Tag: sjsu basketball

Matt’s Monday Mailbag: Did SJSU do right by signing Brock Purdy’s younger brother?

Matt’s Monday Mailbag: Did SJSU do right by signing Brock Purdy’s younger brother?

Matt’s Monday Mailbag: Did SJSU do right by signing Brock Purdy’s younger brother?

SJSU reporter Matt Weiner weighs in on Chubba Purdy signing with SJSU, burgers and buzzer-beaters.

Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

Bay Area added another Purdy

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

Enough chit-chat. Let’s get into it.

Thomas Christian: @ThomasGoatnba: “What do we think of signing Brock Purdy’s lil bro?”

Optics wise, signing Chubba Purdy was a good move. The connection to Brock will generate buzz this program desperately needs. 

Football wise, I like this move, too. Compared to any other SJSU quarterback available, Purdy has started multiple games at the Power Five level. And sure, he went 0-4 at Nebraska last season, but I’ll take that over SJSU QB Jay Butterfield who has 15 career pass attempts. 

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Furthermore, Purdy’s mobility could be a massive help to SJSU’s offensive line which will feature four new starters. 

Ryan B: @rbizzle16 “Do you think it’s fair to say that we’d have a good chance at being 4-0 in league if we had Rob V [Vaihola] in the lineup?”

Oh, without a doubt. 

Each loss featured an example where SJSU’s frontcourt was outmatched.

In the Wyoming loss, SJSU was outscored in the paint 36-20 which played a pivotal role in the squandered 17-point lead. In its next loss to Boise State, SJSU allowed power forward O’mar Stanley to net 30 points and 11 rebounds. A few days later, No. 19 San Diego State’s power forward Jaedon LeDee finished with 31 points and 10 rebounds. 

Imagine the destruction a frontcourt of Vaihola and seven-footer Adrame Diongue could inflict upon opponents?

Ricky Delgado: @RickyDe70535587 “A sign of a good team is that they can handle adversity (especially on the road) and still find ways to win. So far this season we hadn’t done that but on Saturday we did. I take it as an indication they are starting to gel and improve. We’re on the upswing and I’m excited For the rest of the season.”

Myron “MJ” Amey Jr.’s buzzer-beating three over Air Force should signify SJSU shifting course of its late-game woes. 

But I just don’t know. 

The Spartans let a 46-33 halftime lead over the Cadets wither into a 66-61 deficit. Yes, SJSU rallied back triumphantly. But with 10 seconds left and SJSU up 67-66, what if AFA’s Rytis Petraitis went 2-for-2 not 1-for-2 from the line? More importantly, what if he didn’t step out with 1.5 seconds left after he rebounded SJSU point guard Alvaro Cardenas’ airballed three? Lastly, AFA is the second-worst team in the conference. 

Not saying it can’t happen. Just important to remember the context surrounding Amey Jr.’s dagger. 

Fake Matt Mumme:@FakeCoachMumme “What’s the best burger in Santa Clara County?”

Not sure if it’s the best burger (I’m more of a chicken sandwich guy) but the best I’ve had is the Breakfast Burger at Egghead Sando. 

Paring over-easy eggs with caramelized onions as a burger topping is beyond elite. 

Ricky Delgado @RickyDe70535587 “Incredibly happy for the players, especially MJ to get that win on Saturday. I could see some of them had that “here we go again look” like the football team did early in the season. I keep going back to football season because I can’t help how similar these two teams feel. With that said, a turnaround similar to the one the football team had is improbable. However, this team will compete night in and night out with any team in the conference and I feel like they’re even going to upset a couple of the big programs.”

I think this team will be a gambler’s worst nightmare. 

Last Tuesday, SJSU nearly upset No. 19 San Diego State, 81-78. Then followed that up by needing an improbable buzzer-beating three from Amey Jr. to escape a woeful Air force. 

Don’t be surprised if SJSU struggles at home against Fresno State (No. 254 NET ranking) on Feb. 6 and then has Colorado State (No. 20 NET ranking) on the ropes in its next game. 

Which is why I believe SJSU can win eight of its next 14 games to clinch eligibility for the CBI. But at the same time I wouldn’t put any money on it. 

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

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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.

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The Complexities Of SJSU Basketball’s 2022 Recruiting Class

SJSU basketball’s 2022 recruiting class is a mix of misfortune and what-ifs.

