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USD hosts SDSU for its basketball ‘Super Bowl’

Hear from head coach Brian Dutcher on the team’s upcoming game against USD.

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Four years ago, when a jumper at the buzzer by USD’s Duda Sanadze bounced off the rim to preserve San Diego State’s 65-64 win at Jenny Craig Pavilion, the Aztecs coaches visibly exhaled.

They did, because their NCAA Tournament resume wasn’t wrecked by a program reeling from a point-shaving scandal.

They did, because they thought that was the last time they’d ever play at Jenny Craig Pavilion.

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“Never again,” one coach said privately.

The contract for the annual series between the city’s two Division I basketball programs had expired, and there was little interest among the Aztecs staff to continue what it perceived as a no-win proposition – no chance to enhance its prospects for an at-large NCAA bid, only hurt them.

But Jim Sterk, then SDSU’s athletic director, had other ideas, as did prominent boosters who support both schools like Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler. A few months later, Sterk announced that SDSU and USD would play an outdoor game at Petco Park, followed by a four-year resumption of the series on each school’s home courts.

Which brings us to Thursday night and the return of the series to Jenny Craig Pavilion.

USD’s resurgence and a 5-0 record negates the argument that a loss can do irreparable damage to SDSU’s NCAA resume, which already took a hit Sunday with a 93-86 loss to a Washington State team picked to finish last in the Pac-12. The danger now is more local than national, handing a program with nine straight losing seasons against Div. I competition the rare opportunity – in its own building, no less – to instantly elevate its community profile and chip into SDSU’s market share in a post-Chargers world.

And handing the Toreros that opportunity, in a cruel twist of fate and ankles, with three of SDSU’s top six players ranging from doubtful to iffy due to injury.

USD has drawn 3,314 fans, combined, to its first three home games. SDSU has drawn 31,808.

“They understand college basketball,” USD coach Lamont Smith said when asked if his players carry extra motivation, extra hunger, into the 8 p.m. game aired by Fox Sports West. “They understand how well (SDSU has) done. Our guys are competitive every game. But this is the Super Bowl, in a sense.”

Two years ago, when USD shocked the Aztecs 53-48 at Petco Park and either partially or completely cost them a spot in the NCAA Tournament, it was viewed largely as a freak occurrence on an outdoor court with players shielding their eyes from the glare of the afternoon sun. No one genuinely considered the Toreros the city’s best basketball team.

But now?

USD enters the game with the better record (5-0 vs. 5-2) and better RPI (61 vs. 84), although RPI can be a misleading gauge with such a small sample size so early in the season (Vermont, after all, is currently No. 4). Win, however, and the Toreros will have their first 6-0 start since going Div. I in basketball in 1979.

“It’s who is the best team that night,” SDSU coach Brian Dutcher said. “Maybe we’re the best team that night, maybe they’re the best team that night. But it’s not going to say who’s the best team. That won’t be determined until March, when we’ve both gone through a full season.

“Once the USD game ends, win or lose, we will move onto a 6-1 Bradley team (on Sunday) and follow that with Cal and then Gonzaga is coming to town – the monster of the WCC. As a coach, you obsess about every game. So we’ll be ready for USD. It will be an important game. When it’s over, we’ll move on to the next one.”

If you sense this isn’t their “Super Bowl,” you’re probably right. You won’t hear Dutcher or his players utter the r-word (rivalry) or c-words (City Championship).

Asked if he considers this a rivalry, Dutcher chuckled and said: “No, not really. I mean, it’s a once-a-year game. We’re playing it as much for the city. We would not play any other team in the WCC in a home-and-home (series), except Gonzaga. We’re doing it for the city of San Diego, to give them a chance to see the two Div. I teams.”

The timing could not be worse, not after senior captains Malik Pope and Trey Kell both went down with foot injuries Sunday night in the final of the Wooden Legacy against Washington State and a nine-point lead became a loss. Both remain questionable.

X-rays and an MRI on Pope’s foot both returned “encouraging” results, according to Dutcher, and Pope was able to do some shooting in practice Wednesday. Dutcher said his 6-foot-10 senior would meet with doctors Thursday morning to determine his status.

