Tag: Alvaro Cardenas

How San Jose State’s Invisible NIL Presence Is Impacting HC Tim Miles

What do San Jose State’s Conference Woes Mean for HC Tim Miles?

How San Jose State’s Invisible NIL Presence Is Hurting HC Tim Miles

SJSU reporter Matt Weiner gives an in-depth look about how SJSU’s lack of NIL is negatively impacting Tim Miles.

Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

The soulless power of NIL

After a demoralizing 77-65 defeat to UNLV last Saturday, SJSU head coach Tim Miles quipped that, “Last year every time I made a decision, it was the right decision and it worked out. And this year, I can’t make one [right] decision. It feels like each one gets screwed up.”

Does this mean Miles, the 2022-23 Mountain West head coach of the year, lost his touch?

The Spartans are currently 1-6 in conference play and could fall to 1-8 after games against No. 17 Utah State on Tuesday and Nevada on Friday. If that happens, players may start to lose faith and the Spartans could plummet back to the lows they hoped to escape. In doing so, Miles’ chances of ascending back to a Power Five could crater significantly. 

In reality, however, Miles hasn’t lost his touch. He’s just living proof of NIL (name, image and likeness) stratifying the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots.’

Feb 14, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; San Jose State Spartans head coach Tim Miles in the first half against the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

SJSU, which has no NIL money to offer recruits, has now fallen to five of the seven Mountain West teams who “have reported annual NIL budgets for men’s basketball over $400,000,” according to the SF Chronicle. It could be all seven if SJSU can’t upend Nevada this Friday and Colorado State a week later. 

When Miles was asked if SJSU’s conference struggles are a result of NIL after the UNLV loss, he quickly pivoted from the subject into the Runnin’ Rebels’ hot-and-cold tendencies. 

“Oh, you know, I mean, there’s talent, right? They’re [UNLV] really talented,” Miles said. “ … I was joking with one of their media guys before the game, I’m like, ‘well, which team is gonna come out Jekyll or Hyde?’ Because they’re [UNLV] really dangerous. I think we got Jekyll in the first half and Hyde in the second or who is more dangerous? I don’t know.”

Few can fault Miles for demurring. 

By talking to the media about the talent disparity forged by NIL after a loss, he could diminish players’ confidence and come off as an excuse-maker. But no matter what he says, the data is undeniable. 

Just take the last two losses. 

The Spartans received a 95-75 thumping by No. 19 New Mexico, which spent “$1.5 million” in NIL money, according to the Las Vegas Sun. ” 

A few days later, the Spartans were torched by first-year Runnin’ Rebels Keylan Boone, a transfer from Oklahoma State, and Dedan Thomas Jr., the eighth-best high school point guard in the nation. The duo, who received NIL money to play in Las Vegas, combined for 34 points (16 from Thomas Jr. and 18 from Boone) and pitched in a few of the 14-straight field goals UNLV made to end the game en route to rallying back from an 11-point first-half deficit.

“I felt humiliated the way the second half went,” Miles said. 

Added SJSU point guard Alvaro Cardenas: “I feel like we just haven’t been able to put up 40 minutes of basketball.”

That much is true. The Spartans have been outscored in the second half in every conference game and could be 0-7. Their lone Mountain West win over Air Force was helped by crucial, late-game mental lapses by Cadets big man, Rytis Petraitis, and a miraculous, buzzer-beating three-pointer by SJSU point guard Myron “MJ” Amey Jr. 

Jan 13, 2024; Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; San Jose State Spartans guard Myron Amey Jr. (0) reacts with guard Alvaro Cardenas (13) after the game against the Air Force Falcons at Clune Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Now, forgiveness for SJSU’s inability to close games could be offered when it fell to Mountain West’s top dogs San Diego State and Boise State. The problem, however, is that SJSU’s second half struggles have occurred against teams ranked below it in the NET. Which begs the question: Is this team just not capable of beating conference opponents?

For the 2023-24 season – possibly.

This reflects poorly on Miles, but is it fair to criticize him? Of course not. 

While other Mountain West head coaches can use NIL funds to nab elite high school talent or veterans in the transfer portal, Miles must construct his roster with no-star recruits or players descending to SJSU after unsuccessful stints at a Power Five. 

SJSU’s inexperienced frontcourt triumvirate of sophomores Adrame Diongue and William Humer and freshman Diogo “DJ” Seixas have been unable to fill in for the season-long absence of sophomore power forward Robert Vaihola. What’s more, second rotation players like freshman Latrell Davis and sophomore Garrett Anderson continue to be non-factors. 

“We’re asking guys to do things that they’re not always ready for. We just have to continue to find strategic ways to be better,” Miles said. 

As a result, SJSU’s veteran core – Amey Jr., Cardenas and wings Trey Anderson and Tibet Gorener – need to play unreasonably well. 

Thankfully for Miles, each member of the veteran core has taken that pivotal third-year leap. There’s a reason why SJSU has at least held leads over conference opponents and boasts wins over Santa Clara (No. 107 in NET) and UC Irvine (No. 76 in NET). So this should bode well for next year, right?

In theory yes, but what if any of SJSU’s veteran core gets poached by a bigger program that can offer more exposure and NIL opportunities? In that scenario, Miles could be in an even worse position for the 2024-25 campaign. 

San Jose State basketball coach, and former Colorado State head coach, Tim Miles catches up with old colleagues before the game at Moby Arena on Saturday Dec. 31, 2022.

Csu Sjsu Bball

Based on how he was let go by Nebraska in 2019, he can’t afford any career setbacks. SJSU could be his last shot of reaching those same heights. But the more SJSU struggles, the more Miles’ SJSU resume signifies that he is incapable of succeeding without Omari Moore, the 2022-23 Mountain West player of the year, whom he inherited.