The Complexities Of SJSU Basketball’s 2022 Recruiting Class

How SJSU’s 2022 recruiting class has impacted the 2023-24 season

Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

A mix of misfortune and what-ifs

Following San Jose State basketball’s 0-2 start in conference play, it’s easy to ponder a reality where it retained 2022-23 Mountain West Player of the Year Omari Moore through NIL deals. Although valid, perhaps those wonderments aren’t pointed in the right direction.

Instead of Moore, maybe fans should wonder how SJSU would be faring right now if it got more production out of its 2022 recruiting class. 

As SJSU (7-8, 0-2 MW) prepares to host No. 19 San Diego State (13-2, 2-0 MW) Tuesday night, only one player from that recruiting class – sophomore guard Garrett Anderson – will be seeing action. 

Which begs the question: How has that recruited class impacted SJSU’s 2023-24 season?

As it relates to the Spartans’ struggling front court, a sizable amount. Starting with power forward Max Allen who was one of five freshman from the 2022 class to depart from SJSU this offseason. 

Now at Marist University, Allen is averaging 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and boasts a player efficiency rating of 26.5. His numbers are currently better than SJSU power forwards in sophomore William Humer (4.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and a 12.8 player efficiency rating) and freshman Diogo “DJ” Seixas (3.9 points, 1.2 rebounds and a 11.8  player efficiency rating). 

Though Allen averaged just 1.3 points and 2 rebounds in eight games last year, could his size and scoring have prevented any of SJSU’s four late-game collapses – including the squandered 17-point lead to Wyoming and a nine-point second half lead to Boise State? 

But to say Allen’s situation and the five transfers renders the 2022 class a complete disappointment, is to ignore the gem SJSU found in junior power forward Robert Vaihola and the misfortune of his season-long absence due to a foot injury.

Following his freshman year in 2021-2022, Vaihola entered the transfer portal when Fresno State head coach Justin Hutson suggested he go the junior college route. 

The result? 

Vaihola transferred to SJSU, became the Mountain West leader in offensive rebounds (3 per game) and helped SJSU finish with the sixth-best rebounding margin nationwide. Surely, his presence would have prevented the Spartans from getting outrebounded 43-23 and outscored on second chance opportunities 20-5 against the Broncos last Friday night. For that matter, maybe his presence would’ve prevented SJSU from ranking ninth in points allowed per game (71.8) in the Mountain West this year after it ranked fourth (66.2) last year. 

In essence, Vaihola’s absence is the bad break SJSU just simply couldn’t afford. But unlike Vaihola, SJSU knew grad transfer Sage Tolbert wouldn’t return following the 2022-23 season. 

That’s the yin-and-ying of the transfer portal. SJSU received someone in Tolbert who was well-seasoned and ready to dominate but those virtues were a one-year solution to a year-after-year dilemma. Going the transfer portal route every year isn’t a bad option, but with SJSU’s invisible NIL presence it’s difficult to land someone of Tolbert’s pedigree.

Which leaves SJSU to rely on Humer, Seixas and Washington State sophomore transfer Adrame Diongue who committed to SJSU to be reunited with first-year assistant coach Ed Gipson. Among those three, Diongue is the only one with Division I experience, but that came in the form of 6.3 minutes per game last year. 

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Therein lies the conundrum plaguing SJSU. Diongue, Humer and Seixas are expected to replace production from Vaihola, Tolbert and center Ibrahima Diallo who transferred to Central Florida after two years at SJSU. Which means this year’s front court is experiencing their learning curve two years after junior guards Alvaro Cardenas and MJ Amey and senior wings Trey Anderson and Tibet Gorener experienced theirs. 

After experiencing the historic 2022-23 season, those four were hoping to maintain the momentum and finish in a relatively similar position. The media, meanwhile, thought SJSU wouldn’t crater back toward irrelevance. Hence the Spartans were picked to finish seventh in the 11-team Mountain West preseason poll.

But with timelines that aren’t aligning, that’s growing increasingly more difficult. That said, it’s not impossible. After all, there are16 conference games left – however – half of those games come against opponents in the top-35 of the NET. And that gauntlet for SJSU starts Tuesday night against SDSU (No. 21 in NET). Now, that’s not to say it’s impossible. There’s still time for Diongue, Humer and Seixas to improve. Plus, Anderson, a second rotation guard, can still leave an imprint so the 2022 class doesn’t leave the 2023-24 season without any impact.

