March 10, 2015
LAS VEGAS -
San Diego State Game Notes | SDSU Broadcast Flip Card
NEWS AND NOTES (all notes through March 8 games)
* Having claimed its fourth Mountain West regular-season championship in the last five seasons, San Diego State opens the 2015 MW Championship as the No. 2 seed on Thursday.
* San Diego State earned a share of the regular-season title by winning its final two games of the against its possible quarterfinal-round opponents. The Aztecs won at UNLV, 60-58, on March 4, and defeated Nevada, 67-43, last Saturday.
* In addition to winning its fourth regular-season title in the last five seasons, SDSU claimed its fifth regular-season title of the Mountain West era, seventh conference title of the Division I era and 20th league title in school history.
* SDSU won its Mountain West-high ninth men's basketball title on Saturday (five regular-season titles, four tournament titles).
* San Diego State has won four Mountain West tournament titles (2002, 2006, 2010 and 2011). The four titles are tied with New Mexico for the most in league history.
* This marks the third time in the WAC/MW era that the Aztecs have earned the No. 2 seed and San Diego State has won the championship both times (1985 and 2011). Since 1985, SDSU is 5-0 as the No. 2 seed in conference tourneys.
* San Diego State owns a 21-11 record in the 15 previous Mountain West Championships. The Aztecs' winning percentage of 65.6 percent is second-highest in the event's history among active MW members, trailing only UNLV (24-11, 68.6 percent), who has played 28 of their 35 conference tournament games during the span on their home court.
* San Diego State is looking to advance to the semifinal round for the eighth straight season. The Aztecs are 10-5 all-time in the quarterfinal round game, having won every quarterfinal contest since 2008.
* SDSU is among the national leaders in many rankings. The Aztecs are 25th in the USA Today Coaches poll, 27th in the NCAA RPI, 28th in the KenPom rating and tied for 34th in the AP poll.
* San Diego State is ranked No. 25 in the USA Today poll this week. The Aztecs have been ranked in one or both of the two major polls in 11 of 18 weeks this season.
* San Diego State has won at least 20 games in each of the past 10 seasons and at least 23 victories for seven consecutive seasons.
* The only schools to win at least 23 games every season from 2008-09 through 2014-15 are Brigham Young, Duke, Gonzaga Kansas and SDSU. Memphis (18), VCU (22), Saint Mary's (21) and Syracuse (18) could join the group if they get to 23 wins this year.
* San Diego State is 32-11 in its last 43 games played during the month of March.
* Steve Fisher has won 22 games at Thomas & Mack Center. That is the third-highest total of any active head coach and the most by any active coach not to spend time as the UNLV head coach.
* San Diego State has won two straight games, six of seven (6-1), nine of 11 (9-2) and 13 of 16 (13-3).
* San Diego State set a Mountain West record this season by allowing 52.7 points in 18 conference games. The previous record was held by the 2003-04 Air Force squad (54.4).
* San Diego State is on the verge of setting Division I era school records for opponent points per game and opponent field goal percentage. The Aztecs have held opponents to 53.4 points per game (current record: 57.0 in 2013-14) and 37.6 field goal percent (38.6 percent in 2013-14).
* Nationally, San Diego State ranks second in scoring defense (53.4), sixth in field-goal percentage defense (37.6), ninth in fewest fouls per game (14.5), 15th in three-point field-goal percentage defense (29.8), 21st in blocked shots per game (5.2) and 52nd in offensive rebounds per game (12.4).
* SDSU is fourth nationally in points allowed per possession at .0878, trailing only Kentucky (.0851), Virginia (.0853) and Arizona (.0869).
* In the Mountain West, San Diego State ranks first in scoring defense (53.4) and field-goal percentage defense (37.6). The Aztecs are second in three-point field-goal percentage defense (29.8), blocked shots per game (5.2), offensive rebounds per game (12.4), fewest personal fouls per game (14.5) and steals per game (7.3).
* SDSU has held 17 of its last 21 opponents to 59 points or less, including 10 opponents to 49 points or less during that stretch.
* San Diego State's defense has held its opponents to an average of 13.0 points below their season scoring averages. The Aztecs have held 26 of 31 opponents below their season scoring average, including 20 times at least 10 points below. Two of the five teams that made their season averages, benefitted from the games going into overtime.
* In the last 13 games, San Diego State has averaged 63.8 points and connected on 312-of-700 shots (44.6 percent), including 77-of-205 from three-point range (37.6 percent).
* Since Jan. 20 (last 13 games), SDSU has had some strong performances from three-point range, including Malik Pope at 13-of-28 (46.4 percent), Aqeel Quinn at 21-of-48 (43.8 percent), Matt Shrigley at 18-of-50 (36.0 percent) and Winston Shepard 10-of-28 (35.7 percent).
* According to KenPom, SDSU ranks 25th in the country in offensive rebound percentage at 36.4. In six of their last 14 games, the Aztecs have rebounded at least 41.4 percent of their misses, including a season-high 56.2 percent at Nevada on Feb. 4.
* Since the beginning of the 2010-11 campaign, San Diego State is 41-15 (73.2 percent) in games decided by six points or less or in overtime. That is the third-best winning percentage in the nation, trailing only Memphis (38-13, 74.5 pct.) and Louisiana Tech (33-12, 73.3 percent).
* JJ O'Brien has posted 15 or more points six times in his last 10 games, including a career-high 22 points at UNLV on March 4. He is averaging 11.9 points over his last 15 games, reaching double figures in nine of those games. The senior is one of 14 players in the country this season (and one of two in the MW) to average at least 9.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and have an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.5 or better. O'Brien has an assist in 22 straight games and has recorded multiple assists in 13 of his last 14 games.
* Aqeel Quinn has led SDSU in scoring in seven of the last 15 games. He has reached double figures in 10 of his last 15 games and is averaging a team-high 12.1 points during that span. In his last seven games, he has connected on 12 of 22 three-point field-goal attempts (54.5 percent). He is also 29-of-60 from the field (48.3 percent) with 16 assists in his last six games.
* The team leader in scoring, Winston Shepard, has been particularly effective of late. The junior has reached double figures in seven of his last eight games (14.0 ppg), has multiple assists five of his last seven games (15 total, 2.1 apg). In addition, he has connected on 37-of-79 field-goal attempts (46.8 percent), 7-of-16 three-point field-goal attempts (43.8 percent) and 19-of-28 free throws (67.9 percent) during his past six games. He has made a trey in a career-high six consecutive games.
* With three blocked shots in the game at UNLV last week, Skylar Spencer broke the school record for career blocks. The junior has blocked 218 shots in his three-year career, breaking the previous school record of 214 set by Leonard Allen (1982-83-84-85). Despite being a junior, he ranks 12th nationally among all active players in blocked shots (5th among non-seniors).
* Spencer has joined select company atop the school's career major statistical categories. All-time SDSU leaders in other major categories: Points: Brandon Heath (2,189), Rebounds: Michael Cage (1,317), Assists: Tony Gwynn (590), Steals: Richie Williams (246), Games Played: D.J. Gay (140), Games Started: Billy White (124).
* Spencer has 17 blocked shots in the last six games (2.83 bpg). The junior has block multiple shots in five of his last six games, 20 times this season and 58 times in his career.
* Dwayne Polee II, who was diagnosed with cardiac arythmia after collapsing on the court during a game on Dec. 22, has battled his way back onto the court after a long road in receiving medical clearance. The hero of last season's run to the Sweet 16, the senior has made a three-pointer in all three games since returning to the Aztec lineup, posting the following numbers in 44 minutes of action (three games) since his return: 18 points, two rebounds, two assists and five steals.