These trying times illustrate why Miles told SJSU’s NIL collective Blue & Gold Unlimited this past off-season, “‘We really have to make a decision. Do we want to be Division I? Or do we want to be Division II? And if you really want to be Division I, we have to get behind the collective and the driving forces behind that to be able to keep up.’” 

If Miles is losing faith, he must remember that he concocted rebuilds at every rung the NCAA has to offer, including at CSU from 2007-12 which is how he ascended to Nebraska. And he’s the man who nicknamed himself ‘Coach F.E.M.A.’ because of that uncanny ability to weather storms.

“You either adapt or die,” Miles said before the season began.

He better hope so.

Myron “MJ” Amey Jr.’s heroics lifts SJSU to first conference win

A miraculous, buzzer-beating three from Myron “MJ” Amey Jr. lifts SJSU basketball to first conference win over Air Force.

Somehow, someway, with 1.3 seconds left and the score at 67-67, Myron “MJ” Amey Jr. drilled a wildly improbable three from the corner to lift San Jose State to a 70-67 win over Air Force. 

But as Amey Jr. (16 points and nine rebounds) was a portrait of unbridled joy after his buzzer-beater while teammates mobbed him, it was easy to forget that SJSU fumbled a 10-point second half and was down 66-64 with 1:58 remaining. 

So now comes the difficulty of identifying what’s more meaningful: SJSU rallying back in those final few minutes? Or how it fumbled yet another second half lead?

“They [SJSU] can be 4-0 in this league,” SJSU head coach Tim Miles said after the win. Miles’ quote came a few dafter the Spartans nearly upset No. 19 San Diego State.

Now, some may be thinking, ‘How can you not leave a buzzer-beater completely happy?’

That’s because SJSU (8-9, 1-3 MW) has made a habit of turning promising first half starts into disappointing second half finishes. For example, it squandered a 17-point first half lead to Wyoming in its conference opener. One game later, against a stellar Boise State, it fell 78-69 after it held a nine-point lead with nine minutes remaining. And in its six non-conference losses, SJSU outscored its opponent just once following the first half.

[lawrence-related id=58728]

On Saturday, SJSU ended the first half up 46-33 after it outrebounded the Cadets 18-7 and outscored them in the paint 24-18. Then, in the second half, SJSU was outrebounded 18-13, outscored in the paint 12-10 and outscored AFA by seven fewer points than it did in the first half on second chance opportunities. 

Looking ahead, what’s particularly worrisome is that Air Force is the second lowest-ranking team in the NET (232) in the conference. The Cadets aren’t particularly sharp, either. They average the third-most turnovers in the conference (12.9) and have the third-lowest free throw percentage. Both were was put on full display in the final seconds from Rytis Petraitis who went 1-for-2 with a chance to give AFA the lead with 10 seconds left. Moments later, it was Petraitis who stepped out with 1.3 seconds left after rebounding SJSU point guard Alvaro Cardenas’ (11 points and nine assists) airballed three. 

Then came Amey Jr.’s dagger that Miles called “insanity. 

Without Petraitis’ sloppiness, it’s hard to say SJSU wouldn’t be 0-4. What’s more, it’s hard to say SJSU wouldn’t continue to crater.

But maybe, just maybe, within those final couple minutes and Amey Jr.’s heroics was SJSU realizing it can be a conference force. 

Or, will the momentum from Saturday slip away and the Spartans struggle to handle a Fresno State (No. 251 NET ranking) this Tuesday night?

Even more intriguing now is how SJSU will fare in the six-game gauntlet after FSU which features four teams in the top-40 of the NET and five teams in the top-100. 

Ask someone their prediction of how SJSU will fare in the first half on Saturday, when Adrame Diongue (four points and three rebounds) slammed down an alley-oop from Cardenas and Garret Anderson (six points) was attacking at will, it may yield a positive one. What if you asked in the second half when SJSU let a 46-33 halftime lead whither into a 66-61 deficit?

And eventually, after Amey Jr.’s buzzer-beater, where will that same person land?

“We looked like we are dead in the water and Myron Amey Jr. makes this incredible, miracle of a shot,” Miles said, “… Great way to get out first Mountain West win.”

Can SJSU Basketball Use Near Upset Over No. 19 SDSU To Shift Season?

Can SJSU basketball use near upset over No. 19 SDSU to shift season?

Can SJSU Basketball Use Near Upset Over No. 19 SDSU To Shift Season?

A deep-dive into SJSU’s conference slate

Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

Frustration must turn to momentum

WHO: San Jose State (7-9, 0-3 MW) vs. Air Force (7-7, 0-2 MW)

WHEN: Saturday, January 13th — 7:30 p.m. MST / 6:30 p.m. PST

WHERE: Cadet Field House

TV: Mountain West Network

STREAM: FuboTV — get a free trial

It’s surprising San Jose State head coach Tim Miles and junior guards MJ Amey and Alvaro Cardenas didn’t exhibit more glee in their press conference after the Spartans nearly upset No. 19 San Diego State 81-78 last Tuesday. 

SJSU has never won an NCAA Tournament game. The Aztecs, meanwhile, won five last year en route to finishing as March Madness runner-ups. 

So shouldn’t the Spartans have viewed that near monumental upset as encouraging first and frustrating second – not vice versa? In theory, yes. But Tuesday’s defeat was the latest example of how the Spartans (7-9, 0-3 MW) lost a game they could have won. With its postseason chances slimming, SJSU must figure out how to turn frustration into momentum. 

