Nov. 13, 2008
Aztec Basketball Season Preview
So much for the notion that turnarounds take time.
Just three shorts seasons since finishing without a league win, the Aztec basketball team enters the 2008-09 campaign in contention for a Mountain West Conference title. In fact, it would be hard to argue that the upcoming season wasn't the most anticipated around Montezuma Mesa.
That's because all five starters return from a squad that scored a pair of upsets over two postseason bound teams en route to the program's first-ever Mountain West Conference championship game appearance in 2008. Eight letterwinners are back overall from last year's team that posted its most victories in over a decade (18), logged its highest ever MWC regular-season finish (t-5th) and increased its scoring average by almost nine points a contest (65.0/g).
Add in a group of six talented newcomers and a sharp-shooting transfer and SDSU head coach Beth Burns has the makings of a team that is ready to make noise when the month of March comes around.
"We're obviously really excited to get going," Burns said. "For us going into year four, this will not only be our deepest team, but for the first time, we have returning veterans who have a sense of accomplishment. The injuries to Tamika Lipford and Shanna Demus that were big hurdles for us last year at the time, will pay dividends now because of the minutes and experience gained by players who may have not normally gotten them."
The biggest difference from a year ago will be the Aztecs' competitive depth in the front court. Nine of the team's 15 players are forwards or centers, compared to only four front court players on the 2007-08 roster. SDSU's average height this season is over 5-foot-11, as opposed to just above 5-for-9 a year ago.
"This will be a competitively balanced team that will enable us to play at a tempo that we haven't been able to play until this point," Burns said. "We really had to manage games on the road last year and we haven't rebounded well since I arrived here, and that's got to change. As much as we're excited about the returnees, the newcomers will help us get over the hump. It will be a very competitive month of practice leading up to the season."
While the list of accomplishments of last year's team is long, Burns and the rest of the Aztecs aren't settling on past achievements. They know there is more work left to be done if San Diego State is to advance to the postseason, including a shot to open the NCAA tournament on its home court.
"We obviously got hot at the right time and got very close to an opportunity to win the tournament championship last year," Burns said. "With that said, we didn't win. Coming in second hurts a lot worse than coming in way behind that. We saw what's in front of us and we know what we're capable of."
Below is a breakdown of the 2008-09 Aztec basketball team:
AZTEC BACKCOURT
San Diego State returns one of the most talented back court tandems in the Mountain West Conference in junior guards Quenese Davis and Jené Morris, each of whom started all 31 games and combined to account for 35 percent of the team's scoring, 50 percent of its assists and 41 percent of its steals.
"Quenese and Jené, as our starting back court, aspire to be the best back court in the league," Burns said. "That's a big statement, because we have great guards in our league. They are both capable of being in that category and it's time for them to use their experience to lead our team to where we want to go."
Morris is one of the Aztecs' two preseason all-Mountain West Conference selections. The San Francisco, Calif., native is coming off a phenomenal first campaign in the Red & Black after leading the league in steals (2.97/g) and SDSU in scoring (14.1 ppg.).
Known for her defensive skills, Morris' offensive game blossomed during the Mountain West Conference schedule and into the league championships, when she averaged 18.3 points in the three games to garner all-tournament honors.
"Jené evolved right before our eyes last year in her first season to compete both for SDSU and in the Mountain West," said Burns of the second-team all-league pick. "She just got better and better as she became more comfortable with what she's capable of (offensively) and how that translates to helping our team. She works as hard in practice everyday as anyone I've coached, and that's why she continued to improve at such a stellar rate."
Quenese Davis, after only two seasons, already ranks seventh in SDSU history in career assists with 312. She has ranked in the top two in the Mountain West and in the top 30 nationally each of the last two years in assists per game. She also increased both her shooting and free-throw percentages and had 42 fewer turnovers than her freshman campaign, while notching a career-best 71 steals.
At the 2008 conference tournament, Quenese Davis averaged nine assists per outing and scored the game-winning shot against TCU in one of the most memorable moments of the entire 2007-08 season.
"Our goal for Quenese is to start her junior year where her sophomore left off," Burns said. "She really came into her own in the latter part of February and March in establishing herself as a leader. In order for us to accomplish our team goals, she must be ready to have an all-conference breakout season. She's done the work, has gotten the experience and understands what is expected out of her and what it takes."
The third returning starter in the back court is team captain LaSandra Dixon, the lone fourth-year senior on this year's roster. Dixon started the final eight games of 2007-08, including all three at the MWC championships. While her contributions to the team might not always show up in the stat column, her ability to lead others by example is invaluable to the team's success.
"LaSandra has worked and fought for everything she's got," Burns said. "Whatever it takes is her mantra. She's tough, committed and coachable and will play any role we ask her to. All she wants is to do is one thing - win an MWC title and play in an NCAA tournament in her final season."
Two other letterwinners return in the backcourt in junior Kim Spinardi and sophomore Coco Davis.
Spinardi has played in 29 career games and was 6-of-11 from beyond the arc a year ago. A scholar-athlete, she was the recipient of the team's coaches' award last season and will be expected to help acclimate the six Aztec newcomers both on and off the court.
Coco Davis played in all but one game as a true freshman in 2007-08. Her versatility was key for SDSU a year ago, especially at the MWC championships when she had six rebounds in the quarterfinal win over Wyoming and nine points to go with three steals and three assists in the semifinal upset of TCU.