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. 

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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

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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. 

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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.”

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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

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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. 

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Matt’s Monday Mailbag: New Year’s Resolutions For SJSU Football, Basketball

Matt Weiner weighs in on Spartan Nation’s New Year’s resolutions for SJSU football and MBB.

Matt’s Monday Mailbag: New Year’s resolutions for SJSU football and MBB

SJSU reporter Matt Weiner weighs in on fans New Year’s resolutions.

Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

A look into the future

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

Enough chit-chat. Let’s get into it.

Jason: @VANDT33 “7-9 wins, a bowl game and compete for a league title again.”

Nicolas Sarabia @sjrugby “Football- bowl eligible and WIN THE BOWL GAME”

New year’s resolution comparison: Someone who runs for an hour nearly every day saying they’re going to complete a half marathon.

This is achievable because it’s not a massive jump. SJSU has gone to three bowl games in the past four years and won seven games each of those seasons. But now it’s the time to take that next leap and win a bowl game.

That said, it’s no guarantee. SJSU’s offense will dole out a new starting quarterback, running back and four offensive lineman. In our hypothetical runner’s case, he’s been hampered by shin splints from time-to-time.

Jason: @VANDT33 “Football: Finish strong in recruiting. Find QB1 and establish the OL in Spring Ball.”

New Year’s resolution comparison: Being more patient with people.

It’s well-meaning and somewhat tangible, but it’s a case of not knowing until a moment arises.

SJSU may feel like its recruiting class is robust, projected starting quarterback senior Jay Butterfield can overcome his inexperience – he has 15 total pass attempts – and four of the new offensive line cogs will mesh. But there’s no real way of knowing until it’s time to line up.

In other words, one can consider themself more patient, but how will they react when someone rear ends them when they are hangry on a miserably cold day?

Jason: @VANDT33 “Basketball: Get [Robert] Vaihola healthy. Get experience for [Adrame] Diongue, [Latrell] Davis, [Diogo] Seixas and [Ricky] Mitchell. 20 wins in 2025.”

New Year’s comparison: A Silicon Valley tech startup doubling its profits in two years.

From the outset, this looks plausible, although it does hinge upon each player improving which is no guarantee.

But consider a scenario where freshman Latrell Davis plays well – like really well.

Does that mean he’ll be poached by a Power Five school like former Spartan center Ibrahima Diallo? This offseason, according to the SF Chronicle, Diallo “transferred to Central Florida this past June for $160,000 in NIL money.”

Similar to the tech startup, an employee’s individual economic desires can hinder the company’s long term vision.

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

Ricky Delgado @RickyDe70535587 “Basketball: get people in the stands. Biggest issue I can personally think of for the basketball program. The team itself is on the upswing and needs the support of the community/students and fans behind them. While we’re at it fix the sound system.”

New Year’s resolution comparison: Saying you’re going to “spend less time on your phone.” Admirable ambition, but lacks specificity. Could be changed to not vacuuming an hours-worth of YouTube Shorts before going to bed every night (not that I’ve ever done this).

As a way to specify this New Year’s resolution maybe it can be edited to “turning the student lounge into a frenzied student section.” For some background, SJSU’s freshly debuted student lounge features a Pop-A-Shot, cornhole, small standing section and an SJSU-themed standup backdrop for selfies and TikTok.

It’s well-intentioned and a better visual than deserted bleachers, but it doesn’t capture the essence of a student section: A hotspot for frenzied college kids to terrorize opponents. No better example than Arizona State’s “Curtain of Distraction” that has featured a speedo-clad Michael Phelps among countless other distracting acts.

Nicolas Sarabia @sjrugby “Basketball- hit that 3k fan average.”

New Year’s resolution comparison: The person who says they’ll finish one book a month. This, of course, is the same person who hasn’t read a book cover-to-cover since high school and considers reading the closed captioning for “Parasite” to be relatively close to finishing a novel.

This is just way too big of a jump. SJSU has averaged 1,702 people a game and its high was 2,135, but that number is slightly misleading because it occurred against crosstown rival Santa Clara.

