Aztecs Put Win Streak to Stiff Test, Battle Top-Ranked Arizona on Saturday

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Dec. 5, 2002

No. 1/1 Arizona (3-0) at
San Diego State (2-2)

Saturday, December 7, 2002
6:00 p.m. PST (announced)
Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl (12,414)
San Diego, Calif.

Tip Time: Game time is set for 6:05 p.m. PST.
Television: The game will be nationally televised by ESPN. Dave O'Brien (play-by-play), Bill Walton (color), Gregg Picker (producer).
Radio: XTRA-690 AM. Jim Stone (play-by-play), Dave Marcus (producer).

SDSU Coach Steve Fisher: Fisher (Illinois State '67) is in his fourth season at San Diego State with a record of 42-51. Now in his 12th full season as a head coach, he has amassed a 226-133 mark. Fisher led Michigan to the 1989 national championship and made three trips to the national championship game in his eight full seasons in Ann Arbor. The 1991-92 national coach of the year, he led the Aztecs to a 21-12 mark last year en route to the NCAA Tournament. Fisher has helped the Aztecs increase their win total in each of his first three seasons (from 4-to-5-to-14-to-21).

Arizona Coach Lute Olson: In his 20th season leading the Wildcat program, Olson holds a record of 474-143 at Arizona and an overall mark of 666-235 in 30 years of coaching. One of eight coaches in history to reach five final fours, Olson was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this year.

The Series: The Aztecs hold an all-time record of 5-15 against Arizona, including a 4-4 mark in San Diego. The Wildcats have won the last two games in the series, which dates back to the 1945-46 season but will be renewed Saturday for the first time since 1986. The last meeting took place on Dec. 4, 1986, with the 20th-ranked Wildcats claiming a 110-78 victory over the Aztecs at the Sports Arena. SDSU's last victory in the series came on Dec. 17, 1983, with a 90-80 win at the Sports Arena.

Tickets: There are no tickets remaining for the game, which will be the first sellout in Cox Arena history. The game is a U.T Youth & Family Night and features an Aztecs static sticker giveaway.

SAN DIEGO - San Diego State (2-2), winners of 14 of its last 18 home games, faces the ultimate challenge by playing host to top-ranked Arizona on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Cox Arena in San Diego. Game time is set for 6 p.m. PST.

The game will be the first of three San Diego State home games televised nationally by ESPN and will also be broadcast along the West coast on XTRA-AM 690 (San Diego).

The Aztecs won for the second consecutive game and evened their record at 2-2 with an 87-57 victory over Division II city-foe UC San Diego on Monday night at Cox Arena. All 10 players who dressed for the Aztecs played, with senior guard Tony Bland and freshman guard Steve Sir each chipping in 18 points.

Arizona enter Saturday's game with a perfect 3-0 record. The Wildcats have been impressive in home victories over 19th-ranked Western Kentucky (107-68), Northern Arizona (101-66) and Saint Louis (91-58).

This will be the 21st meeting between the two schools located 400 miles apart, but the first since Dec. 4, 1986. The Wildcats have won two straight and seven of the last eight encounters between the schools, claiming a 110-78 decision during the 1986-87 season. The teams have split the eight games played in San Diego.

The game will be the first sellout in the six-year history of Cox Arena, as a capacity crowd of 12,414 is expected to witness Saturday's match-up. In addition to the Arizona game, limited numbers of reserve tickets remain for home games with Texas Tech (Jan. 6) and the University of San Diego (Jan. 8). Fans interested in attending those games are encouraged to purchase tickets early.

Following the game against Arizona, San Diego State will have two days to get ready for a road game at Long Beach State on Tuesday.

Streaks, Storylines and Sidebars

• It will be a family reunion of sorts for the Walton family on Saturday when San Diego State redshirt junior Chris will be joined by his All-American older brother Luke, a senior at Arizona this season. Their father, Bill, is scheduled to call the game for ESPN.
• This will mark the third time since joining the Division I ranks (prior to the 1970-71 season) that San Diego State has played the top-ranked team. In the only previous home battle with number one, top-ranked DePaul defeated the Aztecs 85-69 on Dec. 30, 1980, in the championship game of the Cabrillo Classic at the Sports Arena. This will be the second consecutive season San Diego State has played number one. Last season, the Aztecs battled No. 1 Duke to its smallest margin of victory in a home game, falling to the Blue Devils 92-79 on Dec. 29, 2001 (Virginia also lost at Duke by 13 points).
• Saturday's game is the first match-up this season between active Div. I national championship coaches. SDSU coach Steve Fisher won the first six games of his Div. I head coaching career when he guided Michigan to the 1989 title, while Arizona's Lute Olson led the Wildcats to their first national championship in 1997.
• The Aztec roster will be bolstered by a pair of gifted front-court players who are eligible for the first time against Arizona. Freshman forward Evan Burns, SDSU's first McDonald's All-American who was ruled eligible by the NCAA's Initial Eligibility-Waiver committee on Thursday, and sophomore center Chris Manker, an Oregon State transfer who sat out the first four games of the season per the NCAA's 4-2-4 transfer rule, will dress for the first time as an Aztec.
• San Diego State has won 13 of its last 14 non-conference home games. With Monday's victory over cross-town foe UCSD, the Aztecs won their ninth consecutive December home game and are now 13-3 at home in the Christmas month under under Steve Fisher. The fourth-year head coach's Aztec teams are now 14-9 overall in December with an 11-4 mark over the last two seasons.
• SDSU has depended on its talented senior triumvirate of Tony Bland, Mike Mackell and Deandre Moore to carry the bulk of point production thus far in 2002-03. Three of the team's top four scorers, the trio has combined for 185 of the team's 308 points for an average of 46.3 per game. Bland, Mackell and Moore combined for all but five of the Aztecs' 31 points in the second half as SDSU rallied to defeat Cal Poly on Nov. 30.
• The Aztec roster boasts four players, all starters, with double-digit scoring averages. SDSU's top reserve, sophomore guard Tommy Johnson, is averaging 7.5 points per game.
• SDSU will look for more point production from its bench against Arizona and will be bolstered by the debut of 7-0 sophomore center Chris Manker, a transfer from Oregon State who becomes eligible Saturday. The Aztec bench has accounted for 48 of the Aztecs' 308 points (15.6 percent) for an average of 12 points per game.
• Three times in his coaching career Steve Fisher has had his top two scorers depart, but all three times he has led his team back to the postseason the following year, twice going to the NCAA Tournament and once advancing to the postseason NIT. San Diego State's top two scorers from last season - guard Al Faux (17.0 ppg) and forward Randy Holcomb (16.9) - were among a group of five seniors on the 2001-02 squad.

