#17 Aztecs Sustain Stunning 78-74 OT Loss vs. #9 Razorbacks At Maui Invitational

#17 Aztecs Sustain Stunning 78-74 OT Loss vs. #9 Razorbacks At Maui Invitational A real heartbreaker: Aztecs fumble certain victory in the game. Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire The Aztecs had the handle for most of this game, until a few key …

#17 Aztecs Sustain Stunning 78-74 OT Loss vs. #9 Razorbacks At Maui Invitational


A real heartbreaker: Aztecs fumble certain victory in the game.


Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire

The Aztecs had the handle for most of this game, until a few key errors unfolded and the Razorbacks capitalized.

Lahaina, HI–  The #17 SDSU Aztecs (4-2) lost to the #9 Arkansas Razorbacks (5-1) 78-74 in overtime in the 2022 Maui Jim Invitational Consolation Match, following #14 Arizona’s victory against #10 Creighton for first place.

The victor of this game stood to take third place; but really, this was a marquee match between #9 and #17 ranked teams. A win by either would be a resume builder, as both teams look to move up in the AP Top 25.

Sadly, the match was tarnished by unsportsmanlike behavior and conduct, most of which originated not from players- but from Razorbacks head coach Eric Musselman whose behavior at moments was simply appalling.

The Aztecs had victory in clear sight, leading by four.  In light of the closeness and the tenacity of the Razorbacks,  a two-possession game with under 15 seconds remaining and the Aztecs possession of the ball normally means game over.

Yet, through back-to-back errors, a face-melting, unbelievable sequence of events ensued.  Like a hog swallowed by a red and black dragon, Arkansas chewed themselves through the abdominal lining and right out of the belly of the beast- with a vengeance.

A Closer Look

In the first half, the Aztecs were very much in command, entering halftime with a 35-26 lead, despite the Aztecs not making a 3-pointer. Thankfully, neither had Arkansas.

In the second half, Arkansas started strong and pulled to within 37-34 on Trevon Brazile’s three-pointer with 16:01 to play in the second half.

The Aztecs responded with an 8-0 run over a 1:05 span to go ahead 45-34, prompting a timeout by Musselman.

Both teams battled back and forth, with the lead going up and down, but suddenly the game was tied up at 63 apiece.

Then, Matt Bradley made a reverse layup, giving the the Aztecs a 65-63 lead with 1:02 remaining.  Adam Seiko then added two free throws for a 67-63 lead with 17 seconds left.

Where It All Came Undone

Lamont Butler is a great athlete and a dedicated Aztec who has done great things for San Diego State, and this in no way suggests there is no appreciation for his regularly excellent play.  But, two big errors created the opening the Razorbacks needed to hand SDSU a stunning loss.

Normally, SDSU intentionally fouls when up by three once the clock goes inside 10 seconds to prevent the other team from shooting a 3 pointer… but not when up by four.

The Razorbacks, now down 63-67 with 17 seconds left, regained possession after Adam Seiko made a pair of clutch free throws.

Inconceivably, after Arkansas inbounded, Butler moved in and intentionally fouled Anthony Black with 13 seconds left.  Then, Black made BOTH free throws to cut the lead to two.  The Aztec Nation collectively fell out of their seats everywhere all at once.

Next, with a 67-65 lead, and possession of the ball: the Aztecs inbounded to Butler on the right sideline with 13 seconds to go.

Butler was instantly trapped by two defenders against the sideline. Instead of calling timeout or playing for a jump ball (SDSU had the possession arrow), Butler tried to fight through the trap and was stripped. Arkansas’ Trevon Brazile dove on the loose ball and called timeout with 7.5 seconds left.

By now the Aztec Nation was in utter disbelief, as victory seemed to be slipping away before their very eyes.

During timeout, Musselman drew up a play for Black, who drove into the lane and put up floater and missed. Johnson then tipped it in over two Aztecs.  The Aztec Nation collectively lost their minds.

Officials watched the replay to see if time had expired before he released the ball. It did not. They did, however, overlook an offensive foul.

The game moved into overtime, 67-67.

In overtime the Aztecs mostly trailed, except when a 3-pointer by Darrion Trammel sank giving the Aztecs a 70-69 lead with 3:56 left. Ricky Council IV countered with a jumper that gave the Razorbacks a lead they would not give up again. In the final seconds, the Aztecs’ Matt Bradley missed a potential tying layup with 3 seconds left, as he was arguably fouled in the process, but there was no whistle.

