losing last year’s leading rebounder Josh Davis to graduation. That’s what junior forward Angelo Chol is there for. As Chol lost his spot in the rotation at University of Arizona two seasons ago, the San Diego native decided to come back home for an opportunity. You’d better believe there’s no one else more anxious to prove himself than Chol is after sitting out all of last season due to transfer restrictions.
So is all the hype surrounding this team truly justified? With three starters returning from last season and MW Sixth Man of the Year Dwayne Polee II looming as the fourth starter, rest assured in knowing this team will be great. The Aztecs may not go 34-3, but there’s no reason to believe they can’t match last season’s 31-5 record.
Sit back and enjoy our No. 16 preseason ranking. Likely headed for another NCAA tournament appearance, I’ve learned to appreciate going to a school with a nationally ranked men’s basketball team.