Keep a No. 2 Pencil Handy
After beginning the season short-handed, the Aztecs are nearing their full complement of players as two talented front-court players become eligible for the Arizona game. SDSU, which played the first four games of the season with only three post players, will finally receive roster reinforcements Saturday when sophomore center Chris Manker becomes eligible per the NCAA's 4-2-4 transfer rule and freshman forward Evan Burns is allowed to dress for the first time following Thursday's eligibility ruling by the NCAA Initial Eligibility-Waiver Committee. SDSU expects to have 13 players available for the Arizona game, not counting junior redshirt candidate Chris Walton. The only player on the roster unavailable for the game is sophomore guard Travis Hanour, an Arizona transfer who becomes eligible Dec. 14 per the NCAA's 4-2-4 transfer rule.

NCAA Rules Evan Burns Eligible
SAN DIEGO - The NCAA announced Thursday that the initial eligibility request for Evan Burns, a 6-8, 220-pound freshman on the San Diego State basketball team, has been approved. Burns, whose request was granted by the NCAA's Initial Eligibility-Waiver Committee, is immediately eligible to play.

Burns, a McDonald's All-American while at Fairfax High in Los Angeles, is now considered a qualifier. In addition to being able to participate in competition, he can now receive a full scholarship.

"We are excited for Evan Burns and San Diego State basketball," head coach Steve Fisher said. "He has an early Christmas present and now we need to help him grow as a college student and college basketball player."

Said Burns: "It has been a long wait but I am excited to realize my dream of playing college basketball. I look forward to contributing to the team."

Burns, an athletic scorer, participated in two national prep all-star games. He played in the April 11 Jordan Capital Classic in Washington D.C. and was a starter on the West squad at the April 4 McDonald's High School All-American game in New York City. Five major recruiting publications rank him among the top 20 prospects in the country.

As a senior this past season, Burns averaged 22.7 points and 10.5 rebounds for coach Harvey Kitani while leading Fairfax to the Los Angeles City finals. In addition to earning prep All-American honors, he was a third-team Parade All-America selection, all-state selection, Los Angeles Times Central City Player of the Year and was nominated for California Mr. Basketball. Entering his senior campaign, Burns was named a third-team All-American and first-team Los Angeles All-Metro by Street & Smith's, the number three small forward in the nation by Athlon, the no. 10-ranked player in the country by Basketball News, the no. 11-ranked player nationally by Hoop Scoop, the 12th-ranked player nationally by Lindy's, the 13th-ranked player by theInsider.com, the 14th-rated player by The Sporting News and the 17th-rated top prospect by All-Star Report.

As a junior in 2000-01, Burns averaged 23.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.1 blocked shots a game.

Capacity Crowd
Saturday's game against Arizona is sold out, marking the first capacity crowd in the six-year history of Cox Arena. In addition, only limited numbers of reserve tickets remain for upcoming home games against Bob Knight-led Texas Tech (Jan. 6) and cross-town rival San Diego (Jan. 8).

The following is a look at the all-time largest crowds in Cox Arena history:

Rk. Att. Day Opponent Date Result1. 12,414^ Sat. (1/1) Arizona 12-7-02 --2. 11,764 Sat. UNLV* 1-26-02 L, 79-80 (ot)3. 11,334 Sat. Fresno State* 1-31-98 L, 94-974. 8,438 Sat. (21/16) Fresno St. 12-8-01 W, 93-785. 8,186 Sat. San Diego 12-9-00 L, 52-556. 7,232 Sat. Utah* (D) 2-9-02 L, 53-707. 7,164 Sat. Utah* 2-10-01 L, 63-768. 6,967 Sat. Air Force* 3-2-02 W, 49-479. 6,739 Mon. New Mexico* 1-8-01 L, 67-7510. 6,553 Sat. Colorado State* 1-19-02 W, 81-69Opponent Associated Press national ranking at game time leftof team name. D - Indicates day game. * -?Indicates conferencegame. ^ - Cox Arena capacity

Aztecs Win Second Straight With Record Three-Point Barrage
SAN DIEGO - Redshirt freshman sharpshooter Steve Sir connected on a career-high six three-point field goals and scored 18 points as San Diego State set a school record with 16 three-pointers in an 87-57 defeat of cross-town foe UC San Diego on Monday night.