Kamani Johnson then made a pair of free throws to seal the win at 78-74.

Notable

Trevon Brazile had 20 points and nine boards off the bench, and Ricky Council scored 19 points for Arkansas.

Matt Bradley had 23 points on 9 of 20 shots and grabbing seven boards for the Aztecs; Darrion Trammell managed 13 points, and Keshad Johnson had 10 points with seven rebounds.

Nathan Mensah picked up two fouls in the opening minutes and finished with just two points, four boards and no blocks.

Anthony Black finished with 15 points for Arkansas

The teams combined to miss their first 17 3-point attempts before Brazile hit one for Arkansas at the beginning of the second half. Arkansas finished 3 for 17 from distance and San Diego State made 2 of 18.

Despite the 3-point shooting, Arkansas made 40% from the field and San Diego State made 43.5%.

Despite Brian Dutcher’s coaching prowess, the most critical thing to be said of him is that Eric Musselman found a way to beat him.

Eric Musselman’s Behavior

After the match, Eric Musselman, a La Jolla native and USD graduate did something no NCAA coach in any situation should ever do.  As players exhibited traditional sportsmanship shaking hands, Muss turned to the Aztecs fans and marquee Aztec Matt Bradley, and made an “L” sign with his thumb and forefinger, placing it on his forehead, taunting the losing players and their fans by calling them losers in a derogatory way. Bradley was visibly upset.

This further inflamed an emotionally invested crowd, and Musselman’s highly unsportsmanlike behavior in this moment, along with other gestures he made during play beg a serious question:

What penalty should a team sustain when their head coach instigates the opposing team’s players, coaches and fans?  

It’s incredible to think this question has to be considered.  Muss incited conflict, and taunted emotionally charged fans through behavior lacking in sportsmanship, leadership and class- and unbecoming of an NCAA coach.

Automatic tournament forfeiture could be in order, some say.  A major fine to Muss ought to be considered as well.

Ultimately, Arkansas, a respected SEC member, has to ask itself if Eric Musselman is the kind of company they keep.

Silver Lining

Despite the heartbreaking end to an incredible tournament in one of the most beautiful places on planet earth, the Aztecs were able to spend Thanksgiving in Maui before flying home on Friday.

The Aztecs now have to prepare for Tuesday night’s match at Viejas Arena against UC Irvine, who might find themselves on the receiving end of SDSU’s furor.

 

 

Maui Jim Invitational Consolation Preview: #17 SDSU Aztecs vs. #9 Arkansas Razorbacks

Maui Jim Invitational Consolation Preview: #17 SDSU Aztecs vs. #9 Arkansas Razorbacks Consolation in name only! Arkansas is a top ten NCAA team. Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire A win against the #9 Razorbacks would be a major resume builder …

Maui Jim Invitational Consolation Preview: #17 SDSU Aztecs vs. #9 Arkansas Razorbacks


Consolation in name only!  Arkansas is a top ten NCAA team.


Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire

A win against the #9 Razorbacks would be a major resume builder for the #17 Aztecs.

Maui Jim Invitational- Consolation Match:  Arkansas Razorbacks (4-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. San Diego State University Aztecs (4-1, 0-0 MW) 

WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 23rd — 5pm HST / 7pm PST / 9pm CST

WHERE: Lahaina Civic Center, Lahaina, HI (2,400)

TV:  ESPN2

LIVE STREAM: fuboTV (Watch for free) / WatchESPN.com

RADIO: 101.5 KGB / XTRA 1360 / iHeart Radio App

SERIES RECORD: This is the 3rd matchup between the Aztecs and the Razorbacks. Arkansas maintains a 2-0 all-time series lead.

LAST MEETING: Arkansas defeated SDSU 76-64 on December 3, 1985

WEBSITES: GoAztecs.com, the official San Diego State athletics website; ArkansasRazorbacks.com, the official Arkansas athletics website.

ODDS: Arkansas -1.5

OVER/UNDER: +142.5

Maui, HI-  The #17 San Diego State Aztecs (4-1, 0-0 MW) have a resume builder when they tip off against the #9 Arkansas Razorbacks (4-1, 0-0 SEC) in the 2022 Maui Jim Invitational consolation match on Wednesday night.

