SDSU vs. USD City Championship: Game Preview, TV, Radio, Streaming, Odds, More
SDSU leads USD 31-19 in the City Championship series, but a pair of recent losses have cost the Aztecs dearly in the post season.
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Two things Aztecs fans know: 1) don’t ever play basketball in a baseball stadium; 2) do not take USD for granted.
WHO: SDSU (3-0, 0-0 MWC) at USD (2-3, 0-0 WCC)
WHEN: Wednesday, November 20th — 11:00 P.M. EST / 8:00 P.M. PST
WHERE: Jenny Craig Pavilion- San Diego, CA (5,100)
TV: FOX Sports West
STREAM: FOX Sports West
RADIO: 101.5 KGB / XTRA 1360 / Fox Sports
Inland Empire (IE) 1350 (pregame starts at 7:30 p.m. PT on XTRA)
SERIES RECORD: Aztecs are 31-19 against the Toreros
CURRENT STREAK: Toreros (W1)
ODDS: SDSU -6
San Diego, CA- The University of San Diego Toreros are making strides in the WCC. In recent years they have contended well against the Aztecs. As the WCC is becoming more competitive- it is still lopsided. On the one hand the conference houses heavyweights Gonzaga and St. Mary’s; while on the other hand it has lightweights like the Pepperdine Waves, the Portland Pilots. If USD keeps improving they may eventually be another heavyweight.
The San Diego City Championship, exciting as it has been during the past several years, presents a conundrum for SDSU. Aztecs fans will agree that when playing the Toreros, the Aztecs have nothing to gain and so very much to lose. It has been a huge factor in a few recent NCAA Tourney misses.
This has been a very bitter pill for the Aztecs to swallow.
The Toreros have imported a lot of talent (and some height) featuring players from Germany, Norway, Brazil, Canada, Belarus and Belgium, and they can nearly match the Aztecs height-wise in their starting lineup if they choose.
Also notable: former Toreros coach Lamont Smith was replaced by new Head Coach Sam Scholl. Four starting seniors from last year are also gone, so the program is going through a transition.
The current scoring leader is a talented 6’3″ sophomore shooting guard from Novato, CA, named Joey Calcaterra who averages 16.8 ppg. 6’10” forward Yauhen Massalski from Belarus is sidelined with a foot injury. 6’11” center Vladimir Pinchuk from Schwelm, Germany, appears healthy for Wednesday’s game.
The Toreros have been plagued with low rebounding and turnovers.
The Aztecs are starting this season off very strong with three consecutive wins, including a hard-fought victory against BYU in Provo, followed up by a win against Dan Majerle’s GCU Lopes who have plagued the Aztecs in past years.
The Aztecs have been RED HOT from the perimeter, with stellar production by Junior Jordan Schakel. The Aztecs also feature Malachi Flynn who might just be the best player in the Mountain West. Schakel and Flynn are a combined 17 of 28 (60.7 percent) on 3 pointers through the first three games of this season, and the Aztecs are, as a team 43.7% on 3’s this season.
Nathan Mensah, Matt Mitchell and Aguek Arop have been playing dominantly as well. In fact, the depth of this year’s team is remarkable. The Aztecs are also rock solid so far on rebounding with a +14 margin against each of their opponents this season.
In this matchup, this year’s Aztecs will be very tough for the rebuilding Toreros to beat. Nonetheless, this win will have to be earned, and recent history has scorned the Aztecs for entering the City Championship overconfident.
In the end, it is probable that SDSU will win by ten points due in no small part to their ability to out rebound USD, while consistently making 3’s.
GAME PREDICTION: Aztecs 74, Toreros 64.