Senior guard Tony Bland, who made 4-of-7 from three-point range, also scored 18 as the Aztecs won their second straight after an 0-2 start.

SDSU has won the five all-time meetings with UCSD by an average of 29.4 points.

The Aztecs came out with a flourish against their Div. II city counterparts, running out to a 21-7 lead by the second media timeout. The score was 36-24 before SDSU closed out the first half with an 11-0 run, highlighted by Sir three-pointers on consecutive possessions, over the final 1 minute, 59 seconds to take a 47-24 halftime lead.

UC San Diego never led and was harassed into 39.7 percent shooting, including 7-of-30 from three-point range, as the Aztecs held an opponent under 60 points for the first time this season. Led by junior forward Aerick Sanders' 11 boards, the Aztecs enjoyed a 44-27 rebound advantage over the shorter Tritons.

SDSU, which shot an identical 16-of-33 from behind the arc and from two-point range, broke the previous team record of 13 three-pointers and came within one of the Mountain West record of 17 treys.

The Aztecs received tremendous scoring balance, as four players scored in double-figures and nine of the 10 players who dressed for the game found their way into the scoring ledger.

Jordan Watkins and Sean Crawford led the Tritons with 15 apiece.

NOTES OF THE GAME: The victory was the ninth straight home win in December for the Aztecs... Sanders' four blocks on the night give him 53 for his career, placing him 10th on the school's all-time list... Redshirt freshman Trimaine Davis registered the best scoring output of his young career with six points, while redshirt freshman Markee White and true freshman John Sharper scored their first points as collegians on a pair of free throws and a three-pointer, respectively.

San Diego State vs. Arizona - The Series

• This is the 21st all-time meeting between the two schools, but the first in 16 years. Arizona owns a 15-5 advantage in the series, but the teams have split their eight meetings in San Diego.
• The Wildcats have won the last two games in the series, which dates back to the 1945-46 season, but will be renewed Saturday for the first time since 1986. The last meeting took place on Dec. 4, 1986, with the 20th-ranked Wildcats claiming a 110-78 victory over the Aztecs at the Sports Arena.
• SDSU's last victory in the series came on Dec. 17, 1983, with a 90-80 win at the Sports Arena.
  The following is a brief comparison of the two programs.

San Diego State Arizona1921-22 First Season Of Play 1904-051099-942 (.538) All-Time Record 1412-785 (.643)4 NCAA Tournaments 212002, 1st Round Last NCAA Appearance, Result 2002, Sweet 160-4 NCAA Tournament Record 34-200 Final Fours 41 NCAA Championships 110 All-American Selections 2818 NBA Draft Picks 54Michael Cage (1,846) All-Time Leading Scorer Sean Elliott (2,555)Tony Gwynn (1978-81) Best Player Turned Kenny Lofton (1986-89) 11-Time MLB All-Star MLB All-Star 6-Time MLB All-Star

San Diego State - Arizona Connections
While no current Aztec has ever faced Arizona in a game, there are several SDSU player connections to the Wildcats.

• The most obvious is the brother-against-brother story of the Waltons, pitting SDSU's Chris against Arizona's Luke. However, the rivalry will be left to family gatherings, as junior Chris (born Oct. 31, 1981) intends to redshirt this season and will not face his older brother senior Luke (born March 28, 1980) on the Cox Arena floor Saturday. And when the rivalry heads to the McKale Center in Tucson next season, Luke will have graduated and Chris will be a redshirt junior and the remaining Walton brother playing in the college ranks.
• Sophomore guard Travis Hanour played in 20 games for Arizona's 2000-01 NCAA tournament runner-up team before transferring to San Diego State. Hanour, who will miss Saturday's game as he becomes eligible Dec. 14 per the NCAA's 4-2-4 transfer rule, averaged 8.8 minutes and 3.1 points for the 2000-01 Wildcats. He was projected as a starter for last year's 24-10 Arizona team that won the Pac-10 tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
• Sophomore center Chris Manker, a transfer from Oregon State who becomes eligible Saturday per the NCAA's 4-2-4 transfer rule, will make his Aztec debut against Arizona. In his freshman year in 2000-01, Manker suffered a leg injury and missed Oregon State's two meetings against the Pac-10 rival Wildcats, which were both losses.
• Junior guard Wesley Stokes, who will have two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out this season as a transfer, played for a Missouri team last season that was grouped in opposite halves from No. 3 seed Arizona in the brutal West bracket of the NCAA tournament last season. The West bracket featured top-10 teams Cincinnati, Oklahoma, Arizona and Gonzaga, but a rash of upsets propelled Missouri into the regional final against Oklahoma, which had knocked off Arizona in the Sweet 16.

The Last Meeting

• No. 20 Arizona 110, San Diego State 78
  December 4, 1986 (Sports Arena - San Diego, Calif.)
• 
  No. 20 Arizona became the first team to score in triple-figures against San Diego State at the Sports Arena in six seasons with a 110-78 victory. Guard Josh Lowery led the Aztecs with 19 points, while center Gerald Murray tallied eight points and a team-high nine rebounds.