Let’s take a look at both teams entering into this match.

Razorback Attack

Arkansas defeated Louisville in the opening round with ease and they held tight in a shootout with the Creighton Bluejays for 40 minutes. In one of the best games of the season, the Razorbacks couldn’t get over the final hump, losing just 90-87. It was a fantastic game for freshman Anthony Black who had 26 points and six assists. Ricky Council chipped in 24 points while playing in all 40 minutes of this hard core contest.

It was an impressive performance against a very good team without arguably their best player, freshman Nick Smith. He won’t play for Arkansas tonight but the SEC has shown that they can keep up with opponents without him for now.

Will the Razorbacks be able to beat San Diego State (4-1), who is capable of beating them?  And, if so will coach Eric Musselman take off his shirt?  Perhaps not if the championship is not on the line.

Aztecs Redemption 

The Aztecs decisively defeated Cincinnati in the opening round and were putting up a fight against Arizona on Tuesday night, even leading in the second half. But the offense went flat, and referees made a slew of erroneous calls against them, in the final 15 minutes and SDSU ended up handily losing, 87-70. Darrion Trammell put up 21 points and Micah Parrish had 10 off the bench. But the starting duo of Matt Bradley and Lamont Butler combined for just nine points on 3/16 shooting, which wasn’t going to work against a team like Arizona.

Arkansas’ perimeter defense is seriously sharp, and the Aztecs will need to step up and produce. There’s plenty of experience for the Mountain West team against the younger Razorbacks, but the confidence they gained from the Creighton match will help them mentally until Smith returns

What Will Happen

San Diego State has a better offense than they did a year ago but there’s still some inconsistency to work through. But with a younger Razorback team to play against, the veterans might just find a way to get a key win for their resume and leave the Maui Invitational with another statement victory.

Final Score: SDSU 72,  Arizona 69

Aztecs Fall To Wildcats 87-70 In Maui Semifinals

Aztecs Fall To Wildcats 87-70 In Maui Semifinals The Wildcats, full of international athletes and seven-footers, look more like a European pro basketball club than an NCAA team. Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire SDSU did not prevail, but they …

Aztecs Fall To Wildcats 87-70 In Maui Semifinals


The Wildcats, full of international athletes and seven-footers, look more like a European pro basketball club than an NCAA team.


Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire

SDSU did not prevail, but they did hold Arizona to just 87 points, lowering their scoring average by four points.

Maui, HI–  The #14 Arizona Wildcats (5-0) defeated the #17 San Diego State Aztecs (4-1) 87-70 on Tuesday night in the Maui Jim Invitational Semifinals at the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii.

For a brief moment, it appeared the Aztecs were facing off against Valencia Basket or Crvena Zvedza, or another European professional basketball club.  What Arizona did not immediately resemble… was an American college basketball team.  Three seven-footers, and many other players at or above 6’9″ is impressive.  At one point, SDSU’s Nathan Mensa, 6’10” was just smothered by four athletes towering over him under the rim as he fought for a rebound.

The Wildcats are impressive, if that’s the word to use.

Arizona’s Courtney Ramey and Kerr Kriisa each scored 21 points and Arizona pulled away in the second half to beat SDSU.

Arizona moves forward to play No. 10 Creighton in Wednesday’s Championship match. San Diego State takes on No. 9 Arkansas in the Consolation Finals to contend for third place.  In most tournaments that would be disappointing, however this field is loaded with top talent and every team playing today, regardless of status, is elite.

The Wildcats’ Azuola Tubelis made all 14 points in the first half and Ramey scored 12 for Arizona. A twisting layup by Tubelis on an alley-oop gave the Wildccats a 31-15 lead at 5:06 before the half. Darrion Trammell then sank a 3-pointer for San Diego State and turned two steals into layups to help the Aztecs close out the half on an 18-6 run to close in on the gap at 37-33.

Keshad Johnson managed two rebound baskets and a three-point dunk/foul and San Diego State used a 9-3 run to take a 42-40 lead just 2:40 into the second half.

That was the only Aztec lead of the game, but it rattled Arizona noticeably.