The goal for this season should be to eclipse the 2,000 mark and hopefully hover around 2,500 heading into 2024.

Nicolas Sarabia @sjrugby “Make the postseason again.”

New Year’s resolution comparison: Someone continuing their New Year’s resolution from 2023 of eating three home-made meals a day five times a week. This person rarely cooked until January of 2023 but now enters 2024 with a new job that requires more time in the office.

When SJSU made the CBI in 2023 – program’s sixth postseason appearance of all time – it had the luxury of being guided by Omari Moore. But now that Moore’s in the pros, SJSU (7-6, 0-0) must finish .500 in an 18-game conference slate where 12 games come against teams with a higher NET ranking. This leaves little time for SJSU’s inexperienced front court to find its footing and an added pressure on Trey Anderson, a team–leader in three-point percentage (45.5%), to recover from a knee sprain.

So it’s a case of difficult but not impossible. There’s such a thing called ‘meal prep’ and SJSU’s upset over Santa Clara – No. 120 NET ranking – was another example of how point guard MJ Amey (team-leading 17 points and nine rebounds) is capable of becoming the game-changer SJSU needs.

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Mountain West Alumni In NBA Bubble

Ten Mountain West basketball alumni are inside the Disney World NBA bubble as the 22 teams are getting ready for the 2019-20 season to resume.

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Mountain West alumni in the NBA bubble

Five Mountain West schools will be represented as the NBA resumes

Contact/Follow @cisabelg & @MWCwire

The NBA is getting ready for a restart at the end of this month with the 22 teams that made it into the bubble in Florida. Among the players who made the trip are 10 Mountain West alumni representing five schools in eight NBA teams.

JaVale McGee – Los Angeles Lakers 
Nevada Wolf Pack (2006–2008)

Before the season was paused, McGee was proving to be a valuable asset for the Lakers, the team that currently sits at the top of the Western Conference with a 49-14 record. 

He’s played in 61 games this season. In the 16.8 minutes he is averaging, the 7’0 center is getting 6.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Before the pause, he was shooting at 64.0% from the field and 50.0% from beyond the arc.

McGee has asthma, and was even hospitalized with pneumonia for three days in 2018. However, he has made it known that he feels the organization will take the necessary precautions to keep him and others safe in the bubble.

 

Kawhi Leonard – Los Angeles Clippers
San Diego State Aztecs (2009–2011)

Leonard delayed his trip to Orlando due to family matters but he has arrived and participated in his first practice on July 13. 

He is eight overall in the league in scoring this season with an average of 26.9 points per game. He is also contributing 7.3 rebounds and 5 assists per game to his team. His talent is obvious, the main question is his health. Leonard is known for load management, and was struggling with an old knee injury when the NBA was suspended.

During media availability on July 13 head coach Doc Rivers said he didn’t expect limits on Leonard because “Kawhi is healthy, for the most part” but that they were still going to be smart about how they maintained him and the rest of the players to get to the playoffs with a healthy team.

Paul George – Los Angeles Clippers
Fresno State Bulldogs (2008–2010)

Like Leonard, George wasn’t fully healthy when the world of sports stopped turning. He was recovering from offseason surgery on both shoulders but the last four months have given that recovery some extra time.

George is the Clippers’ second highest scorer, contributing 21.0 points. 5.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.

The Clippers are No. 2 in the Western Conference standings, just below the Lakers, a team the Clippers have already beat twice this season. The two LA teams will face off on the first day of reopening. 

Brandon Clarke – Memphis Grizzlies
SJSU Spartans (2015–2017)

This is Clarke’s first season in the NBA. He has appeared in 50 games, averaging 12.0 points 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. The 6’8 power forward suffered a quadriceps injury late February, but the four-month break gave him time to recover so he can finish his rookie season on the court.

Memphis will reopen the season with a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on July 31. When the Grizzlies beat Portland on Feb. 12, Clarke tied his season-high 27 points by going 12-of-14 from the field. That wasn’t completely out of character because he has been shooting at 62.3% this season.

 

Zylan Cheatham New Orleans Pelicans
San Diego State Aztecs (2015–2017)

Cheatham went undrafted in 2019 but his participation with the Pelicans during Summer League that year helped him sign a two-way contract with the team.