About Arizona
The popular preseason national championship pick, top-ranked Arizona enters the 2002-03 season with all five starters and 10 returning letterwinners from a year ago. The Wildcats, who finished 24-10 last year and advanced to the NCAA tournament's "Sweet 16," are the near-consensus No. 1 choice (Pittsburgh received one first-place vote in the AP poll). Off to a 3-0 start this season, U of A has won its early season games by an average margin of 35.7 points.

Guided by 2002 national basketball hall of fame inductee and 20th-year head coach Lute Olson, the Wildcats have won at least 20 games in 15 consecutive seasons. They are led on the court by a pair of senior Wooden Award candidates in Jason Gardner, a four-year starter at point guard, and Luke Walton, who will be returning to his hometown of San Diego to face brother Chris and the Aztecs.

The Wildcats have looked impressive in registering season-opening home victories over No. 19 Western Kentucky, Northern Arizona and Saint Louis. Highly touted freshman guard Hassan Adams leads Arizona in scoring at 17.7 points per game, while sophomore center Channing Frye is the top Wildcat rebounder at 7.3 boards per game.

SDSU vs. No. 1
Saturday's game against Arizona marks SDSU's third all-time meeting with an Associated Press No. 1-ranked team and the second consecutive year that the Aztecs have faced a top-ranked team.

• The Aztecs are 0-2 against AP No. 1-ranked teams, with losses at No. 1 Duke (79-92) last year on Dec. 29 and to No. 1 DePaul (69-85) at the Sports Arena on Dec. 30, 1980.
• SDSU held up well in its last meeting against a top-ranked team, as the Aztecs tested No. 1/1 Duke for more than 38 minutes before finally succumbing to the Blue Devils, 92-79, on Dec. 29, 2001. The 13-point margin matched Duke's closest game at Cameron Indoor Stadium during the Blue Devils' undefeated 2001-02 home season.
• Saturday's game will be the first time that the Aztecs have hosted a No. 1-ranked team at Cox Arena.
• All three of SDSU's meetings with No. 1-ranked teams will have taken place in December, with two games occurring in San Diego.

Championship Coaches
Saturday's game is the first match-up this season between active Div. I national championship coaches. SDSU coach Steve Fisher won the first six games of his Div. I head coaching career when he guided Michigan to the 1989 title, while Arizona's Lute Olson led the Wildcats to their first national championship in 1997.

The following is a quick look at how the two championship coaches stack up.

SDSU's Steve Fisher Arizona's Lute Olson 12th Full Seasons 30th 226-133 (.630) Career Record 666-235 (.739) 4th Season At Current School 20th 42-51 (.452) Record At Current School 474-143 (.768) 8 of 12 seasons (.667) NCAA Tournaments (Pct.) 23 of 29 seasons (.793) 20-7 (.741) NCAA Tournament Record 39-23 (.629) 3 Final Fours 5 3 NCAA Championship Games 2 1 NCAA Titles 1 12 First-Round NBA Draft Selections 12 10 NBA Lottery Selections 6

Fisher will also face a fellow title-holding head coach when he takes on former Big Ten rival Bob Knight and Texas Tech on Jan. 6, 2003, at Cox Arena. The SDSU coach is one of three active championship coaches to face two or more fellow title-holders this season.

The game is one of nine regular-season contests and five non-conference match-ups pitting national championship coaches against each other this season.

2002-03 Championship Coaches Match-ups12.7.02 Arizona (L. Olson) at San Diego State (S. Fisher)12.8.02 Cleveland State (R. Massimino) at Michigan State (T. Izzo)12.14.02 Michigan State (T. Izzo) at Kentucky (T. Smith)12.28.02 Kentucky (T. Smith) at Louisville (R. Pitino)1.6.03 Texas Tech (B. Knight) at San Diego State (S. Fisher)1.18.03 Duke (M. Krzyzewski) at Maryland (G. Williams)2.11.03 Georgia (Jim Harrick) at Kentucky (T. Smith)2.19.03 Maryland (G. Williams) at Duke (M. Krzyzewski)3.2.03 Kentucky (T. Smith) at Georgia (J. Harrick)

Steve Fisher vs. No. 1
Steve Fisher-led teams hold a 0-4 mark against No. 1-ranked opponents, with three losses coming to the Duke Blue Devils. The Aztecs under Fisher have lost their only game against a top-ranked foe with last year's defeat at No. 1 Duke.

Steve Fisher vs. Arizona
Coach Fisher holds an all-time mark of 1-4 against Lute Olson and Arizona, with all previous match-ups coming during his Michigan days.

• The Wildcats handed Fisher, who won his first six games as a head coach in leading Michigan to the 1989 national title, the first loss of his career when No. 6 Arizona defeated No. 4 Michigan, 82-75, on Nov. 25, 1989, in the season-opening Tip-Off Classic in Springfield, Mass.
• Fisher won his last meeting against Arizona when the No. 4-ranked Wolverines defeated the No. 6 Wildcats in overtime, 73-71, on Dec. 21, 1996, in U of M's postseason NIT championship season.

The Great Turnaround
Steve Fisher and the Aztecs' journey from perennial basement dweller to NCAA Tournament team is made all the more remarkable by the speed at which the turnaround was achieved.

Just three years ago in 1999-2000, the Aztecs won only five games, and two years ago in 2000-01, San Diego State finished seventh in the conference.