Pelle Larsson then deployed a 3-pointer; Trammell missed a 3, and Oumar Ballo followed with a three-point play to put Arizona up 46-42. The Wildcats upped their lead to 10 on a Ballo free throw with 11:43 remaining and pushed it to 71-56 on a Cedric Henderson jump shot with 6:58 left on the clock.

Ramey, a graduate transfer from the University of Texas, hit all five of his 3-point shots in his second game with Arizona. Kerr added five assists. Ballo finished with 12 points and nine rebounds before fouling out. Henderson scored 10.

It was notable that the referees botched three back-to-back plays against the Aztecs, each clearly displayed to be erroneous.  Bad calls might be a part of the game, but the Aztecs were unfortunately stymied from gaining point streaks in the end.

Trammell led SDSU with 21 points.  Micah Parrish registered 10.

Arizona, started the game leading the nation shooting at 62.9% from the floor, but shot 58.6% against the Aztecs.  The y made 9 of 20 from beyond the arc.

SDSU shot 38% overall and unlike Monday, made just 3 of 19 from three-point land.  That kind of performance shows how significantly the incredible height of the Wildcats impaired SDSU from scoring.

To the Arizona Wildcats, the Aztec Nation extends its palju õnne.

NEXT UP FOR THE AZTECS:

San Diego State faces off against No. 9 Arkansas in the third place game of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational on Wednesday at 5pm HST (7pm PST / 10pm EST), the game will be broadcast on ESPN 2.

 

Maui Jim Invitational Semifinals Preview: #17 SDSU Aztecs vs. #14 Arizona Wildcats

Maui Jim Invitational Second Round Preview: #17 SDSU Aztecs vs. #14 Arizona Wildcats The Aztecs and Wildcats are both undefeated at 4-0. One team will move to 5-0, and the other will taste the bitter fruit of humility. Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & …

Maui Jim Invitational Second Round Preview: #17 SDSU Aztecs vs. #14 Arizona Wildcats


The Aztecs and Wildcats are both undefeated at 4-0.  One team will move to 5-0, and the other will taste the bitter fruit of humility.


Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire

Battle of The Elites: Offense vs. Defense

Maui Jim Maui Invitational- Semifinals:  San Diego State University Aztecs (4-0, 0-0 MW) vs. University of Arizona Wildcats (4-0, 0-0 PAC-12) 

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 22nd — 5:30pm HST / 7:30pm PST / 10:30pm EST

WHERE: Lahaina Civic Center, Lahaina, HI (2,400)

TV:  ESPN2

LIVE STREAM: fuboTV (Watch for free)

RADIO: 101.5 KGB / XTRA 1360 / iHeart Radio App

SERIES RECORD: This is the 32nd matchup between the Aztecs and the Wildcats. Arizona maintains a 24-7 series lead, and a 4-game winning streak.

LAST MEETING: Arizona defeated SDSU 61-59 on November 26, 2014

WEBSITES: GoAztecs.com, the official San Diego State athletics website; ArizonaWildcats.com, the official Ohio State athletics website.

ODDS: Arizona -1.5

OVER/UNDER: +164.5

Maui, HI-  The #17 San Diego State Aztecs (4-0, 0-0 MW) will be seriously tested when they tip off against the #14 Arizona Wildcats (4-0, 0-0 Pac-12) in the 2022 Maui Jim Invitational semifinals on Tuesday night.

The Battle Of The Elites will once and for all tell us whether elite offense or elite defense prevails in the end.

SDSU: Elite Defense

SDSU advanced to the semifinals with a 88-77 victory (as a -5 favorite) over Ohio State Monday. The Aztecs held the Buckeyes to a 42.4% mark from the floor and 8 offensive boards. The Aztecs’ 88 points were a season-high.

Kenpom interprets this match as the No. 9 defense vs. the No. 4 offense. The Aztecs held an Ohio State team just outside the top 25 to 42.4 percent shooting and 7 of 22 behind the arc in the quarterfinals. The big difference maker, in the end, was bench scoring 41-27. That depth is a serious concern for Arizona in a tournament as intense as this year’s Maui Invitational. Brian Dutcher evenly applied his nine-man rotation, and the Aztecs had fresh legs and fresh shooters- perpetually.

Matt Bradley was limited to 18 minutes by foul trouble but still registered 18 points. Aguek Arop played an effective 17 minutes against Ohio State (six points, four boards, two assists), and the Aztecs were plus-24 points with him on the floor. Lamont Butler contributed 15 points and nine assists.

