Wednesday, Nov. 25 - Tuesday, Dec. 1 Weekly Digital Edition
Vol. 107, Issue 9 www.thedailyaztec.com
San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913
Three observations: Men’s basketball gearing up for unconventional season by
Kyle Betz
SPORTS EDITOR
Believe it or not, it’s been only about eight months since San Diego State men’s basketball’s 2019-20 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team had aspirations to make a run in the NCAA tournament until the entire sports world was put on pause. With the pandemic only worsening as winter approaches, the beginning of this season will look much different from the last. Instead of fans, cardboard cutouts will fill the empty seats of Viejas Arena as the Aztecs prepare for their season opener against UCLA on Nov. 25. Head coach Brian Dutcher said not having a home crowd inside their arena will be a drastic change. “We’ve won titles because we have the best crowd in the west, the Mountain West and maybe the coun-
try,” Dutcher said. “This is going to be a real challenge not having The Show, not having our Aztec fans in the building… It’ll be a big adjustment for us.” The game against the Bruins will be the first of two multi-team event games the Aztecs will play to tip off their season. Here are three observations entering the 2020-21 men’s basketball season. 1. Uncertainty with COVID-19 Winning 26-straight games, the Mountain West Conference regular season title and an NCAA tournament berth is clearly no easy task to accomplish. Senior forward Matt Mitchell said he’s using last season’s sudden disruption as motivation entering 2020-21. “I know it was our right to be (at the NCAA tournament) and we would’ve made a lot of noise,” Mitchell said. “But to a certain extent, also, you’ve got to let it go because i t ’ s not
the same team. So it’s kind of that looming factor of keeping that chip on your shoulder and knowing that you were there and having that determination to get back there.” The journey to potentially claim another NCAA tournament starts with the team’s multi-team event Wednesday versus UCLA and Nov. 27 against UC Irvine. Although games are set on the schedule, nothing is guaranteed during a pandemic. College football has already seen the effects of COVID-19 within programs across the country. Four games scheduled to be played this weekend, including SDSU football’s contest against Fresno State on Nov. 27, have already been canceled or postponed. Dutcher said
he is preparing for the worst in terms of getting through the season safely. “I’m concerned with getting through the beginning, the middle and the end,” Dutcher said. “We’re all going to face a pause at some point, whether it’s our own program or someone we’re playing. And so we’ll remain flexible, try to live the right way we avoid it, but we all know the numbers are going up around the country.” Turns out, the pandemic has already affected the men’s basketball program even before the season opener. The Aztecs’ series against Colorado State on Dec. 3 and Dec. 5 at Viejas Arena was postponed due to COVID-19 earlier this week. At this point, the team is considering adding “a couple of non-Division I teams” to fill the remaining void, according to Dutcher. Dutcher
emphasized the importance of the team finding another program to play rather than having almost two weeks off. “We want to keep our game timing up,” Dutcher said. “So maybe the opposition won’t be what we hope for, but I think game timing is everything, and to have a chance to just play game minutes is important.” 2. Dutcher to rely on transfers, depth Despite losing three starters in Yanni Wetzell, KJ Feagin and Malachi Flynn, the Aztecs now have other options to support their starting five and bench. Senior forward Joshua Tomaić, who transferred from Maryland during the offseason, adds a cushion at the forward spot following the departures of Wetzell, Nolan Narain and Joel Mensah. see
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INSIDE THE ISSUE
Graphics by Emily Burgess
PURPLE TIER EXPLAINED New restictions and guidelines are now in place. Here’s how they will impact SDSU.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL IS BACK The team is excited to start their season, and they’re aiming to suprise.
AGUEK AROP’S ROAD TO RECOVERY Faith, friends, family and mentors helped the junior forward bounce back after injuries.
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