Credit: Don De Mars/EVT Sports
The San Diego State Aztecs are coming off a monster win over Long Beach State. Brian Dutcher’s squad took down former SDSU assistant coach Chris Acker and his team 77-45. The score was close early on, but the Aztecs began to run away with the game toward the end of the first half.
The Scarlet & Black won handily without stars Magoon Gwath and Reese Dixon-Waters. San Jose State transfer guard Latrell Davis did not play either, despite the big win.
Dutcher provided an update to the media on Gwath’s health on Monday ahead of the game.
“November 6 has been the target for final clearance, for when then he can start practicing with contact. Right now, he’s running, he’s shooting, he’s hit all his marks as far as rehab.
I told him today that if he’s practicing on November 6, maybe we’ll throw him in there on Sunday. I don’t know if that’s realistic, but I know he’s ready to go mentally. He wants to be out there, so we’ll start easing him back into full contact practice and see what the timeline is.”
The Aztecs saw a lot of great things from the frontcourt in the win over Long Beach State, despite not having their star forward in the lineup. Freshman Tae Simmons played very well with 10 points and seven rebounds in his collegiate debut, while Jeremiah Oden started at the four and scored six points.
Dixon-Waters was a shocking scratch for this contest. Dutcher provided an update postgame on what happened with the senior guard during this week.
“Reese had a hard week,” Dutcher said postgame. “He was sick, so he missed two days with illness. Then he started to come back, and then he had a scratched cornea, I think. He came in with sunglasses on, and we are trying to see how quickly we can get that turned around. Hopefully by Sunday, tomorrow is an off day, and hopefully the medication starts taking into effect right away, and we can have him back on the floor.”
It’s too early to tell if Dixon-Waters will play against Idaho State on Sunday. The Aztecs showed on Tuesday night that they can afford to play some games without key players, given how deep the roster is.
Lastly, an update on Latrell Davis. Dutcher began his opening statement postgame by mentioning Davis and offering initial thoughts on his expectations for Davis this season. It’s a lengthy quote.
“I told Latrell, ‘Come ready to play today,’ Dutcher explained. “It had nothing to do with being shorthanded; it had something to do with him being such an important player. And I am trying to decide if he is the difference between an unbelievable special season, or just another guy in the rotation that causes frustration because no one gets minutes that they want?
So, I told him, ‘Be ready,’ I’m not going to play you in the first half, but if I don’t like what I see from the team, and they are not bringing what I need them to bring, then I may use you in the second half. I told him after the game today, ‘If I don’t like what I see in the game next week, be ready to play.’ And I know that is hard on him, but that is the fine line between using Latrell and not using Latrell. Of all the guys on the team, he brings it every single day with no lack of effort.
I have not made up my mind on Latrell yet.”
The Aztecs will be back on the court for practice on Thursday after an off day on Wednesday. Idaho State comes to town Sunday at 2 pm.
Chris is a graduate of the University of San Diego. He is the former Sports Editor for the USDVista newspaper. Chris has covered the San Diego Loyal, and now covers San Diego State Men’s Basketball. He also contributes regularly about the Padres. Chris is an athlete and is a huge fan of San Diego sports.
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