Sez Me …
If there is a road hereabouts, it’s likely to have a hole in it. Or a bump.
Somehow, the men’s basketball team at San Diego State, used to a fairly comfortable ride under driver Brian Dutcher, this year managed to hit both.
The Aztecs had trouble with navigation from the beginning. And never corrected it.
SDSU went 22-11, finished second in the regular-season Mountain West to Utah State, and then lost to the Aggies in the conference tournament finale.
They were sitting on the bubble and didn’t make the NCAA Tournament. On the surface, they didn’t deserve to go dancing.
The Aztecs lost too many games they should have won, including a really bad one at home, to Troy. They probably would have made it if not for that loss. There was also the home defeat to Grand Canyon, their great white whale.
Not that I’m terribly disappointed they didn’t go. There are all kinds of reasons why they did not, including injuries, especially to big man Magoon Gwath, who returned near the end of last year and played well. Plus, they weren’t really good.
(Will Magoon, who refused the transfer portal last year, do so again? Will he avoid the NBA draft, as he also did last year?)
This was not an easy team to watch. Rebounding was a particular open wound. They were outrebounded by 24 vs. Arizona and 22 vs. Boise State. They did not lack for intensity, but defense, which Steve Fisher pounded into their brains, was not the same.
They also lacked “the guy,” the one to rely on in the clutch, and their better teams always have had “the guy.”
And yet, despite it all, when I look at the current NCAA Tournament, and how things are going —High Point over Wisconsin? — SDSU’s inclusion as a mid-major would not have been a problem.
And there is no question the Mountain West deserved more than one NCAA participant. The Big Ten has nine entrants, the Big 12 eight. Please. The so-called mid-majors get screwed.
The tournament is pocked with teams that don’t belong, as proved by Friday’s results. The NCAA continues to give conference tournament winners automatic bids, which is stupid. They are parking meters at Balboa. Money-grabbers.
Dutcher is a fine coach, but he doesn’t have the NIL money to throw around like the big boys. Still, he doesn’t shy away from playing them. Sometimes it works, as it did with Houston last year. This season, it did not (Arizona).
But he does it right. His program moves on to the new Pac-12 next year and he will compete.
End of argument. …
Meanwhile, SDSU’s women deserved better, but the conference tournament loss to Air Force was inexcusable. …
Please remember. Refs in every sport see and hear what they want to see and hear. …
Utah State coach Jerrod Calhoun, who is terrific, called his team getting a No. 9 seed in the tournament “atrocious.” He was right. …
Seth Greenberg says Duke’s Cameron Boozer is “the most mature freshman I’ve ever seen.” I’ll stay with Isiah Thomas. I saw him up close here during the Cabrillo Classic, when Bob Knight was at his out-of-control best. …
I can’t believe Joe Hortiz goes to the bathroom without raising his hand and getting Jim Harbaugh’s consent. …
The Eagles want at least a No. 1 and possibly a 2 for A.J. Brown. A receiver? Teams have to remember what P.T. Barnum said about suckers. And he wasn’t talking about candy on a stick. …
The No. 2 quarterback on the Chiefs now is Justin Fields, acquired from the Jets. K.C. is signing Pope Leo XIV — who doesn’t count against the cap — just to pray Patrick Mahomes gets healthy. …
Fields is one of nine first-round quarterbacks drafted since 2019 to play for more than one team. Need a QB? Cuidado. …
No team is a wide receiver away from winning a Super Bowl. The Broncos gave away too much to get Jaylen Waddle from Miami. But if you don’t have a receiver, as the Dolphins don’t now, that’s also a problem. …
Maxx Crosby said, “I’m meant to be a Raider.” So did Jon Gruden. …
The Eagles landed Hollywood Brown, the former Chief. He’s more like Van Nuys Brown. …
The Judases have re-signed veteran safety Tony Jefferson. A San Diego football player of the first order. …
Happy 70th to “My Fair Lady.” It remains a wonder. …
RIP, CBS Radio. A damn shame. …
Congratulations to the great Mean Joe Greene for still being alive. Unsocial media is getting completely out of control. It killed off Dan Fouts not long ago. …
Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata quit after his team was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic by Venezuela. By the way, how could Venezuela beat the U.S. now that it’s become our 51st state? It IS the U.S. …
Robert Parish on why today’s Celtics couldn’t hang with the 1986 Celtics: “Bill Walton (sixth man). The NBA could do nothing with William.” …
Saw a film of the most egregious traveling violations NBA officials didn’t call. Marco Polo took fewer steps. The league is an embarrassment to basketball. …
Matt Leinart went 37-2 and won two national titles plus a Heisman Trophy quarterbacking USC. He should not have to un-retire his number 11 jersey because recruits want it. What have they won? Sacred should remain sacred. …
There will be 11 soccer matches in Snapdragon Stadium during the 2028 Olympics. Great for lazy scorekeepers. …
Sure appears Walker Buehler has the inside track to becoming the Pads’ fifth starter. If they can sneak him into a Dodgers uni, he wins 30. …
Twenty-three members of Italy’s WBC team were born in America. Three in Italy. I wonder which country Joe DiMaggio would play for? Yogi might have gone the Italian way. He met the Pope once and said, “Hello, Pope.” …
Although I should point out Yogi Berra was in the Navy during WWII and was awarded the Purple Heart on D-Day. …
The WBC was overrated. But baseball might be better if the athletes played for their countries every day. …
Should Mason Miller have come into that Venezuela finale? No. Just agony prolonged. …
With these umps, instead of bitching, if you think a pitch is close, swing at it. …
Want good news? The Padres have re-upped TV broadcaster Mark Grant. Mud and Don Orsillo, baseball’s Abbott and Costello, are the best. Because they entertain. …
“Politicians and diapers must be changed often. For the same reason.” — Mark Twain