Kell has not practiced this week and is wearing a protective boot on his sprained ankle. Dutcher said he expects the senior guard “to try to find his way on the floor,” but going from barely walking to a Div. I basketball game in 24 hours is a big ask.

Montana was supposed to play Sunday, then was stricken by the flu bug that hit more than a dozen players from other teams at the Wooden Legacy (all staying at the same Anaheim hotel). He tried to practice Tuesday, but felt pain in his hyperextended knee and was shut down again. Dutcher lists him as “highly doubtful.”

Now they come to a venue where games have traditionally been close: Sanadze’s 3-pointer bouncing off the rim in 2013; SDSU trailing 14-2 before winning in 2011; an overtime game in 2009; a five-point game in 2007; USD’s 90-80 victory in 2005.

It’s one of the few times that the USD students show up and the Toreros draw something approaching a full house.

“It’s going to be a great challenge, but the Aztecs are used to being the hunted,” Dutcher said. “We’re always everybody’s black-out, red-out, green-out, white-out game, everybody’s largest home attendance of the year. Everybody wants to take their shot at the Aztecs.”

Now the Toreros take a swing, compliments of Jim Sterk and Ron Fowler.

“For us, in our program, it’s outstanding,” USD’s Smith said. “Any time you can play a program that’s had the success they’ve had over the last 10 years, with (six straight) NCAA postseason appearances, to have that game on your schedule, to host them in your building, is an honor.”

SDSU at USD

Thursday: 8 p.m. at Jenny Craig Pavilion

On the air: Fox Sports West, streamed on TheW.tv; 1360-AM and 101.5-FM (SDSU), 1090-AM (USD)

Records: SDSU is 5-2, USD is 5-0

Series history: SDSU leads 30-18 and has won 10 of the last 11, most recently 69-59 at Viejas Arena last year after USD took a 23-14 lead. USD’s last win at the JCP was 90-80 in 2005.

Tickets: $40. Initially, only end and corner seating areas were available on a single-game basis, and sideline seats required a three-game package for $60. Now all seats are available for $40.

Aztecs update: The big question is who’s playing. Max Montana (knee) is doubtful. Trey Kell (ankle) and Malik Pope (foot) are questionable. Without the trio, that leaves Coach Brian Dutcher with eight scholarship players. That includes three freshmen and junior Montaque Gill-Caesar, who did not get on the floor in SDSU’s three biggest games so far: Arizona State, Georgia and Washington State. Jeremy Hemsley (who had 25 points against USD last year) is the most likely starter if Kell can’t go. Pope’s replacement is less certain: Jalen McDaniels provides equal size at 6-10, but 6-6 Jordan Schakel started a Pope-less second half against Washington State. Pope missed last year’s USD game with a knee injury. Devin Watson was named to the Wooden Legacy all-tournament team after averaging 17 points and four assists. Kell made the five-man team as well with averages of 14.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals. SDSU’s media relations department, with USD’s last win coming at Petco Park, notes that the Aztecs have won 10 straight in the series “in games played indoors.”

Toreros update: While SDSU keeps losing players to injury, USD likely will get one back. Junior captain Tyler Williams is expected to see spot minutes, his first action of the season after breaking his right toe. Williams started 26 games last season, averaging 6.7 points and 4.6 rebounds. The Toreros’ first four wins came against teams with a combined 6-17 record. But what got everyone’s attention was Saturday’s 72-62 win at Grand Canyon, a notoriously hard place to play. The trailed 49-42 with 12½ minutes to play, then outscored Grand Canyon 30-13 – holding the Antelopes to 1 of 9 shooting over the final 8:58. The Toreros are ranked second nationally in 3-point defense, allowing opponents to make just 19 percent beyond the arc. Opponents have made just 16 3s all season; that ranks first. The 58.6 points allowed ranks 10th. The big difference this year has been the addition of Utah transfer Isaiah Wright (14.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 6.2 apg), Portland State transfer Isaiah Pineiro (13.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Belarus freshman Yauhen Massalski. The key returnees are Olin Carter III (13.8 ppg) and Cameron Neubauer (9.4 ppg).

Next up: SDSU hosts Bradley on Sunday at 3 p.m.; USD plays at UCSB on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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mark.zeigler@sduniontribune.com; Twitter: @sdutzeigler

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