Just a week before the SDSU loss, the Spartans squandered a 17-point lead in its conference-opener to Wyoming, falling 75-73 on a buzzer-beater. Then, in its conference home-opener, SJSU fumbled a nine-point lead it held over Boise State with less than 10 minutes and wound up losing by nine.

SJSU felt frustrated last Tuesday night not because it played poorly. In fact, considering the talent disparity, that game could be considered one of the best of Miles’ tenure. But the Spartans method of losing is emotionally draining. 

Following the SDSU loss, Miles asked rhetorically “‘Do you let it [frustration] suck the life out of you? … Or use it [frustration] to make yourself stronger and more resilient?’”

Could Miles’ sentiment also be that of a coach whose team entered conference play with a penchant for struggling to finish games?

In SJSU’s six non-conference losses, it outscored its opponent following the first half just once. Now, the defeat to Texas Tech (No. 31 in NET) can be forgiven. But what about the losses to Cal Poly (No. 327 in NET) and Abilene Christian (No. 255 in NET)? 

In doing so, it hinted that what’s happening now could’ve been seen from far away. 

Miles should know. After the Cal Poly loss he said, “You hope it’s not a symptom of a larger problem in the program or an unwillingness to build on a lead and play the type of defense necessary to win tough-minded games.”

Months later, those words are hauntingly prophetic. 

But the Spartans inability to “play the type of defense necessary to win tough-minded games” isn’t perplexing. 

After all, they entered this season without 2022-23 Mountain West Player of the Year Omari Moore and last year’s frontcourt of center Ibrahima Diallo (transferred), power forward Sage Tolbert (graduated) and power forward Robert Vaihola who sustained a season-ending injury this offseason. 

Their replacements haven’t come close to matching their production. Though Washington State transfer Adrame Diongue averages the second most blocks per game (1.6) in the conference, his inability to stay out of foul trouble and staggering 38.2 free throw percentage limits his crunch time minutes.  

Power forwards sophomore William Humer and freshman Diogo “DJ” Seixas haven’t made contributions required for SJSU to command the paint. In the Wyoming loss SJSU was outscored 36-20 in the paint. After that, Broncos’ power forward O’mar Stanley went for 30 points and 11 rebounds and SDSU’s Jaedon LeDee netted 31 points and 10 rebounds. 

This doesn’t mean Diongue, Humer and Seixas are bad. This is just what happens when inexperienced players are thrust into major roles they may not be ready for.

This loaded Mountain West, however, will offer no sympathy. 

But to take a step back, is all of this far too harsh and grim of an outlook? Shouldn’t the SDSU defeat vault — not crater — SJSU’s CBI chances? 

That’s what makes it so difficult to predict SJSU’s future. To definitively say the SDSU loss will vault SJSU is to be too much of a prisoner of the moment. To definitively say that loss will crater SJSU is to unjustly give up on a team dripping in promise.

[lawrence-related id=58835]

Amey’s 15.3 points per game is good for top-10 in the conference and Cardenas has paired his 14.1 points per game with 5.7 assists – fifth-most in the conference. The pair’s 20-point performances against SDSU is just the latest example of how they’ve taken that pivotal third-year leap. 

And don’t let the Spartans inability to close games fool you into thinking they are incompetent. Evidenced by how they turned the ball over 11 times against Wyoming, seven times against BSU and 10 times against SDSU. As a result, SJSU has averaged the second-fewest turnovers per game (10.4) in the Mountain West.

If the Spartans can find a way to match their first half effort with their second half effort, they can win nine of their next 15 games to clinch the .500 record necessary for CBI eligibility. 

“I’ve been saying we can play with anybody in the country,” Amey said after the SDSU game.

If there’s one thing SJSU can’t play with — it’s time. And if there’s any time for a seismic shift, it’s this Saturday night at Air Force (No. 232 in NET) and next Tuesday night at Fresno State (No. 245 in NET). 

With wins over the Mountain West’s lowest-ranking NET teams, SJSU can quickly erase the sting of the 0-3 conference start. Not to mention the momentum required to attack a six-game slate afterward featuring four teams in the top-40 of the NET and five in the top-100. 

“We can lose to anybody in this league, but I think we have proven we can beat anybody in this league, too,” Miles said.  

SJSU basketball nearly upsets No. 19 San Diego State

SJSU basketball nearly upsets No. 19 San Diego State, 81-78.

SJSU basketball offered glimpses of greatness

SJSU basketball nearly upsets No. 19 San Diego State

Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

Was SJSU’s near upset a sign better times lay ahead?

Following a 81-78 near upset over No. 19 San Diego State, SJSU head coach Tim Miles opined on the concept of “frustration.” 

“A situation like this, it really comes down to frustration. Like, ‘how do you handle frustration? Do you let it suck the life out of you?’” Miles reflected. “ … Or use it to make yourself stronger and more resilient.”

This is why when looking back at the SDSU (14-2, 3-0) loss, Spartan fans should be encouraged. SJSU was dealt several frustrating moments. And yet, despite playing a team far more talented, it ended up being one blocked lay up at the end of regulation away by Trey Anderson from going to overtime. 

Furthermore, this came in a game where SJSU (7-9, 0-3) was fresh off two frustrating losses. Still, it never let a couple poor possessions turn into an avalanche of disappointment against an SDSU on pace to make another deep run in the NCAA tournament.

Following Miles’ press conference, SJSU guards MJ Amey (20 points) and Alvaro Cardenas (21 points) sat side-by-side and voiced a disdain for using Tuesday as a moral victory. 

“We feel like we are capable of winning every game,” Cardenas said. 

And to a certain extent, Cardenas is right. 