"Coco experienced a lot in varying degrees last season," Burns said. "When Tamika Lipford and Shanna Demus went down, it doubled her minutes and it was an opportunity for her to learn on the fly. She came into her own at the conference tournament and her versatility enables me to play her at just about any spot on the floor. We expect her to be a huge part of our success."
After sitting out 2007-08 due to NCAA transfer rules, San Diego native Jerica Williams is ready to make an immediate contribution with her ability to put the ball in the basket.
"Jerica is a very skilled shot maker and really complements our other guards who can put it on the floor," Burns said. "She comes from a great high school program and understands defense and toughness. She's also has good leadership qualities and I'm expecting her to have a big year."
AZTEC FRONTCOURT
The Aztec front court will be much more crowded this season with the addition of five true freshmen and the return of senior forward Jennifer Layton-Bailes. In addition, SDSU will have 6-3 forward Jessika Bradley, who spent two seasons at Baylor, at its disposal for practices.
At the heart of the front line, of course, is the team's two returning starters in center Paris Johnson and forward Allison Duffy, both of whom are just sophomores.
Johnson lived up to her billing as one of the nation's top rated recruits a year ago, starting all 31 contests and ranking first among league freshmen in both scoring (12.0 ppg.) and rebounding (6.4 rpg.). She also led the MWC in blocked shots with 54, including a record six in the semifinals of the conference tournament.
A honorable mention all-MWC selection, Johnson averaged 29 minutes a contest all while playing with a screw in both ends of her femur bone, keeping in place a rod in her leg that was put in as a result of a car accident before her senior year in high school.
"A lot (of pressure) was put on Paris a year ago as (an incoming) freshman with a lot of accolades," Burns said. "But what not many people knew was that every time she planted her foot and ran, that screw (from the rod in her femur) dug into her hip. Since she got the screw removed after the season, she's made huge strides physically and has the ability to double-double night in and night out."
Duffy, meanwhile, started 30 games as a redshirt freshman in 2007-08, contributing a physical presence for the Aztecs in the paint. She averaged 10.5 points and 5.6 rebounds a contest to garner honorable mention all-league honors. Duffy also chipped in 65 steals and a team-best 83 percent free-throw percentage that ranked sixth in school history and third in the MWC.
Jennifer Layton-Bailes is the team's other returning letterwinner in the front court. The 6-1 forward led the team in scoring and ranked second in rebounds in 2006-07, before taking last season off. Layton-Bailes had 11 double-figure scoring games and four outings with 10 or more boards in her 21 starts as a junior.
"Jennifer worked very hard to put herself in position to come back and contribute," Burns said. "She's in great shape and has some conference experience. She brings great length at the forward spot and will help on the glass where we needed to improve both offensively and defensively."
Joining the three veterans are five true freshmen, each of whom will brings something a little bit different to the table. Four are listed as forwards and one as a center, and of course, each is above six-feet tall. Four of the five were also McDonald's All-America nominees and come from successful prep programs.
Candace Chambers is the lone Aztec from outside the state of California, moving south after a solid career at Seattle Prep High School in Seattle, Wash. Chambers will give SDSU another physical presence inside, having set a Washington state tournament record with nine blocked shots in a single outing as a senior.
Gabrielle Clark, who prepped at perennial powerhouse Narbonne High School, will see plenty of playing time at the small forward slot.
"Gabby makes big shots," Burns said. "She's a great three-point shooter and is long and can run. Her size (at small forward) will enable us to counter the size that we see on the front lines around the league. Once she understands how to guard, her length on the perimeter will be make her even more valuable."
A member of two-straight state title teams at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, Lindsay Leo comes to SDSU with championship experience and a familiarity with the Aztecs' playing style.
"Lindsay has experience with a high school style that's taught similar to ours," Burns said. "She understands how we like to guard and what will be expected, so the learning curve will be quicker. She has deceiving speed and is good with her back to the basket. I expect her to contribute on both ends of the floor."
One of the team's two centers, Kalena Tutt, attended Millikan High School in Long Beach, Calif., where she was a four-year starter, garnering all-league honors on three occasions. A solid athlete, Tutt will give the Aztecs much needed help on the boards and also has the ability to block shots and slash to the basket.
Freshman Adrienne Vita should also fight for some minutes in the front court and is able to play either the three or four spots.
Although she must sit out due to NCAA guidelines this year, Jessika Bradley has already become a factor in practices since transfering, giving added competition to her former club teammate, Paris Johnson.
"Having a familiarity with so many of our players from when she played EBO club basketball, makes the transition to her teammates easier," Burns said. "She and Paris already have great chemistry and Paris will be a better player this year for having the opportunity to go against Jessika every day in practice and vice versa."
THE SCHEDULE
A road trip to perennial powerhouse UCONN, the fourth annual San Diego Surf `N Slam and five regular season televised games highlight the 2008-09 Aztec women's basketball schedule.
San Diego State open its 2008-09 campaign at home for just the second time in the last five years on Nov. 14, against first-time opponent Northwestern State (La.). The Aztecs then play their next six contests on the road with a Nov. 20 meeting at Connecticut, a cross-town trip to USD on Nov. 25, and a three games in three days set at the Marriott Beach Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii, Nov. 28-30.
For the third year in a row, San Diego State will be at home the entire month of December, playing three non-conference games before playing host to the San Diego Surf `N Slam, Dec. 28 and 30, for the fourth straight season.
SDSU opens 2009 with a league home game against Air Force and concludes MWC action with two road games before heading to Las Vegas for the conference championships. The NCAA First & Second Rounds take place March 21-24, with one of the 16 sites being Cox Arena.