The rookie has only appeared in three games for the Pelicans so far, but he’s had good experience with Erie, the Pelican’s G-League affiliate. In 34 appearances there he averaged 16.2 points and 11.6 rebounds. 

Patrick McCaw – Toronto Raptors 
UNLV Rebels (2014–2016)

McCaw has won three championship rings in his first three seasons in the NBA. He’ll continue chasing a fourth one alongside the Raptors, the team that has surprised the league by reaching second place in the Eastern Conference even without Kawhi Leonard.

McCaw has seen the court in 37 games this season, with an average of 4.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. The Raptors had all 17 roster members go into the bubble. The players and other members of the organization have been in Florida since June 22.

Paul Watson – Toronto Raptors
Fresno State Bulldogs (2013–2017)

Watson started the season with Raptors 905, Toronto’s G-League affiliate, averaging 18.4 points and 7.2 rebounds in 13 games. It took almost three years after graduating from Fresno State, but Watson finally made his NBA debut with the Atlanta Hawks early January thanks to a 10-day contract.

After he was released by the Hawks, Watson signed a two-way deal with Toronto on Jan. 15. 

Derrick Jones Jr.– Miami Heat
UNLV Rebels (2015–2016)

Jones tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after the NBA began mandatory testing in preparation for the resumption of the season. The 23-year-old never reported any symptoms and he was cleared in time to travel to Florida with the rest of his team.

Jones has played in 51 games this season, averaging 8.9 points and 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.

Tyler Johnson Brooklyn Nets
Fresno State  (2010–2014)

Johnson is new to the Nets. The 6’4 guard signed with the team late June, but he brought plenty of experience with him. He appeared in 31 games with the Phoenix Suns earlier this season, averaging 5.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 16.6 minutes per game.

He has registered a combined 301 career games with the Suns and the Miami Heat.

Khem Birch – Orlando Magic
UNLV (2012–2014)

Birch was re-signed by the Magic in 2019, a two-year deal. The 6’9 center is not a scorer, but he is a valuable role player. Head coach Steve Clifford asked the 27-year-old to go way outside his comfort zone this season. Injuries were affecting the team and as a result, Birch was asked to play as starting power forward. 

The NBA is beginning scrimmages on July 22, and the Magic will get a good look at where they are at by having their first game be against the Clippers.

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Boise State Looks to Extend Home Streak against Pesky Spartans

Boise State men’s basketball hosts San Jose State on Wednesday night at ExtraMile Arena. The game tips off at 7:00 PM Mountain.

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San Jose State at Boise State: Game Preview, TV, Radio, Live Stream, Odds, More

Both teams have already surpassed last year’s win totals

Contact/Follow @andrewdieckhoff & @MWCwire

Can the Spartans sneak up on the Broncos in Boise?

GAME DETAILS

WHO: San Jose State (7-14, 3-6 MWC) at Boise State (13-8, 5-4 MWC)

WHEN: Wednesday, January 29 — 7:00 P.M. MT / 6:00 P.M. PT

WHERE: ExtraMile Arena, Boise, ID

WATCH: Mountain West Network

LISTEN: TuneIn

ALL-TIME: Boise State leads the series, 32-3

ODDS: Boise State -16, per KenPom

GAME PREVIEW

Boise State returns to ExtraMile Arena on Wednesday night as they take on San Jose State. The Broncos have a chance to move into a third-place tie in the Mountain West, but these Spartans are not the same pushovers they were a year ago. The game tips off at 7:00 PM Mountain Time and will be shown on the Mountain West Network.

The Broncos (13-8, 5-4 MW) will be intent on extending a burgeoning winning streak, which so far features victories over Utah State and Fresno State on consecutive Saturdays. It may have taken a miracle for Boise State to escape with a win over the Aggies, but their defeat of the Bulldogs was as sound as they come. The Broncos coasted to a 34-point victory in Fresno four days ago.

The team has seemingly turned a corner in the second half of the season, thanks in part to the addition of transfer forward Abu Kigab. The former Oregon Duck is averaging 14.4 points per game and more than four rebounds nightly, having started in all eleven of his appearances since joining the active roster in December.

Kigab joins teammates Derrick Alston, Justinian Jessup, and RJ Williams as double-digit scorers. Alston, a 6’8” junior with pro potential, leads the charge with better than 19 points per game. The sharpshooting Jessup has regained his form after an early season slump, shooting 45% on three-pointers during conference play, and scores 15 points an outing.