As if going from 5-23 in 1999-00 to 14-14 in 2000-01 wasn't enough, in the 2001-02 season the Aztecs went 21-12 for the second-highest win total in the school's Division I history.

Other accomplishments of the 2002 NCAA Tournament team:

• San Diego State made it to the postseason for just the fifth time in the school's 33 Division I seasons. The Aztecs advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 1975, 1976 and 1985 and to the postseason NIT in 1982, prior to participating in the Big Dance in March of 2002.
• The RPI is one barometer that shows the program's dramatic rise. For the seven seasons from 1993-94 to 1999-00, San Diego State had an average final RPI of 190. In the 2000-01 season, the Aztecs jumped to 154 in the final RPI. In 2001-02 ,the Aztecs jumped more than 100 positions in the ratings and ended the regular season at number 39 in the RPI, ahead of perennial powers such as Notre Dame (41), Villanova (43), Arkansas (46), Virginia (50), UNLV (51), Missouri (54), Louisville (61), Fresno State (64), Purdue (100), North Carolina (119), Seton Hall (125) and Michigan (142).
• With 21 victories last season, San Diego State posted its highest single-season victory total since the 1984-85 team went to the NCAA tournament and finished 23-8. This marked the third consecutive year, all under Steve Fisher, that the Aztecs bettered their win total from the previous season (4 to 5 to 14 to 21). The 21 victories are the second-highest victory total of the Division I era (beginning with the 1970-71 season) and surpasses the school's total in the previous two seasons combined.
• The Aztecs posted consecutive .500 or better seasons for the first time since the 1983-84 and 1984-85 seasons. The Aztecs, who went 14-14 in 2000-01, were 21-12 in 2001-02. Prior to the last two seasons, SDSU went 147-280 in the 15 seasons between the two winning stretches. The Aztecs averaged 9.8 wins between the 1985-86 and the 1999-00 seasons.
• The Aztecs finished league play with a 7-7 record, marking the first time SDSU finished .500 in conference action since the 1984-85 team claimed second in the WAC with an 11-5 mark. In the previous 15 seasons, the Aztecs averaged 3.9 league wins. After finishing no better than sixth place in a conference (Western Athletic or Mountain West) since the 1984-85 campaign and having an average finish of 7.7 in the previous 16 seasons, the Aztecs claimed a share of fourth place in the MWC in 2001-02.
• San Diego State set a school record in the 2001-02 season in both total home attendance (92,475) and average home attendance (6,165). In 15 home games, San Diego State shattered the previous school record for highest average, set back in 1981-82 when SDSU averaged 4,824. The 2001-02 average was a 36.1 percent increase over the previous season and a remarkable 135.4 percent increase over Steve Fisher's first season (1999-2000).
• The success on the court has generated media coverage unparalleled in the program's history. The Aztecs made a school-record 25 appearances on live television during the 2001-02 season, a marked increase over the year before Fisher's arrival, the 1998-99 campaign, when SDSU was on television nine times. In addition, San Diego State made the first two network television appearances in the program's history. In 2002-03, the SDSU regular-season schedule includes 20 live television appearances.
• Below is a look at the Aztecs' records since the start of the 2000-01 campaign. The record on the right shows how many games it took San Diego State to win the same number of games prior to the 2000-01 season.

The Difference: Since/Before the '00-01 SeasonRecord Since BeforeRecord 37-28 37-82Conference 11-17 11-49Home Record 25-9 24-33Away/Neutral Rec. 12-19 12-52

Senior Dominant
San Diego State's senior class of Tony Bland, Mike Mackell and Deandre Moore were a big reason the Aztecs rallied from behind to defeat Cal Poly on Nov. 30.

The triumvirate accounted for 52 points, 20 rebounds and eight assists in the victory over the Mustangs. In the second half, the three seniors scored 26 of the Aztecs' 31 points.

Through four games the trio is averaging 46.3 points, 17.0 rebounds and 10.8 assists. They have accounted for 60.1 percent of San Diego State's points this season.

Below is a look at what the three seniors have done each game this season.

MP FG 3FG FT R F A TO B S TPEWU 103 15-36 2-11 11-13 15 11 6 8 0 1 43at Portland 98 13-33 4-9 16-25 21 13 14 14 0 3 46at Cal Poly 109 18-41 3-6 13-20 20 5 8 5 2 5 52UCSD 81 16-31 7-12 5-8 12 3 15 4 0 2 44

Playing from Behind
Despite a 2-2 record this season, the Aztecs have played with the lead a large majority of the time.

Against Eastern Washington, the Aztecs held the advantage on the scoreboard more than the Hawks (18:10-16:50), and San Diego State had a significant advantage in the Portland game (30:20-5:46) before losing. After holding the lead for less than seven minutes but coming out with a win against Cal Poly, SDSU owned the lead for all but 44 seconds in its last game against UCSD.

One reason the Aztecs may have struggled holding on to leads is the fact that San Diego State played the first three games with essentially an eight-player rotation.

Through three games, San Diego State had two players averaging more than 35 minutes a game and four players averaging more than 29 minutes a game. Eight players accounted for 589 of the first 600 playing minutes this season.

That trend is sure to change as the Aztecs welcome three gifted players into the rotation over the next two weeks in sophomore transfers Chris Manker and Travis Hanour and freshman Evan Burns. Manker and Burns are eligible for competition on Saturday and Hanour is available beginning Dec. 14.