Prior to the SDSU loss, SJSU squandered a 17-point lead to Wyoming and a nine-point lead to Boise State. Both losses to BSU and SDSU came in similar fashion: the inability to stop a power forward. 

Last Saturday, it was the Broncos’ O’mar Stanley who went for 30 points and 11 rebounds and Tuesday it was SDSU’s Jaedon Ledee, who went for 31 points and 10 rebounds. 

This why it’s essential for SJSU to make strides in the NIL space. It appears the Spartans are a dominant frontcourt away from winning games against the upper echelon of the conference. 

The Spartans were outrebounded 37-28, outscored in the paint 38-24 and outscored on second chance opportunities 18-9. 

SJSU center Adrame Diongue and power forwards Diogo “DJ” Seixas and William Humer are all in a transitional phase and just aren’t ready to take that next leap to compete with elite big men. 

“We are mismatched inside,” Miles said. 

Now, considering the several departures from last year’s Final Four squad, some may be surprised at SDSU’s continued domination. 

That’s where Ledee comes in. 

From last season to this one, he has nearly tripled his points total – from 7.9 points to 21.4 – and lifted his rebound total from 5.3 to 8.7. Earlier this year, SDSU head coach Brian Ducher told the San Diego Union Tribune that “He could have probably gotten a lot more NIL (money) somewhere else.”

So why did he choose to stay? It’s simple. He’d flourish at SDSU in ways he wouldn’t at any other school. SDSU’s culture and system is just that stellar. So now Ledee can leverage that into premier post-career opportunities. 

With Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy in attendance, Ledee illustrated his prowess. 

Unlike Ducher in this NIL era, Miles has to establish his own system and culture. If SJSU plays like it did against SDSU that era is coming sooner than later. 

Which is why it’s imperative for SJSU to not waste the momentum from Tuesday. Cardenas, Amey, Anderson (11 points) and Tibet Gorener (15 points) all finished in double figures. Plus, it turned the ball over just 10 times. There’s unquestionable evidence that SJSU is capable of doing much more than its record indicates. 

Although, that does hinge upon SJSU capitalizing on the momentum from Thursday in its next two games – this Saturday at Air Force and next Tuesday at Fresno State. Back-to-back wins could give the Spartans the momentum they need to have a legitimate shot at reaching that prized .500 overall record which would give them eligibility for the CBI. 

“I mean you just gotta finish games – that’s it,” chuckled Amey.

[lawrence-related id=58769]

Matt’s Monday Mailbag: Dissecting SJSU basketball’s late-game woes

This week’s Matt’s Monday Mailbag takes a deeper look at SJSU basketball’s late-game woes.

Matt’s Monday Mailbag: Dissecting SJSU basketball’s late-game woes

SJSU reporter Matt Weiner answers your questions

Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

Let’s talk ball

Hello and welcome to Matt’s Monday Mailbag™ your go-to destination for all pressing SJSU men’s basketball matters.

Enough chit-chat. Let’s get into it.

Ricky Delgado @RickyDe70535587 “We’re blowing leads left and right and a much better team than our record indicates. Just frustrating seeing how we’re in games or dominating them, and then we blow it. It reminds me a lot of the first half of football season actually. Hoping for a similar kind of turnaround.”

I understand the comparison between SJSU men’s basketball and football. Both teams have conceded leads in games it should’ve won. But when football plummeted to 1-5 this year, it had the luxury of knowing an easier schedule lay ahead – SJSU men’s basketball doesn’t. 

For SJSU to clinch a .500 record for CBI eligibility, it must go 9-7 in a slate that features eight games against opponents in the top-35 of the NET. So it’s a case of extremely difficult, but not impossible. Although it could trend toward the latter if Boise State (No. 70 in NET), UNLV (No. 112 in NET) and Wyoming (No.192 in NET) all improve. 

Ricky Delgado @RickyDe70535587 “We might have to run two big lineups (to aid with rebounding). DJ [Diogo Seixas] and Will [William Humer] can shoot a little bit so the floor may not necessarily shrink in doing that. The only issue would with that would be center depth, but if we could make it work somehow I think it could help us out.”

If you’re looking to improve rebounding, I’m not sure a Humer and Seixas combo lineup is the best way to go. Humer’s 2.5 rebounds per game is the sixth-most on SJSU and Seixas’ 1.2 rebounds per game is 11th-most. 

Therefore, when opting in for a two big lineup, I think seven-footer Adrame Diongue must be the constant and its Humer and Seixas ping-ponging in and out. 

Andrew Hartley @AndrewHart1ey “At the end of the Boise game, Miles took out [Adrame] Diongue for Garrett Anderson because of free-throw shooting. But do you think extended versions of such a small ball lineup could help SJSU?”

In times of a rut – yes. 

Take last Friday for example. SJSU was up nine with 10 minutes left and ended up losing by nine. This hard-to-watch final stretch saw SJSU fail to score a single field goal in the final five minutes as Boise State’s O’mar Stanley dominated his way toward a 30-point 11-rebound double-double. 

I understand why Miles chose to keep a tight rotation with at least one big in. Too much tinkering could lead to dastardly high levels of discombobulation.  

But at a certain point, when things are going bad, maybe the best way to reverse fortune is saying, ‘ah, to hell with it’ and see what guards Garret Anderson or Latrell Davis could do alongside guard Alvaro Cardenas, MJ Amey and wings Trey Anderson and Tibet Gorener. 

[lawrence-related id=58712]

Ricky Delgado @RickyDe70535587 “MJ [Amey] balled out and I feel the worst for him. My biggest fear is after this season if it doesn’t go as well as they like, that MJ, Al [Alvaro Cardenas] and some of the other guys jump ship and look elsewhere.”