The Aztecs will have to use power of will and stunning agility to overpower Arizona, if they seek to prevail.  They must handle the ball with care, and pray officials don’t menace them as they did Monday.

Arizona: Elite Offense

Arizona topped Cincinnati 101-93 (failing to cover as a 10-point favorite) Monday.  The Wildcats shot 62.3% (38 of 61) and scored over-100 points for a 3rd time in 4 games. Forward Azuolas Tubelis scored 30 points against the Bearcats, increasing his season average to 22.5 points per game.

The Wildcats top division 1 college basketball in scoring at 104.2 points per game, and they are 2nd in quickest average possession length at 13.8 seconds.  In a nutshell, they are to offense what SDSU is to defense.

Defense, on the other hand, is not Arizona’s specialty, ranking 56th in Kenpom in defense efficiency, but so far they’ve offset this by outscoring all opponents handily.

Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd was a Mark Few understudy at Gonzaga, and now Arizona appears very “Zags inspired” these days with eight foreign players, hailing from Lithuania, Estonia, France, Sweden, Serbia and Mali. The Wildcats are ENORMOUS, with three 7-footers, and two additional 6-10+ footers. The lone returning starter is Estonian superstar point guard Kerr Kriisa. But Azuolas Tubelis, a 6-11 forward from Lithuania, had 30 points and 12 boards in Monday’s 101-93 win against Cincinnati. Oumar Ballo, a 7′ center from Mali who followed Lloyd to Arizona from Gonzaga, had 21 points and 10 boards; and Texas transfer Courtney Ramey had 17 points on just nine shots in his first game after serving a three-game NCAA suspension for participating in an exhibition event.

In case you aren’t paying attention: that’s two (nearly three) double-doubles in one game.

The Wildcats have serious length and elite offense. They do not, however have much depth, or great defense.

What Will Happen

The Aztecs will play their brand of elite defense, which will both slightly impair Arizona’s scoring ability, and tire out their stars.  As the Aztecs keep rotating fresh players, the Wildcats will experience wear down and possibly foul trouble.  If the Aztecs complement their elite defense with offensive prowess as they did last night, they will barely eek out a victory.  This is likely to be a close match from start to finish.

The Aztecs statistically don’t win this game, but they’re our pick.

Final Score: SDSU 94,  Arizona 92

Aztecs Beat Buckeyes 88-77 In Maui, Advance To Semifinals

Aztecs Beat Buckeyes 88-77 In Maui, Advance To Semifinals The Aztecs commanded this game and overpowered a strong Buckeyes squad with impressive depth, power and tenacity. Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire SDSU advances to play the winner of …

Aztecs Beat Buckeyes 88-77 In Maui, Advance To Semifinals


The Aztecs commanded this game and overpowered a strong Buckeyes squad with impressive depth, power and tenacity.


Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire

SDSU advances to play the winner of the Cincinnati / Arizona Matchup, on Tuesday, November 22nd at 10:30pm EST.

Maui, HI– The #17 Aztecs defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 88-77 on Monday night in the Maui Jim Invitational Quarterfinals at the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii.
After a sluggish start, the Buckeyes and Aztecs heated up, and what ensued was an aggressively-played battle between two very well coached squads.

In the first half, Ohio State trailed at one point by 15 points.  At halftime, the Aztecs led 37-26. The Buckeyes shot 30 percent (9 of 30) from the floor and were dismally 1 of 11 on threes. The Aztecs, who had 10 points from Matt Bradley and seven points each from Lamont Butler and Adam Seiko, shot 42 percent from the floor (13 of 31) and 4 of 10 on threes.

Brice Sensabaugh led the Buckeyes with nine points off the bench. Justice Sueing managed four points on 2 of 7 shooting, while Zed Key had three points and one board before getting into foul trouble.

San Diego State missed their first eight shots, yet the Buckeyes led just 5-0 after Key made three-point play followed by two free throws by Sensabaugh. The Aztecs responded by making an eight point run making it 10-7.

SDSU followed that with a 12-4 run as the Buckeyes found themselves rattled offensively. Butler had a jumper and a three and Seiko and Bradley each registered threes as the Aztecs made it 22-13. The Buckeyes’ two baskets in that stretch came from freshmen on an alley oop tip-in by Felix Okpara and a self-sacrificing scoop by Bruce Thornton.

