Campbest: How good is San Diego State?

[Big Old Booger]

You seem to be the resident Mountain West guru, so I would like to hear your thoughts n our matchup.

 

[NMSooner'80]

You seem to be the resident Mountain West guru, so I would like to hear your thoughts n our matchup.

What am I, chopped liver?

SDSU is really good defensively and has a bonafide stud in Jamal Franklin. But they are really erratic on offense. Their game in Laramie, Wyo., was a debacle - they didn't even reach 10 points by halftime.

They do have some good athletes but aren't as good as they were a couple of years ago when Franklin was a freshman.

 

[pnkranger]

Franklin is probably the best rebounding guard in the country. If our guards shoot the ball well, I think we'll win. If we struggle to score from the perimeter, then they'll beat us.

 

[Big Old Booger]

What am I, chopped liver?

SDSU is really good defensively and has a bonafide stud in Jamal Franklin. But they are really erratic on offense. Their game in Laramie, Wyo., was a debacle - they didn't even reach 10 points by halftime.

They do have some good athletes but aren't as good as they were a couple of years ago when Franklin was a freshman.

No, sorry, lol. Campbest is a big UNM fan and is always pimping them so I always think of him when I think of Mountain West.

 

[bocabull]

Here is a funny sdsu blog I stumbled across that has some info.

Link

 

[colston15]

Not camp, but I've watched a ton of MWC hoops this season.

In my opinion SDSU is similar to Baylor, high, high ceiling, with relatively low returns.

To keep the similarities alive, the Aztecs have Jamaal Franklin, who, like Pierre Jackson brings it every night.

One guy to watch that can be a difference maker for them: frosh forward Winston Shepherd. He doesn't really have a true position, but he makes plays with his athleticism.

Their Pledger, a guy that has to play well for them to win, is Xavier Thames, their point guard.

 

[JBaker]

Yep, Shepard is kind of a point-forward. He was a 5* recruit last year.
There were a few games this season where their starting PG was out, and he kinda ran the point those games at 6'7".

 

[NMSooner'80]

No, sorry, lol. Campbest is a big UNM fan and is always pimping them so I always think of him when I think of Mountain West.

Just kidding around! I work at UNM but I haven't been able to even make it to a game since the first exhibition game in 2011 (vs. ENMU, in the "renovated" Pit).

I should know a lot more about them. One of the local fishwrap dudes is a big fan of Steve Fisher - and has always boosted them way beyond what's necessary.

 

[JBaker]

One of my best friends is on the women's staff there, and was one of the men's managers for 5 years. As such, I know way more about them than I thought I would ever need to.

 

[garyeb2]

SD St. is -2 1/2 pts.

 

[furge]

This draw is looking pretty ideal for OU, the more I think about it. We have both a coach AND a starting frontcourt player who have seen SDSU and their system firsthand, their play is perimeter-oriented and favors our defensive strengths, their biggest matchup problem for us is a raw freshman, and this game is literally on the opposite side of America from their college, so it's a true neutral site. A win against SDSU pits us against Georgetown (almost certainly), and even though we'd have a snowball's chance against the Hoyas, getting to the second round and perhaps giving a 2-seed all they want is probably our realistic best case scenario-come-true with this year's squad. High hopes for this game.

 

[pnkranger]

One thing that bodes well for us: aside from the TCU game we have started fast in almost every game the last half of the season. We pounded teams in the first half and the first 10 minutes of the second half ... if we can do the same, I'm not sure SDSU has the offensive firepower to claw back in it like ISU or, even, UT (with Kabongo).

Having said that, if we get into a grinder with them, I have no faith in our defense at this point in the season.

 

[dahldennsull]

We definitely need to be ahead. Saw an interesting stat that SDSU has won over 90 straight games that they were ahead with less than 5 minutes to go. They definitely know how to close out games

 

[campbest]

Good match-up for OU. After the last few years, I expected SDSU to take a step back but still feel they have underachieved all season. As any 7-10 match up, this is a very winnable game.

As everyone probably knows by now, it's the Jamaal Franklin show and he predicates how the team goes. For OU fans, he is basically a better Terrell Everett and should have won the MWC POY award, not sure how Kendall Williams got it over him. Whoever draws him on defense (Hield/Cam) is going to have a tough day and a good shot of getting into foul trouble. To slow down Jamaal, keep him out of transition. He often will grab the defensive rebound and start the break on his own, pushing the pace to his liking. Keep Franklin in the halfcourt and force him left off the catch and you've done about as good as anyone all year in slowing him down. He will never be a NBA star, but his size, length and ability to handle the ball I see him as an Iman Shumpert clone...would be a great reserve guard to have.

SDSU has virtually no inside game, Osby should have a field day on the block and they will be forced to double the first dribble. Expect SDSU to extend their defense a bit, they have the guards to put pressure up to full court and we all know how much OU excels against those type of schemes. Their lack of interior game is going to free up M'Baye a little to help contest penetration. However, you can't leave Rahon because he is someone who can get hot and pour in 12-15 points that are usually backbreakers.

Agree with colston about Shepherd...might be the hidden gem of the tournament. His problem all year is that he is a.) still a frosh and b.) for as many assists as Franklin gets, he is ball dominant which might be curbing Shepherd's development a little.

If the line continues to go in SDSU's favor, I am taking OU and the points.

 

[RyanMinorFanClub]

Good match-up for OU. After the last few years, I expected SDSU to take a step back but still feel they have underachieved all season. As any 7-10 match up, this is a very winnable game.