Below is a look at which team has had the lead in the four games this season. In each of the first three games, the team that trailed the most during the contest has won the game.

Ahead Tied BehindEastern Washington 18:10 5:00 16:50at Portland 30:20 3:54 5:46at Cal Poly 6:53 1:29 31:38UC San Diego 39:16 0:44 0:00

Aerick the Great
Forward Aerick Sanders has gotten his junior campaign off to a fast start, posting a career-high 11 rebounds twice already this season and 40 minutes played in the season-opening loss to Eastern Washington.

Through four games, Sanders is averaging a team-best 8.2 rebounds per contest and already has nine blocked shots this season.

The 40 minutes of action for Sanders against Eastern Washington was not only a career-high, but was more court time than the junior saw in any two games last season (last season's high was 20 minutes, with his previous career mark of 24 minutes set during his freshman campaign).

Last season, Sanders blocked 29 shots to rank seventh in the Mountain West Conference, and just missed cracking the school's all-time top-10 list.

With a career-best four blocks against UC San Diego on Monday, Sanders earned a spot on the all-time top 10 blocked shot chart

Most Blocked Shots/CareerPl. Name, Years Blocked Shots To Tie1. Leonard Allen, 1982-85 2142. Michael Cage, 1981-84 1183. Joe McNaull, 1991-93 1144. Marcelo Correa, 1997-01 100 475. Rodney Hawkins, 1987-88 77 246. Eddy Gordon, 1980-83 71 187. Marty Dow, 1990-91 68 158. Leon Carter, 1995-96 58 59. Marc Carter, 1994-95 55 210. Aerick Sanders, 2001-03 53

The Freshmen
Although the Aztecs' senior class of Tony Bland, Mike Mackell and Deandre Moore grab most of the headlines, San Diego State's 2002-03 team is comprised of a lot of youth.

Of the nine players that saw action in each of the four games this season, four were freshmen - Trimaine Davis, John Sharper, Steve Sir and Markee White (one other was a sophomore - Tommy Johnson).

The four freshmen have combined to play 205 minutes this season (51.3 minutes per game), and have scored 72 points while adding 28 rebounds and nine assists.

Below is a quick look at how the newest Aztecs performed.

• STEVE SIR, a redshirt freshman, has started all four games for the Aztecs this season. After matching Al Faux for the most three-pointers in a game over SDSU's last 54 games with a career-best six against UCSD, he has a team-high 15 three-point field goals. Sir is a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line this season. The sharp-shooter from Minnesota, who has made 9-of-16 three-pointers in the last two games, boasts a 48.4 three-point percentage and is SDSU's third-leading scorer at 13.5 points per game.
• JOHN SHARPER, a walk-on freshman, has played 30 minutes including several at the point guard position. Sharper has looked solid handling the ball and has committed just two turnovers. He grabbed a career-high five rebounds in 12 minutes and contributed a three-pointer to SDSU's record-setting barrage of 16 treys against UCSD.
• TRIMAINE DAVIS, a redshirt freshman, has 13 points and nine rebounds in 62 minutes of action this season. He is averaging 15.5 minutes per contest. Davis, who made all 15 of his shots during the preseason, went 3-for-3 from the floor in scoring a career-high six points against UCSD.
• MARKEE WHITE, a redshirt freshman, has seen action in all four games this season and scored the first points of his collegiate career on a pair of free throws against UCSD.

Moore is Better
Healthy for the first time since becoming an Aztec, Deandre Moore has overcome previous season injuries such as a separated shoulder and shin splints to participate in every practice this season.

That coupled with a rigorous off-season workout schedule has the Aztec point guard 16 pounds lighter than a season ago and playing some of the best basketball of his career.

Moore is averaging 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists through four games this season. He has also played a team-high 137 minutes, averaging 34.2 minutes per contest.

Moore played 36 minutes in the first three games this season before logging 27 in the Aztecs' 30-point win over UCSD. Last season, due to nagging injuries, Moore logged 35 minutes in only three of 33 games.

The senior guard broke the 300-assist barrier for his career against Portland and the Vanderbilt transfer is closing in on the Aztec career top 10 list.

Most Assists/CareerPl. Name, Years Assists To Tie1. Tony Gwynn, 1978-81 5902. Chad Nelson, 1994-97 4123. Mark Delsman, 1974-77 3764. Anthony Watson, 1983-86 3565. Keith Smith, 1982-83 3496. Dean Decker, 1977-78 307 657. Ray Leary, 1974-76 279 378. Mike Dodd, 1976-79 277 359. Creon Dorsey, 1985-86 263 2110. Bryan Williams, 1988-89 243 1nr. Deandre Moore, 2001-03 242

Top Two Scorers Gone, No Problem for Fisher
Some might see the departure of the Aztecs' top two scoring averages from the 2001-02 season - Al Faux (17.0 ppg) and Randy Holcomb (16.9 ppg) - as a problem, but Steve Fisher has overcome scoring departures in the past to produce big seasons.

Three times in his coaching career Fisher has had his top two scorers depart, but all three times he has led his team back to the postseason the following year.

In the 1990-91 season, Fisher lost his entire starting five, including Rumeal Robinson and Terry Mills, off a squad that went 23-8 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. That season, Fisher guided his squad to the NIT.

In 1994-95, Fisher overcame the losses of Jalen Rose and Juwan Howard to put the Wolverines in the NCAA Tournament.