Isaac Likekele made two free throws and Sensabaugh hit a three off a Thornton pass to cut the lead to 22-18. But SDSU answered with seven straight points, including a three from Jaedon LeDee, making it 29-18.

LeDee made a pair of free throws to make it 35-20, at 2:50 before the half.

The Buckeyes brought it within 11 at the half as Roddy Gayle had a baseline drive for a layup and Sensabaugh hit a 16-footer, plus two free throws.

Starting off the second half, Matt Bradley hit a three in short order to make it 40-26.

Then… Buckeyes’ guard Sean McNeil came off the bench and LIT IT UP, downing 11 points in the first five minutes of the second half, scoring a drive, three jumpers and a three a to bring it within ten at 49-40.

The Buckeyes kept battling with two shots by Key and Sensebaugh. McNeil then had a five-point run jumper that got the lead down to four, at 51-47, which brought Ohio State as close as they would get to tying the things up.

Then, the Aztecs rallied back strong and took advantage of the Buckeyes’ visible fatigue. Parrish made a three and then followed it up with another three. Butler picked a pass from Likekele, and assisted a layup by Aguek Arop extending the Aztecs’ lead back to 12 at 59-47.  Then, a three by Seiko pushed it to 16 at 68-52.

After some back and forth, the Buckeyes got within nine after Thornton hit a three, making it 77-68 with 4:51 left. Thornton found Tanner Holden for a layup and he was fouled by SDSU’s Bradley.

The foul was then ruled as flagrant. Holden made two frees to cut it to 80-72 with 4:03 left. The Buckeyes retained possession and Sensabaugh was fouled. He hit 1 of 2 to make it 80-73.

The Aztecs’ Parrish answered downed a three at the other end, though, to make it 83-73. Thornton hit two free throws to make it 83-75. Sensabaugh hit a jumper in the lane to cut the lead to 85-77 with 1:00 left. The Buckeyes didn’t get any closer for the balance of the game.

The Aztecs kept the lead for most of this game, and had a responded with force any time the Buckeyes started to develop traction. Despite a valiant effort, the Aztecs were too much for the Buckeyes, and were victorious.

Difference Makers

The Aztecs made 51 percent of shots and 48 percent of threes (10 of 21).The Buckeyes went 43 percent in shooting and 32 percent (7 of 22) on threes.

Next Up

The Aztecs play the winner of tonight’s match between Cincinnati (3-1) and No. 14 Arizona (3-0) in its second-round game on Tuesday. That game will be at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

The Buckeyes play the loser of tonight’s match between Cincinnati (3-1) and No. 14 Arizona (3-0) in its second-round game on Tuesday. That game will be at 5:00 p.m. on ESPN2.

 

Maui Jim Invitational First Round Preview: San Diego State Aztecs vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

Maui Jim Invitational First Round Preview : SDSU Aztecs vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes have not faced an opponent ranked inside NCAA basketball’s top 300 teams yet this season. Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire The #17 …

Maui Jim Invitational First Round Preview : SDSU Aztecs vs. Ohio State Buckeyes


Undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes have not faced an opponent ranked inside NCAA basketball’s top 300 teams yet this season.


Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire

The #17 Aztecs have already taken down Stanford and BYU this season. Are the Buckeyes ready for strong opponents?

[mm-video type=playlist id=01g02e7d3ey5njhc8n player_id=none image=https://mwwire.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Maui Jim Maui Invitational- Round 1:  Ohio State University Buckeyes (3-0, 0-0 BIG 10) vs. San Diego State University Aztecs (3-0, 0-0 MW) 

WHEN: Monday, November 21st — 4pm HST / 6pm PST / 9pm EST

WHERE: Lahaina Civic Center, Lahaina, HI (2,400)

TV:  ESPN2

LIVE STREAM: fuboTV (Watch for free)

RADIO: 101.5 KGB / XTRA 1360 / iHeart Radio App

SERIES RECORD: This is the 4th matchup between the Aztecs and the Buckeyes.  SDSU maintains a 2-1 series lead, and a 2-game winning streak.