I’m very curious to see how their situations shake out because right now it seems like they could leave SJSU if a Power Five school were to come knocking. Few could blame either one for wanting to put themselves in the best position possible for their post-NCAA endeavors. 

To maintain optimism, I’d consider reflecting back to Omari Moore. He had opportunities to leave SJSU for a Power Five after the 2021-22 season but he chose to stay because he knew it was the best path for him. Now that he’s suiting up in the G-League I’d say he made the right choice. 

Ricky Delgado @RickyDe70535587 “We can fill it up in the scoring column, but man we have a giant hole in the paint. Losing 3 players who led us in rebounding hurts. Idk how many second chance points Boise had or points in the paint, but it felt like it was over 50 for-sure. Idk if we can fix that during the season, but if they can’t it’s gonna be a long one. 

You weren’t far off. Boise State scored 40 points in the paint compared to SJSU’s 32. 

I’ll also push back on SJSU being able to “fill it up in the scoring column.” In the recent loss to Boise State, SJSU averaged 1.250 points per possession in the first half and .853 in the second half. In the Wyoming loss, the Spartans scored 1.382 points per possession in the first half , but .929 points per possession in the second half. 

Therein lies the problem for SJSU: Its offensive dominance doesn’t carry over from one half to the next. 

 So forget the rebounding, this must improve first. The consequence if it doesn’t is just too costly.

SJSU basketball must find a solution to late-game collapses ASAP

SJSU basketball must find a solution to late-game collapses ASAP.

A sense of urgency must arise

SJSU basketball must find a solution to late-game collapses ASAP

Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

An improvement must happen


Let’s get it out of the way now: the 2023-24 SJSU men’s basketball squad isn’t bad. 

If it was, there’s little chance it would boast wins over UC Irvine (No. 72 in NET) and Santa Clara (No. 108 in NET). Although for the sake of SJSU fans’ sanity, maybe it would be easier if it was bad. 

By languishing in that frustrating space of promising but unreliable and good but not good enough, fans have been subjected to watching several late-game collapses. 

“More than anything I want them [SJSU players] to know they’re capable of winning these games and they’re this close,” SJSU head coach Tim Miles said, showing an inch wide margin between his index finger and thumb following Friday night’s loss to Boise State. 

Inside of that narrow margin is the ability to not squander a 17-point lead to Wyoming and a nine-point lead to the Broncos. Looking ahead, the Spartans could fall to 0-3 in conference play after Tuesday’s bout against San Diego State (No. 21 in NET) and 2-6 by the end of January. The more SJSU loses (7-8, 0-2) the littler the chances it can clinch that .500 record to be eligible for the CBI.

Identifying a problem and the consequences is easy. Now comes the hard part: What’s the solution? 

Against Boise State, should Miles have yanked SJSU center William Humer out for good when he saw the Broncos O’mar Stanley pulverizing him in the paint in the first half? Maybe a smaller, but quicker lineup could’ve prevented Stanley from scoring 30 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Whatever that solution may be, SJSU can’t make getting outrebounded 43-23 and outscored 20-5 on second chance opportunities a habit. 

Or, should Miles have sat wings Tibet Gorener or Trey Anderson at any moment down the stretch on Friday? The pair shot a combined 1-for-13 from three and contributed to a brutal offensive lowlight: Zero SJSU field goals in the final five minutes of the game. By inserting freshman Latrell Davis into the game, Miles could’ve gotten an offensive boost to vault SJSU back into contention.

Perhaps the real shame, is that stellar individual performances now linger in an awkward space. 

On Friday night, junior guard MJ Amey delivered SJSU the game-changing pedigree of former Spartan and 2022-23 Mountain West Player of the Year Omari Moore. In the first half he strung together 25 points on a 5-for-7 clip from three, three steals and five rebounds. But after halftime that fire and locomotive intensity came to a screeching halt and he scored just five points.

Is it fair to ask Amey to score 35-40 points and not 30? Probably not. Unfortunately, the door to that conversation crept open as the Broncos polished off a 78-69 victory. 

What about last Tuesday when Cardenas scored 21 points, snatched nine rebounds and dished four assists in the 75-73 loss to Wyoming? Is it incumbent upon him to find a way to do more? This again is a resounding no. But when SJSU plays the kind of defense to allow Wyoming to explode for 40 second half points, these types of questions creep to the surface. 

“Just got to move on and bounce back,” Amey said Friday in a dejected tone.

Conventional wisdom would say the Spartans are just in the “dog days” of a rebuild. Where there’s no such thing as a loss. Just a set of information to learn and grow from for next year. 

NIL and the transfer portal, however, have rearranged rebuild conventional wisdom into myopic truths. 

In this new reality, stellar play from Cardenas (13.6 points and 5.7 assists per game) or Amey (15 points per game) could mean playing for a better school next season – not continuing Miles’ rebuild. 

Their motivation to go from a Mid-Major to a High-Major is the same reason they spurned interest from low-level NCAA schools and waited for a Division I offer: Better competition equates to more exposure and therefore better post-college opportunities. 

By playing against superior talent, Cardenas could very well put himself in position to make the Spanish national team or play for Liga ACB, Spain’s premier basketball league. If his nifty playmaking, grit and intensity works at a Power Five chances are it could work well there, too. 

[lawrence-related id=58769]

Amey, meanwhile, could play for a different professional league overseas. Those scoring outbursts could be alluring to any international team seeking a game-changer. 

Some might feel this is far too forward-looking. After all, it’s been just two conference games. 

There’s 16 games left. Things can change. 