Most recently, in 1995-96, Fisher lost Ray Jackson and Jimmy King but still put together a 20-win season and guided Michigan to the NCAA Tournament.

Aztec '02-03 Outlook

The good news for San Diego State basketball fans is that the fairy tale is not over. The rags-to-riches trek that is now the story of Aztec basketball has just completed its first steps. The old monikers of survival and competitiveness have gone by the wayside. The slogans have been replaced by a trophy with a plate that says Mountain West Conference champions. And the struggles the University endured just to field a competitive team have been replaced by a stable basketball program.

No one, including head coach Steve Fisher, is in a position to put a tag on the 2002-2003 San Diego State men's basketball team. The rise of the program under Fisher, from 5-23 in year one to MWC champions in year three, is well documented. It ranks among the greater hardwood accomplishments in the new millennium. But the crew will look different this season. The opposition will be tougher - the conference figures to be stronger.

There is no revenge to exact on the rest of the league, no paybacks from dismal seasons gone by. In fact, no one on the San Diego State roster has experienced a losing season. But there is a title to defend.

"We have a program now," said Fisher on the brink of his fourth season on the west coast. "The challenges are different but the theme is the same. We need to keep improving and keep building. There is always room for improvement. Our goal last year was to qualify for a postseason tournament and we did that with a Mountain West Conference tournament championship. But the heart and soul of that team is gone and we need to take that next step with a new cast."

Gone from Cox Arena are five seniors, including Randy Holcomb, Al Faux and Myron Epps. Holcomb was the only player from the Mountain West Conference taken in the NBA draft last year. Faux hit big shot after big shot during the course of his career and was capable of monster nights at any time. He was especially dangerous while in the spotlight. Myron Epps was perhaps the league's most experienced player and he ended his career with more than 1,000 career points. All three were critical during San Diego State's march to the 2002 conference tournament title.

"Randy Holcomb had an edge about him, a confidence that showed you he expected to succeed," Fisher said. "That is what we have to replace. Randy and Al's toughness will be hard to duplicate. They weren't afraid to take over. They wanted to take the last shot and they were good at it."

Holcomb was the most valuable player of the MWC tournament and a first-team all-conference selection each of the last two seasons. If San Diego State's basketball fortunes continue to climb in the future, historians are likely to look back at Holcomb as the player who changed the course of a program.

But those in the know aren't ready to categorize San Diego State as rebuilding -- just different.

Early returns on the team say the Aztecs may not be as athletic as a year ago, but the skill level may be much higher. Lob passes for easy layups and reverse slams may be down, but the three-point weapon and pin-point passes figure to be up.

"We will be very skilled with people who are fundamentally sound -- people who can make the pass and hit the open shot," Fisher said.

"We have three seniors in Deandre Moore, Tony Bland and Mike Mackell who played big roles for us last season," Fisher said. "They've played a lot and they've experienced a lot of success. Now it's their turn."

Bland is in his third season on the campus and the former Syracuse starter will be looking to close his career by playing in his fourth NCAA Tournament. Moore and Mackell both played big roles in the Aztec title run in Las Vegas and, as always, the newcomers are intriguing.

"We are now striving to reach a level of consistency here in which postseason play is expected and we hope that we have approached that level," Fisher said. "We've achieved a measure of success and credibility that is now our foundation."

"The players on our team now only know one San Diego State," he said, "the one that has achieved success, the one that has cut down a net. It is the San Diego State they envisioned when they enrolled here. And they plan to keep it that way."

The challenges will be stiff for the Aztecs this season. Texas Tech, fresh from its own return to the NCAA Tournament, will visit Cox Arena as will Arizona. The Wildcats will be among the early favorites to reach the Final Four. And, oh yeah, the Mountain West Conference is truly reaching new heights.

"There is no question that the league will be the best it has been since it was formed," Fisher said.

Not only do the teams in the upper division appear stronger, but perennial also-rans are making obvious improvements. However, San Diego State appears more than ready to hold its own as it begins its fourth season under Fisher in the fourth season of the Mountain West Conference.

"There are a number of things I am anxious to learn regarding our team," Fisher said. "First and most important are the intangibles that start with the head and the heart. It sounds clich? but we lost a guy in Randy Holcomb who absolutely willed himself not to lose. That rubbed off on others.

"Al Faux had a quieter confidence, but it was there. We can't afford to take a step back in that area. We have to have the look and the feel of a winner. We should be able to do that because we have won."

Not only did Faux and Holcomb provide a will to win, but they also provided nearly 34 points per game and finding that same offensive firepower will be a priority.

The Aztecs will also be looking for the right combination in the paint. The size might not be there, but the skill level is not really an issue.

Point Guard
San Diego State's success down the stretch last year can be directly traced to the improved play of Deandre Moore. The Aztecs were the Mountain West Conference's hottest team not only in the postseason tournament, but in the second half of the season as well. Moore is now a senior and all indications are that he is poised for a big year.

"Deandre is in the best condition of his life," Fisher said. "He's playing well and he really dedicated himself in the off-season. He played well down the stretch and I think he has the confidence that can only come from having success."

San Diego State won eight of its final 10 games of the season and the hot streak began to take shape when Moore returned to the starting lineup in late January following a rather indifferent start to the season.