Williams, in particular, has been a very important piece for the Broncos. He was thrust into the starting lineup at the start of this season after serving almost exclusively as a sixth man during his time on Leon Rice’s bench in 2018-19. Though he seemed somewhat miscast as the center, standing at just 6’7”, Williams responded by becoming one of the most tenacious defensive rebounders in the country. He has shown continued development with his offensive game, posting nearly 12 points per game.

The arrival of Kigab has allowed Williams to slide back into his old role—and the results have been enouraging.

And while this team has had its fair share of issues on the road, ExtraMile has been something of a safe haven for the Broncos.

All four of Boise State’s conference losses have come in enemy territory. In fairness, those games have been at The Pit, Viejas Arena, Lawlor Events Center, and Clune Arena. None of those venues are exactly welcoming. But the Broncos haven’t lost a home game since a November 15 upset at the hands of UC Irvine.

The Broncos will try to keep their eight-game home winning streak alive on Wednesday, but another Californian team could sneak up on them.

It may not be instantly obvious looking at the standings, but head coach Jean Prioleau has architected a quiet turnaround for San Jose State this season. Before judging this team solely on its 7-14 record, consider that the Spartans won just four games a year ago. They already have three victories in league play alone in 2019-20, including wins over Nevada and New Mexico.

The third member of that trio of wins came in their most recent contest, when they hosted Air Force. The Spartans prevailed 90-81 at home against the Falcons, with Seneca Knight turning in another 20-point performance.

It was the sophomore’s fifth such effort this season, and his fourth in the past five games. Knight is averaging nearly 18 points and seven rebounds in Mountain West games and will be at the center of Prioleau’s program for the foreseeable future.

For the program to find any sustained success, however, Knight needs more support from the cast of players around him.

Senior guard Brae Ivey has been a serviceable game manager in the backcourt, averaging nearly ten points and three assists, while playing solid defense (1.2 steals per game) and limiting his turnovers (1.5 per game). But Ivey isn’t best suited as the second option in this offense.

Ideally, that person would be Richard Washington, Jr. The JUCO sniper was brought over after a successful stint at Tallahassee CC and was thought to be the offensive weapon that Prioleau’s team needed behind Knight.

Unfortunately, the returns haven’t been exactly as hoped, with Washington struggling with his shot at the Division I level. The junior is shooting just 36% from the field, a number weighed down by a pedestrian 32% clip from beyond the arc.

Still, Washington has the talent to get hot on any given night. If he and Knight can coordinate their efforts, they could pose a serious threat for a Boise State team that would do well not to look past this matchup in advance of their date with Nevada on Saturday.

Andrew is a current USBWA member, covering college basketball for multiple outlets, including Mountain West Wire of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Busting Brackets of the FanSided Network. He also runs the Dieckhoff Power Index, a college basketball analytics system, and provides bracketology predictions throughout the season.

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Week 8 DPI Rankings: CSU hangs around, UNLV falls behind

Week 8 DPI Rankings: CSU hangs around, UNLV falls behind Off-court turmoil could cause a shake-up in the top half Contact/Follow @andrewdieckhoff & @MWCwire Happy Holidays from Mountain West Wire! Enjoy the yuletide with this week’s installment of …

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Week 8 DPI Rankings: CSU hangs around, UNLV falls behind

Off-court turmoil could cause a shake-up in the top half

Contact/Follow @andrewdieckhoff & @MWCwire

Happy Holidays from Mountain West Wire! Enjoy the yuletide with this week’s installment of the DPI rankings.

It seems almost impossible that it’s already the holiday season, but here we are. There have been nearly two months of hoops already and the non-conference season is just about over.

And while we think we may have clarity now, league play is a horse of a different color. Teams that are on cloud nine right now may come crashing back to earth. Others that have been struggling might finally shake the demons free from their backs.

But as we inch ever closer to the official onset of the Mountain West season, let’s take one last look at how all the teams stack up with just a few buy-games left on the league’s non-conference docket.

As always, for a full rundown of how the Dieckhoff Power Index, or DPI, is calculated, head over to my site. And bear in mind, non-Division I games do not count toward the DPI, so all those games against Life Pacific and Portland Bible go out the window. These ratings are current through December 23.