Maybe the situation wouldn’t feel so alarming if the losses to BSU and Wyoming were one-off scenarios. But throughout non-conference play, SJSU hinted it would struggle in this realm.

In a mid-November loss to Abilene Christian, SJSU was up 43-33 at the half and allowed 44 points in the second half. A couple of weeks later, in a loss to Cal Poly, SJSU was up 38-30 at the half and allowed 39 points in the second half and 12 in overtime. And in a December loss against Montana, SJSU was up 40-37 at the half and allowed 49 points in the second half.

This is not the case of a team struggling to replace its previous offensive closer in Moore. 

This is the case of a team that can’t maintain the defensive effort required to close games.  

On the flip side, imagine if SJSU did maintain the defensive effort required to close games.  

That 7-8 could very well be a 12-3. If that happened, SJSU would prove to the Mountain West it can compete without an NIL presence. Furthermore, Miles and co. could take pride in knowing they can recruit and develop overlooked talent at an elite level. 

But now, all fans are left with is Miles showing that inch-wide margin. 

“That close.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1375]

SJSU Basketball’s Success May Hinge On Guard Alvaro Cardenas

SJSU men’s basketball’s success may hinge on guard Alvaro Cardenas continuing his massive third-year leap.

SJSU men’s basketball’s success may hinge on guard Alvaro Cardenas

Alvaro Cardenas must continue his third-year leap

Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

A deep-dive into SJSU’s third-year guard

WHO: Boise State (9-4) vs. San Jose State (7-7)

WHEN: Friday, January 5th — 9:30 p.m. CST / 7:30 p.m. PST

WHERE: Provident Credit Union Event Center; San Jose, Calif.

TV: Fox Sports 1

STREAM: FuboTV — get a free trial

ODDS: San Jose State +6

San Jose State junior point guard Alvaro Cardenas might wonder if he could’ve done more to prevent Wyoming’s Akuel Kot from drilling a jump shot over him as time expired last Tuesday night. Despite going step-for-step with Kot and coming within a hair of blocking the shot, Cardenas was forced to watch Kot’s teammates hound him at mid-court.  

And Cardenas might also wonder if he could’ve done more to prevent SJSU from conceding a 17-point lead. Similar to that cruel final possession, this too may be unreasonable. Cardenas led SJSU with 21 points, and nine rebounds and shot a ridiculous 4-for-5 clip from three. 

Buried in the debris of Tuesday’s soul-crushing defeat is the reality that Cardenas may have to play unreasonably well in order for SJSU to have a shot at maintaining its relevance in the Mountain West.

Now at 7-7 overall and 0-1 in conference play, the Spartans must win nine of their 17 conference games to become eligible for its second-straight CBI tournament appearance. If they can do it, it would be their first time making back-to-back postseason appearances. 

The vaunted Mountain West may play spoiler to this feel-good story. Twelve of those 17 conference games come against teams with a higher NET ranking than SJSU (No. 165 in NET). One of those 12 is Friday night’s opponent: Boise State.

The Broncos’ scoring core of Chibuzo Agbo (15.3 points), Tyson Degenhart (14.8 points), Max Rice (11.7 points) and O’mar Stanley (11.5 points) could be the latest squad to obliterate SJSU’s shaky defense. 

If that happened and SJSU were to fall to San Diego State (No. 21 in NET) this Tuesday, it would start out conference play a meager 0-3. Considering SJSU still has to face New Mexico (No. 36 in NET), UNLV (No. 115 in NET) and Utah State (No. 26 in NET) this month, the Spartans could rack up six losses before February begins. Even scarier, SJSU would have just three losses to spare for a slate that’ll feature another bout with both SDSU and Utah State, plus a trip up to Colorado State (No. 15 in NET). 

In order to survive this gauntlet, the Spartans defense must improve, but what if it remains hapless? Does that mean it’s back to being a conference punchline?

No, it does not. It’ll just require players like Cardenas playing exceptionally well on offense. 

Just take SJSU’s upset over crosstown rival Santa Clara from a couple of weeks ago. Sure, the Spartans allowed 78 points, but Cardenas contributed a whopping 37 points when combining his 14 points and 10 assists. 

But then there’s the example from last Tuesday. When adding Cardenas’ 21 points – two of which came on a layup to tie the game at 73 before Kot’s game-winner – and four assists he contributed 33 total points. 

If 37 contributed points was enough and 33 wasn’t, does that mean Cardenas must average the former moving forward? Possibly. Particularly because SJSU’s defense has allowed at least 75 points in each of its last seven games. 

Yes, it’s a daunting challenge for Cardenas. And a slightly unfair one, too. It’s not his fault SJSU’s rim protection is lacking. 

But if nothing else, it’s a compliment. 

Entering the 2023-24 season, there was a cloud of doubt hovering over Cardenas. 

‘Was he only good last year because of Omari Moore?’

By playing next to Moore, the 2022-23 Mountain West Player of the Year, Cardenas wasn’t burdened by the pressure to shepherd the team to victory. Plus, more attention on Moore, just equated to better opportunities for Cardenas. Perhaps the best example came in SJSU’s win over Southern Indiana in the CBI – the program’s first ever postseason win – when Moore scored just 15 points on nine total shots. Cardenas, meanwhile, went for a team-high 22 points on an 8-for-13 clip from the field and 3-for-6 clip from three. 

Through 14 games this year, Cardenas has quelled questions about his dependence on Moore. He’s gone from averaging 10 points, 3.4 assists, two turnovers on 41.3% mark on two-pointers and 31.3% from three in 2022-23, to averaging 13.9 points, 5.6 assists, 1.9 turnovers, 48.6% mark on two-pointers and 39.2% mark from three in 2023-24. He’s dished the fifth-most assists per game in the Mountain West and is tied with MJ Amey for the team-lead in points per game. 