LAST MEETING: SDSU defeated the Buckeyes 83-61 in the quarterfinal of the 2003 Maui Invitational, on November 24, 2003

WEBSITES: GoAztecs.com, the official San Diego State athletics website; OhioStateBuckeyes.com the official Ohio State athletics website.

ODDS: Aztecs -2.5

OVER/UNDER: +136

Maui, HI-  The Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) will be playing for an upset when they tip off against the #17 San Diego State Aztecs (3-0, 0-0 MW) in the 2022 Maui Jim Invitational on Monday night. The Buckeyes are coming off a 65-43 win over Eastern Illinois as 31-point favorites. The Aztecs are coming off a 74-62 win over Stanford as 4.5-point favorites.

All eyes will be on the Aztecs Monday as the favored team. Ohio State has a chance to prove if the defense that held Eastern Illinois to 25% shooting and 43 points last Wednesday is legitimate.

Buckeyes Seek A Respectable Victory

Ohio State is averaging 79.3 points per game. They scored 65 points in their last game, making 40.4 percent of their field goals and 28.6 percent of their three-pointers against Eastern Illinois.

In that match, Brice Sensabaugh led the Buckeyes with 20 points and four boards. Zed Key finished with a 10 points and 14 boards double-double, while Roddy Gayle Jr. chipped in eight points and three assists.

Ohio State has looked great defensively against their recent competition, giving up just 50.7 points per game. They gave up 43 points in their last game and will need a similar effort if they want to win this game.

Notable, however, Eastern Illinois is ranked #351, and SDSU is ranked #17.

Head coach Chris Holtmann brought new talent to Ohio State University this summer, building off of their second round March Madness Tournament appearance. Holtmann added transfers Tanner Holden, Sean McNeil and Isaac Likekele. Holden is a diamond in the rough. McNeil was strong for West Virginia in Morgantown. He produces from behind the arc. Likekele hails from Oklahoma State University, and was a top rim protector in the Big-12. Junior forward Key rounds out the front court.

Sixth-year senior Justice Sueing is reportedly out with abdominal pain.

The Buckeyes are currently the No. 42 defense in the country after finishing 111 last year. Considering they have only faced teams outside of the top 300 this season, it’s unclear if that ranking is sound. Still, Ohio State dominates the glass averaging 49 boards per game.

Aztecs Look To Stay Undefeated

SDSU has played well so far, winning their first three games- each against solid competitors. They will try to keep their record perfect with a win over the Buckeyes. The Aztecs are averaging 78.7 points per game. They scored 74 points in their last game, making 51 percent of their field goals and 38.1 percent of their three-pointers. San Diego State has played extremely well defensively, giving up 64.7 points per game. They gave up 62 points in their last game and will need to keep it up if they want to get the win.

The Aztecs have battle-tested veterans. They have four out of five starters from their 2022 NCAA Tourney appearance. Seattle University star and transfer Darrion Trammell joins the starting lineup after two seasons averaging 17+ points per game for the Redhawks. Trammell is a versatile guard who plays far bigger than his stature. The senior impacts Aztecs defense fiercely, by haranguing opposing guards. With his agility, intense pressure, and rapid movement, he rattles even the most steady handles.

Two-way guard Matt Bradley, was placed on the preseason watch list for the Jerry West Award, which recognizes the top shooting guards in the country. The 6-foot-4 guard can be seen taking defenders off the dribble, finishing at the rim. Bradley’s skills, combined with his experience, makes him one of the more dynamic two-way guards… in the nation.

With a 7’4″ wingspan, Nathan Mensah always will rebound and shot block with authority. Mensah runs the floor well for a player his size. Lamont Butler and Keshad Johnson also appear in the starting five. The Aztecs do have enough talent to win three games in Maui.

Head coach Brian Dutcher and the Aztecs are the dark horse in this tournament, as prognosticators eye Arizona and Arkansas.

What Will Happen

The Aztecs have been stellar with ball handling. The Buckeyes play well defensively, but they’re going to have a hard time containing the Aztecs.  The Buckeyes clean up the boards, but they haven’t handled the ball carefully. The Aztecs average over 12 steals per game against strong foes, and this will be problematic for the Buckeyes.  The Aztecs are also keeping opponents under 65 points per game, so the Buckeyes will have a hard time scoring.

The Aztecs should secure the victory.

Final Score: Buckeyes 64,  Aztecs 76