Moore will have the added benefit of being pushed during practice. Long Beach Poly graduate and Missouri transfer Wesley Stokes is in the fold and will sit out the 2002-2003 under NCAA transfer guidelines, but he will practice with the Aztecs each day. The added competition from someone fresh from the Big 12 wars and coming off an appearance in the Elite Eight could mean that game day will provide Moore with a break.

Depth at point guard will likely be a key to the season. Tony Bland can fill the role as he did during his junior season. But Fisher would much rather see his other backcourt senior at the off-guard spot or even at small forward.

The Aztecs may have caught a break when John Sharper enrolled at San Diego State. Although a walk-on in status, the freshman has impressed his teammates in preseason workouts. He is a skilled shooter who could provide some valuable minutes in relief of Moore. Sharper, a native of Oakland, turned down scholarship offers at other schools to be a part of the Aztec program.

Shooting Guard
San Diego State is loaded at the two-guard. Tony Bland averaged 15.7 points per game last season from the position and he is now in his fifth season of college basketball. He is firmly established not only as a starter but as a team leader. He also provides versatility to San Diego State with his abilities to play anywhere on the perimeter and the mismatches he can cause at 6-5.

Luckily, if Bland moves to the point or to the front line, there are still plenty of options. Redshirt freshman Steve Sir is the team's best shooter and has been wiping out San Diego County in games of "horse" for the past year. Tommy Johnson, a former prep standout in Los Angeles, is also a candidate at the two.

"Steve Sir is a terrific shooter," Fisher said. "His challenge is to become more than a specialist. I think Tommy is a two or a three and we have some options there. We could easily play Deandre, Tommy and Tony together on the perimeter without any hesitation. I think Deandre, Steve and Tommy would also be hard to guard.

"When you talk about the perimeter, you can lump those guys all together and it wouldn't really affect what we do on offense."

Another candidate on the perimeter could be Travis Hanour. The Arizona transfer becomes eligible in December and the sophomore brings a variety of skills to the table, including the ability to score off the dribble or in catch-and-shoot mode.

Small Forward
The small forward position was manned by several Aztecs a year ago, including Bland, seniors Brandon Smith, Karlo Kovacic and Myron Epps, as well as Randy Holcomb. In Steve Fisher's offense, the position is loaded with flexibility depending upon the individual on the floor.

Hanour could be a natural at the small forward. His 6-6 build is the same as Walton's and what he lacks in post power, he more than compensates for on the perimeter with his ability to penetrate, pass and shoot.

"Travis is a scorer with multiple talents," Fisher said. "He can shoot it and put it on the floor and get to the rim. He's pretty quick off the dribble. "

Hanour prepped at Laguna Beach and began his career at Arizona. He was heavily recruited in high school and his skills, coupled with his 6-6 frame, could make for some matchup problems for the opposition.

Markee White, who sat out last season, is termed a "slasher" by the head coach and Fisher will look for him to contribute early in the season while Manker and Hanour are sitting out. Chris Walton, a versatile junior who is a redshirt candidate for 2002-03, could be pressed into service if needed.

Power Forward
"Aerick Sanders has really worked hard in the weight room and I am confident that if we give him extended minutes we'll get production," Fisher said.

Sanders is among several players who will fight for playing time along the front line. He has been a steady hand his first two years on campus in a reserve role but with a handful of starts under his belt.

A year ago Sanders shot over 56 percent from the floor, but shot just 66 times, less than three attempts per game. However, during the course of his career he has had a knack for the big play, whether it be a key rebound, a deflected pass or just keeping the ball alive. Against Wyoming in the semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament, it was Sanders' rebound that clinched the victory in a one-point decision.

Two more players at the power forward position include redshirt freshman Trimaine Davis and Oregon State transfer Chris Manker. Davis is the most athletic Aztec who simply needs to get his feet wet in competition after a year of hammering the Aztec starters as a member of the scout team.

"Trimaine is a little undersized for his position but he is quick off his feet with long arms," Fisher said. "He should be a guy that will be hard to keep off the offensive glass because he is so active. He needs to be that for us.

"My hope for Trimaine is that he will evolve so much through the course of the season that we won't recognize him as being the same player at the end of the season as he was in October," Fisher added. "He has a learning curve that should go straight up - more than anyone on the team. He needs to play in front of people and in game situations."

Chris Manker is another Laguna Beach product who has made his way back to southern California. He began at Oregon State before joining San Diego State. He will become eligible in December.

"Chris is 6-11 with good foot speed," Fisher said. "He has a good shooting touch out to 20 feet. We need him to be stronger and we are really anxious to test his toughness and watch him develop."

Center
San Diego State is blessed and cursed at the pivot. Mike Mackell is proven in the paint after a year in the Mountain West Conference. He played very well down the stretch and after a slow start his average eventually climbed to 10.6 points per game while scoring nearly 14 per game in the Mountain West Tournament. Mackell averaged 4.4 boards per game and the Aztec staff will be counting on a higher production from the glass.

The question marks begin behind Mackell. Trimaine Davis is raw and Aerick Sanders is a forward. Manker is more comfortable facing the basket at the moment.

"I like the idea of running the offense through the post when you have to have a basket," Fisher said. "That is something we will have to develop over the course of the season."

There is little doubt the 2002-03 Aztecs will differ from the team of a year ago. But there is also nothing that says San Diego State can't continue to improve.

They lived happily ever after. It's a good ending for a fairy tale.