But something SJSU fans should be cognizant of – even if they’d rather not – is that Cardenas taking that next step forward may not bode well for the team’s long-term success. For the better Cardenas does, the better the chance Power Five programs are going to offer what SJSU can’t: NIL opportunities and increased exposure.  

Of course, the retainment conundrum is still some time away – but – not too far away and not too unlikely to ignore it. 

For now at least, Cardenas is focused on leading SJSU: the only Division I school to offer him. 

Considering his success, it’s mind-boggling to think that Cardenas, an undersized guard from Spain, couldn’t even get on a Zoom call with the head coach of a Division I program back in 2021 – much less a scholarship. 

Cardenas was lucky SJSU eventually did come around and in a similar state of desperation. When Cardenas couldn’t get a visa appointment to head to San Jose, SJSU head coach Tim Miles was sending direct messages to members of the Spanish Embassy via social media, and trading emails with congressmen.

Since then, Cardenas has flown his way into becoming a cornerstone of rebuilding one of the worst programs in college basketball. But can he rise to the next challenge: leading the Spartans to the CBI?

“There’s nothing I don’t think that kid can’t handle,” Cardenas’ former trainer Gilbert Abraham told The Spear last January. 

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1375]

SJSU falls to Wyoming on a buzzer-beater after conceding a 17-point lead

SJSU’s defense continues to prove costly after falling to Wyoming on a buzzer-beater that capped a 17-point comeback.

SJSU falls to Wyoming on a buzzer-beater after conceding a 17-point lead

SJSU’s defense continues to prove costly

Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

The buzzer-beater that was equal parts cruel and ironic

There was a cruel irony to Wyoming guard Akuel Kot’s step back buzzer-beater to stun San Jose State, 75-73, to improve to 8-6.

It was one of the Spartans best defensive possessions of the second half. Who are now 0-1 in Mountain West play and 7-7 overall.

SJSU point guard Alvaro Cardenas was step-for-step with Kot, wasn’t deterred by any flashy dribble moves and was a hair away from blocking the shot. Unfortunately, that sliver of space was all Kot needed to send the Spartans back home in heartbreak. 

 

But don’t feel too bad for SJSU. The Spartans once led by 17 points and entered the second half up by 12 points. Moving forward, will SJSU’s shaky defense stand in the way of it making back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time ever? Furthermore, following the Spartans’ disappointing conference opener, one must wonder: Can SJSU compete in the Mountain West without an NIL presence?

According to the SF Chronicle, Wyoming is one of seven Mountain West teams to have a collective that has “reported annual NIL budgets for men’s basketball over $400,000.” Miles, meanwhile, watched recruits immediately “wig out” on Zoom calls when he mentioned he couldn’t offer NIL money. 

And it wasn’t just recruits – it was Spartans’, too.

Former SJSU center and 2022-23 Mountain West blocks leader Ibrahima Diallo “transferred to Central Florida this past June for $160,000 in NIL money,” according to that same SF Chronicle article.

If Diallo stayed, would the Cowboys have outscored SJSU in the paint 36-20 and allow seven-footer Oleg Kojenets to go for 18 points (5-for-12 from the field)? What about if SJSU could use NIL to lure recruits in the transfer portal, would Wyoming have gone 23-for-25 (93%) from the line? 

At times, SJSU seemed incapable of stopping Cowboy guard Sam Griffin, who scored a floor-high 23 points. His explosive blow by drives were just too much. 

Now one game into conference play, there’s an added pressure for SJSU’s inexperienced frontcourt of freshman forward Diogo “DJ” Seixas (three points and zero rebounds), sophomore forward William Humer (seven points and three rebounds) and sophomore Washington State transfer Adrame Diongue (two points and one rebound) to improve. 

Just a few games ago, following an 86-75 loss to Montana, Miles said, “We just got hurt inside but that’s not new news.”

The problem is SJSU must find a way to make it old news. The consequence is just too costly. SJSU has now surrendered multiple late leads. Which now makes a quote Miles gave after SJSU conceded a late-lead to Cal Poly in November feel hauntingly prophetic.

“You hope it’s not a symptom of a larger problem in the program or an unwillingness to build on a lead and play the type of defense necessary to win tough-minded games,” he said. 

Now at 7-7, SJSU must win nine of its remaining 17 conference games to be eligible to notch that prized CBI bid. Mind you, 12 of those 17 games come against teams with a higher NET ranking. 

The problem with Tuesday night’s blown lead is how easy it is to forget all the good. 

Like in the first half when SJSU point guard Ricky Mitchell soared in for a put back, blocked a shot on the other end and snapped a pass to Tibet Gorener (16 points, 3-for-5 from deep) for a three to put SJSU up 31-18. A string of plays that illustrated everything SJSU needs to bounce back; unrelenting energy from the second rotation; rim protection; timely three-point shooting. 

That Gorener three-pointer came in a first half where SJSU shot a sturdy 18-for-35 from the field and 9-for-18 from three to go up 47-35 heading into the second half.

Not to mention Cardenas’ brilliance. That final possession shouldn’t distract from him scoring 21 points on a stellar 8-for-13 mark from the field and 4-for-5 clip from three. Without Gorener and Cardenas’ clutch shooting, Wyoming might not have needed a buzzer-beater to down SJSU. 

Plus, SJSU forward Trey Anderson scored 10 points in his return to the starting lineup after missing a few games due to a knee sprain. 

But offensive production only goes so far with a defense that struggles to close games. 