#1 — SAN DIEGO STATE

http://www.dpihoops.net/sdsuwk8.png

The Aztecs had nearly two weeks off between their nailbiter against San Jose State and their next game versus Utah. Clearly, they used this time to reflect and improve. SDSU ran the Utes out of the building just days after the former Mountain West squad beat Kentucky. The defense continues to be the star of the show, but this team can score, too.

#2 — UTAH STATE

The Aggies have been dancing on the knife’s edge over the past few weeks, but they’ve come out on the other side mostly unscathed. In their past four games, Utah State has won in overtime, won by four points, won by two points in overtime, and won by three points. But margins notwithstandings, wins over Florida and South Florida solidified their at-large case.

#3 — NEW MEXICO

Oh, no. Things were going a little too well for the Lobos, weren’t they? After an impressive start, New Mexico announced over the weekend that starters Carlton Bragg and JJ Caldwell would be suspended indefinitely. Paul Weir was able to corral the rest of the team together and they won again over lowly Houston Baptist, but adversity has descended upon Albuquerque.

#4 — NEVADA

The Wolf Pack are the prime candidate to take on third place in the league should the Lobos stumble during this tumultuous time. Their trio of is legitimately dangerous. They hung very tight with Saint Mary’s last week, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see them hang a big win over SDSU or Utah State this season. They’ve still got a lot of room to grow, though.

#5 — COLORADO STATE

You just can’t get rid of these Rams! Though they aren’t making many waves on the national scale, give them credit for sticking around the top half of the league for this long. Nico Carvacho is Nico Carvacho, and Isaiah Stevens has been a revelation in Niko Medved’s backcourt. Fellow freshman David Roddy started his first game in CSU’s 111-104 triple OT win over Tulsa.

#6 — BOISE STATE

Boise State has given a pretty good indication of where they are right now with their performance so far, both on the season as a whole and in the Diamond Head Classic. The Broncos lost to a wayward Georgia Tech club and then pummeled an up-and-down Portland team. They got a crummy Christmas gift, drawing a good UTEP team in their final game in Hawai’i.

#7 — FRESNO STATE

Because the DPI doesn’t count non-D1 games, the Bulldogs sit at just 3-8—yet they’ve managed to stay in seventh place, thanks to a slightly above-average defense. It was another heartbreaker for Justin Hutson on Monday, with Fresno State falling to San Francisco by just two points. That’s the sixth time the Bulldogs have either lost by one possession or lost in overtime.

#8 — AIR FORCE

The Falcons continue to struggle during this disappointing year, following up a narrow win over Denver with a loss to Drake. The offense has been good, but they haven’t been able to stop opponents from scoring. They rank near the bottom of the nation both in their ability to make teams miss and in their proclivity toward forcing turnovers.

#9 — UNLV

A rocky start to the season got worse at the start of the month with the news that grad transfer Elijah Mitrou-Long would miss six to eight weeks with a thumb injury. The Rebels are 1-2 without him, with losses to BYU and Pacific buoyed only by a forgettable triumph over Robert Morris. Fans may already be counting down the days until David Jenkins debuts in Vegas.

#10 — WYOMING

More of the same from the Cowboys, as Hunter Maldonado continues to pile up mounds of individual statistics while the team flounders. They did snap a six-game skid, though. To be clear, that’s not a knock on Maldonado. He has developed into a fine player; there’s just not enough talent throughout the roster. But their defensive metrics indicate that they’re putting forth the effort.

#11 — SAN JOSÉ STATE

Yeesh. The Spartans’ skid has extended to eight games after San Jose State fell to Santa Clara and UC Riverside last week. The shots just aren’t falling and they don’t take care of the ball. Seneca Knight is having a good year, but once again, the Spartans have separated themselves as the clear-cut lowest ranked team in the Mountain West.

That’s it for this week. Here’s wishing you all a safe and happy holiday from Mountain West Wire and the DPI.

But buckle up. Conference play starts next week.

Andrew is a current USBWA member, covering college basketball for multiple outlets, including Mountain West Wire of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Busting Brackets of the FanSided Network. He also runs the Dieckhoff Power Index, a college basketball analytics system, and provides bracketology predictions throughout the season.

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