Inconvenienced? Sorry, that won’t work since SDSU plays its games on campus at Viejas Arena, where by the way, it went undefeated last season. Cost? Please. You can take the whole family to a game — and probably grab a couple of hot dogs and a coke — for under $25-dollars.
Don’t really like women’s basketball? Well, just remember that it was the great John Wooden who said that the women are the only ones who actually still play the game the way it was intended to be played. And under Beth Burns, widely regarded as the finest coach anywhere in the city in any sport, you can be assured that her team does play the right way, along with playing as hard for 40 full minutes as any team you’ll see.
There’s no star power. Really? The Aztecs feature senior guard Jene Morris, who just so happens to be on the NCAA’s Preseason All-American team and has been named the Preseason Player of the Year in the Mountain West Conference. Alongside her is point guard Quenese Davis, who in just three seasons, is already far and away SDSU’s all-time assists leader. And underneath is junior center Paris Johnson, who was a two-time CIF Section Player of the Year while she was at San Diego High School.
So who do they play? Glad you asked. Along with games in conference against NCAA Tournament teams Utah and TCU, the Aztecs will meet six teams from powerhouse BCS conferences during non-conference play. Burns and company will welcome to town Arizona from the Pac-10, Wake Forest from the ACC and Auburn from the SEC.
The Aztecs also will meet preseason Top 15 teams Oklahoma and Notre Dame in a preseason tournament over Thanksgiving weekend in the Virgin Islands. (You want to go on an Aztec road trip this year, perhaps this might be the one you want to choose).
No team at San Diego State ever rewards us fans with a big-time victory. Not true in the case of the Women Aztecs. Last season, they knocked off unbeaten and No. 4-ranked Texas in December and then defeated De Paul in front of their largest home crowd of the season in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, behind a brilliant 35-point effort from Morris.
The Aztecs also faced the nation’s top two teams last season, Connecticut (on the road) and Stanford (whom they lost to at home in the second round of the NCAA’s).
Despite those setbacks, the Aztecs nonetheless finished 24-8 a year ago, and tied for the Mountain West title with a 13-3 conference record.
And now comes the 2009-10 season, which begins Friday evening at UC Irvine. The home-opener is next Tuesday night against USD. And, by all accounts, this one should be the best in the school’s history.
Not only do the Aztecs return their three stars — in Morris, Davis and Johnson — but they will add to the mix star power forward Jessika Bradley, a transfer from Baylor, and forward Allison Duffy, who was named to the Mountain West’s All-Freshman team two seasons ago before sitting out all of last season.
The team’s top four players off the bench from last year are also back, led by guards Coco Davis (Quenese’s younger sister) and Jerica Williams (from Mt. Miguel High), and sophomore centers Kalena Tutt and Candace Chambers, who add height and toughness inside.
Burns also has brought in one of the state’s top prep guards in freshman Kiyana Stamps (whom Burns thinks can become the next Morris), along with Duffy’s younger sister, Ashley, who was All-CIF last season at El Capitan High.
In short, the SDSU women’s basketball team is loaded, and there’s every reason to believe that the Aztecs can make a legitimate run this season to the Sweet 16 — and perhaps beyond.
On the other side, most know about the meteoric rise of Steve Fisher’s men’s basketball team, which reached the semifinals of the NIT last season and has a bundle of athletic and talented newcomers ready to take flight this season. Fisher’s team has been picked second in the conference in preseason polls.
But Burns’ women’s team has been picked first. And barring a big injury, it should have an excellent shot at fullfilling those expectations (though TCU and Utah will no doubt be tough again).
Look. Here in San Diego, we always say we’re looking for a winner. A team to get behind that has a legitimate chance at a championship.
No excuses. This Aztecs women’s basketball team is a team you should see.
– Ello –