As everyone probably knows by now, it's the Jamaal Franklin show and he predicates how the team goes. For OU fans, he is basically a better Terrell Everett and should have won the MWC POY award, not sure how Kendall Williams got it over him. Whoever draws him on defense (Hield/Cam) is going to have a tough day and a good shot of getting into foul trouble. To slow down Jamaal, keep him out of transition. He often will grab the defensive rebound and start the break on his own, pushing the pace to his liking. Keep Franklin in the halfcourt and force him left off the catch and you've done about as good as anyone all year in slowing him down. He will never be a NBA star, but his size, length and ability to handle the ball I see him as an Iman Shumpert clone...would be a great reserve guard to have.

SDSU has virtually no inside game, Osby should have a field day on the block and they will be forced to double the first dribble. Expect SDSU to extend their defense a bit, they have the guards to put pressure up to full court and we all know how much OU excels against those type of schemes. Their lack of interior game is going to free up M'Baye a little to help contest penetration. However, you can't leave Rahon because he is someone who can get hot and pour in 12-15 points that are usually backbreakers.

Agree with colston about Shepherd...might be the hidden gem of the tournament. His problem all year is that he is a.) still a frosh and b.) for as many assists as Franklin gets, he is ball dominant which might be curbing Shepherd's development a little.

If the line continues to go in SDSU's favor, I am taking OU and the points.

What is their depth like, if they have any? And would our depth help wear Franklin down?

 

[stoops4pres]

No, sorry, lol. Campbest is a big UNM fan and is always pimping them so I always think of him when I think of Mountain West.

You should have seen how much of a fanatic campbest was acting on Saturday when KU and New Mexico were playing around the same time... If OU was playing he probably wouldn't have even noticed.

 

[tonatiuh]

The teams are very evenly matched, I believe. So, basically the winner will be the team who can play their best, and impose their will on the other.

 

[TheSanDiegan]

What is their depth like, if they have any? And would our depth help wear Franklin down?

Depth is one of our strengths... Going into the season, I hoped to see us running a VCU-like Havoc D for forty straight, with enough skilled, athletic players off the bench to effectively make full squad substitutions with little drop off. And that's how it looked like it was going to be during our exhibition games (minus the full press).

But Fisher's MO is to shorten his bench as the season progresses, and he only plays 8-9 deep. However, those are 8-9 scary-athletic guys... Our staring five will likely be as follows:

Xavier Thames
Chase Tapley
Jamaal Franklin
JJ O'Brien
Deshawn Stephens

Off the bench:

6-8 Winston Shepard (can play anywhere from 1-5)
6-9 Skylar Spencer (set MWC freshmen record for blocks while only playing 14 minutes/game)
6-7 Dwayne Polee Jr. (former starting wing for St. Johns)
6-5 James Rahon (great defender and a pure shooter)

We really don't lose too much when we sub... Skylar and Winston both have ridiculously high ceilings. Winston creates all sorts of match-up problems. His mid-range shot has a soft touch, and he can simply shoot over shorter guards. Put a big on him, and he'll drive to the rim. There was an interesting article about Skylar a few weeks ago in the U-T. His on-court leadership and crazy blocking skills have made him a fan favorite.

 

[BigTime]

Depth is one of our strengths... Going into the season, I hoped to see us running a VCU-like Havoc D for forty straight, with enough skilled, athletic players off the bench to effectively make full squad substitutions with little drop off. And that's how it looked like it was going to be during our exhibition games (minus the full press).

But Fisher's MO is to shorten his bench as the season progresses, and he only plays 8-9 deep. However, those are 8-9 scary-athletic guys... Our staring five will likely be as follows:

Xavier Thames
Chase Tapley
Jamaal Franklin
JJ O'Brien
Deshawn Stephens

Off the bench:

6-8 Winston Shepard (can play anywhere from 1-5)
6-9 Skylar Spencer (set MWC freshmen record for blocks while only playing 14 minutes/game)
6-7 Dwayne Polee Jr. (former starting wing for St. Johns)
6-5 James Rahon (great defender and a pure shooter)

We really don't lose too much when we sub... Skylar and Winston both have ridiculously high ceilings. Winston creates all sorts of match-up problems. His mid-range shot has a soft touch, and he can simply shoot over shorter guards. Put a big on him, and he'll drive to the rim. There was an interesting article about Skylar a few weeks ago in the U-T. His on-court leadership and crazy blocking skills have made him a fan favorite.

Thanks for the info. You guys do sound like a deep squad. Lon has developed quite a bit of depth on this year's Sooner team by starting three freshmen at various times during the season.

Starters

Grooms
Pledger
Hield/Hornbeak
Osby
M'Baye

Hornbeak/Hield
Cam Clark - starter last year really a plus defender/good athlete
Drew Fitzgerald - starter last year. Can score in bunches especially from midrange
Isaiah Cousins - struggled as of late but a plus defender
Hot

 

[TheSanDiegan]

Thanks for the breakdown BigTime... I plan on watching the replay of your game agaisnt Iowa St (the stream is still available on ESPN3) so I can familiarize myself with your squad a little before Friday (I remember M'Baye playing against us a couple years ago). And on the Aztec board, someone posted a link to your game against Kansas (not sure which one) on YT.

I'm looking foward to a great game in Primetime! I like to think of our game as the first weekend's Friday Night Main Event...