Retooled UCSD gets another blow against the Aztecs after nearly beating them last year – San Diego Union-Tribune

Fans of both schools won't soon forget San Diego State University's visit to LionTree Arena last December to face UC San Diego in men's basketball.

The full house. The Tritons' lead was 14 points within seven minutes. The Aztecs' furious comeback, fueled by Lamont Butler. Jaedon LeDee's stunning success after a missed 3 led to a 63-62 victory.

The relief. The desperation. The drama.

But the players? Forgive them if they don't carry the memories – or any memories – with them into Wednesday night's rematch at Viejas Arena in the season opener for both teams and the Tritons' opening game as a full Division I member of the Big West and the NCAA is qualified tournaments.

UCSD will only use two players who played in that game: point guard Hayden Gray and winger Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones. SDSU has one, second-year forward Miles Heide, and he was on the bench for 13 minutes.

“It's just so different, and I think that's more of a representation of college basketball than anything else,” Tritons coach Eric Olen said. “I know every coach says every year is different, but these days they are completely different. It’s the same two programs running next year and we have two players that played in the game and they have one?”

Division II transfer Tyler McGhie became eligible a few weeks later, giving Olen a third key returnee from a 20-win team that played in the CBI postseason tournament, more than most programs in this dizzying era freedom of movement with financial temptations. Still, he has seven new additions, several of whom are expected to play significant roles.

SDSU has eight and an entirely new starting lineup.

“I don’t know if it will be the same because they lost a lot of guys, we lost a lot of guys,” said SDSU guard Miles Byrd, who didn’t play last year. “But the competitive nature will continue. …You know what these crosstown rivalry games are all about. Everyone will come and try to prove something.”

Aside from the new faces, the Tritons will have a different look. They're not that tall, with only one player taller than 6'3″ (and he scored 11 points all of last season) and they're not as athletic up front. But they have more shooters and a larger scope, with a range of interchangeable parts between 6-4 and 6-6.

“A versatile, smart team,” Olen calls it, “(with) the potential to have a slightly higher ceiling than last year.”

Gone is leading scorer (18.3 points) Bryce Pope, who moved from the All-Big West first team to USC's bench in his final year of play. Also gone is 6-7, 220-pound forward Francis Nwaokorie (11.3 points, 5.5 rebounds), who transferred to Loyola Chicago.

McGhie is the leading returning scorer with 13.9 points per game. Tait-Jones, the Big West's Newcomer of the Year and a preseason all-conference selection, averaged 13.8. Gray had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists (and no turnovers) in the near-win against the Aztecs.

Torrey Pines High graduate Chris Howell, whose older brother Mikey played at UCSD and is now on the coaching staff, transferred from Saint Mary's after averaging 10.1 minutes per game off the bench for the Gaels. Justin Rochelin was from Oregon State. Nordin Kapic is a 6-8, 245-pound Austrian forward who averaged 19.3 points and 9.2 rebounds for Division II Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, giving them five Division II transfers on the roster .

“Last year at their home game they had some shots that didn't go in,” said SDSU coach Brian Dutcher, who agreed to the rematch, but as a one-time game at Viejas Arena with no return date at LionTree. “We just persevered, persevered and found a way to win in the end. But they are capable. They were one of the better teams in their league last year, and from what I saw on tape, they have a chance to be better than they were a year ago.

“This is encouraging for UCSD and will be a great challenge for us.”

The Big West coaches agreed and picked the Tritons to finish third in the preseason poll, not wanting to make the same mistake as last year when UCSD was picked ninth and finished second.

“When your program progresses, that’s the natural progression,” said Olen, the Big West coach of the year. “We are excited about the expectations. We already have high standards for ourselves, so it's not a bad thing to have a little outside recognition. For me it's a good thing. It just shows the growth of the program and that we're on the right track.

“We would rather be selected high than low.”

Originally published: November 4, 2024 at 5:19 pm PST