All the Spartans can do now is hope to rally back against Boise State in its conference home-opener this Friday night at 7:30.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1375]

Preview: Can HC Tim Miles lead SJSU to a winning record in Mountain West play?

Can HC Tim Miles lead SJSU to a winning record against MW opponents with robust NIL presences in order to notch a postseason appearance?

Preview: Can HC Tim Miles lead SJSU to winning record in Mountain West play?

Can SJSU finish .500 against MW opponents with robust NIL presences in order to notch a postseason appearance?

Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

“You either adapt or die”

WHO: San Jose State Spartans (7-6) vs. Wyoming (7-6)

WHEN: Tuesday, January 2nd — 7:30 p.m. CST / 5:30 p.m. PST

WHERE: Arena-Auditorium; Laramie, Wyo (8,083)

TV: Mountain West Network (Stream on the Mountain West Network)

ODDS: Wyoming -5

As San Jose State men’s basketball opens conference play tonight against Wyoming, head coach Tim Miles now faces a question that’s loomed large since the preseason: Can SJSU repeat last year’s success without an NIL presence and reigning Mountain West Player of the Year Omari Moore?

“You either adapt or die,” SJSU head coach Tim Miles told The Spear last October.

Mar 4, 2023; Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; San Jose State Spartans guard Omari Moore (10) gestures in the second half against the Air Force Falcons at Clune Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

At 7-6, the definition of “repeating last year’s success” has been slightly tempered to making back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time ever. In order to do that SJSU must win nine of its 18 conference games. 12 of those 18 games come against teams with a higher NET ranking. Just so happens that nearly all of those teams have an NIL presence the Spartans only hope to achieve one day. 

According to the SF Chronicle, Colorado State, Wyoming, Nevada, New Mexico, Boise State, San Diego State and UNLV each have collectives that have reported annual NIL budgets for men’s basketball over $400,000. Miles, meanwhile, watched recruits immediately “wig out” on Zoom calls when he mentioned he couldn’t offer NIL money. 

Prior to an upset over crosstown rival Santa Clara on Dec. 20, finishing .500 in conference play for the second time since 2000 was daunting. SJSU was fresh off an 86-75 loss to Montana where its defense was reliably unreliable. “We just got hurt inside,” Miles said following the defeat. “But that’s not new news.” 

Miles entered the 2023-24 season well-aware of how the Spartans’ inexperienced front court could be detrimental to the team’s success. How could he not? Freshman forward Diogo “DJ” Seixas and sophomore forward William Humer had no prior Division I experience. The team’s prized 2023 recruit in sophomore Washington State transfer Adrame Diongue averaged 1.3 points and 1.8 boards in six minutes per game in Pullman. 

This stress was only heightened when Miles announced SJSU forward Robert Vaihola, the Mountain West leader in offensive rebounds a year ago, would be out for the year with a foot injury. 

With the departures of Vaihola’s front court counterparts in Sage Tolbert (graduated) and Ibrahima Diallo who “transferred to Central Florida this past June for $160,000 in NIL money,” according to that same SF Chronicle article, SJSU’s new rotation could be a deterrent to winning conference games. 

A “deterrent” but not a complete obstruction. 

At least senior forward Trey Anderson was rapidly evolving into a trustworthy three-point shooter and defender at the start of the season. 

Then he sustained a “significant knee sprain” on Dec. 4 in an overtime loss to North Dakota State – SJSU’s third straight at the time. 

The streak ended at three when SJSU used a late-surge to beat New Orleans (then ranked in the bottom 300 of the NET). But the thrill of the win and junior guard MJ Amey’s season-high 29 points was quickly forgotten when SJSU followed it up with that aforementioned loss to Montana at home on Dec. 17.

If SJSU was outrebounded 44-24 and allowed Montana forward Laolu Oke to go for 16 points and 15 rebounds, how could it handle an eight-game stretch in January that features Wyoming’s Sam Griffin (18.3 points per game), San Diego State’s Jaedon Ladee who leads the Mountain West with 21.3 points and is tied for the league lead in rebounds (9.2). Furthermore, the guy Ladee’s tied with – Utah State’s Great Osobor – will be hosting SJSU in Logan to end the month. 

By that point, if SJSU ends the month at 3-5 or 2-6, there’s little chance it can make up enough ground to clinch that prized .500 record. In consequence, it’ll reinforce the narrative that SJSU’s paltry financial state isn’t conducive to long term success. No coach since 1966 has finished with a winning record. Even scarier for Miles, since 1938, no SJSU head coach has fulfilled the same duty at a different school for at least two years. Mind you, San Jose is viewed as a stepping stone to a better opportunity for coaches.

As SJSU’s defense struggled, the fear that it would return to its disastrous state was front of mind. Forget the fact SJSU won 20 games for the first time since 1981 last year. The Spartans 10 Mountain West wins eclipsed its conference win total (eight) from the previous five seasons. 

But then came that 81-78 upset over Santa Clara – No. 120 NET ranking –to end non-conference play. Yes, it wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to offer hope. 

 

Amey (team-leading 17 points and nine rebounds) continued his emergence as the team’s leading scorer, SJSU outscored SCU 23-13 in points off turnovers, Humer finished with a +14 and point guard Alvaro Cardenas dished a team-high 10 assists.

When the Spartans upset Santa Clara last year, Miles noticed a growing confidence in each player. Suddenly, they started to believe in themselves a little more and held their chest a little bit higher. That was then parlayed into beating UNLV and Colorado State to start conference play. Until then SJSU had never opened Mountain West play with a win. 

Perhaps tonight’s bout with a struggling Wyoming could signal a repeating trend. 

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1375]