FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The practice plan was reasonably straightforward this week, which is to say learn how best to protect seemingly insurmountable leads. Tonight, San Diego State's basketball team officially distances itself from that infamous how-in-the-world-did-it-blow-that-one loss to Nevada-Las Vegas by trying to become a more focused, intelligent side.
"We have some people who have pretty high basketball IQs and some who don't," said Aztecs guard Brandon Heath. "But it's always a plus to have one."
SDSU plays at Colorado State with the dreadful memory of its 93-91 overtime loss to UNLV on Saturday still hovering. But while what CSU coach Dale Layer said this week is true – that the Aztecs have the nightly potential to be explosive – so too can you question their astuteness.
How smart a team is it, really?
"You know, it's all about concentration," said SDSU assistant head coach Brian Dutcher. "One of the hardest things in basketball is forgetting what happened the last 39 minutes. Players with great savvy and high (basketball IQs) are the ones who can say, 'No matter what has happened to this point, it's irrelevant and I'm going to exist in the moment.'
"You give up an 18-point lead. How much frustration builds in you? You miss three straight shots. How much is that now in your head? Are you allowing things to linger that have nothing to do with that exact moment? Great players can have a horrible game and yet in those final five seconds know exactly what to do."
SDSU players were told what to do against UNLV in those closing 59 seconds of regulation – when the Rebels scored an implausible 20 points – but weren't focused enough to retain instructions and execute. The Aztecs also displayed little recognition for specific situations, proved by the fact three defenders sat in the key in the final 5.6 seconds when UNLV needed a three-pointer to tie.
It is one reason the Aztecs were drilled in scrimmage settings this week on detailed circumstances.
How should you react with your team up by five points with a minute left? Or down by three with the ball and 1:31 showing? Or defending in a tie game with under a minute remaining?
It might be easier – responding to such stressful times in a game – with sufficient veteran leadership. But the Aztecs lack that, too. Think about it: Just four of the team's last 205 points have been scored by seniors.
Injuries and illness have dramatically affected Chris Walton's final season; Chris Manker contributed early, but his play and minutes have steadily decreased; younger players have also moved ahead of wing Tommy Johnson, who averages just 8.0 minutes; wing Travis Hanour's collegiate career is over because of injured knees; and point guard Wesley Stokes (academics) never regained his eligibility.
"We could be a more mature team and hopefully that will come with age," Dutcher said. "When we went to the NCAA Tournament (in 2002), we were laden with upperclassmen. Randy Holcomb. Al Faux. Brandon Smith. Tony Bland. Deandre Moore. Myron Epps. Experience can speak volumes, and yet we're playing the guys now we think we can win with."
Dutcher agrees age doesn't always translate into basketball brainpower. Tyler Smith is a true freshman wing and yet many who watch the Aztecs daily in practice rank him the team's smartest player. Some don't think it's close.
"I think it comes from good coaching at a young age," Smith said. "I probably learned the most from my eighth-grade AAU coach. Those were my best years until now as far as learning how to play. You have to learn how to be the same person and player the last two minutes as you were the (previous 38). Some guys just turn into different players."
And when that happens, disaster strikes and you're suddenly the lead on ESPN's "SportsCenter." Tonight, the Aztecs take their initial step away from the UNLV debacle.
"There is a timeline involved with becoming smarter players," Dutcher said. "We all see it. Go over to the YMCA and you'll say, 'Wow, that old guy really plays well. He's pretty smart.' It develops over time and unfortunately, often does so quicker through adversity than prosperity. Obviously, we learned a hard lesson. But I think most coaches agree you learn more from losing than winning."
Considering how they lost to UNLV, the Aztecs might all resemble geniuses tonight.
