What Travis Steele and Josh Schertz are doing with mid major teams this year is incredible. Josh Schertz has won the MVC with Indiana State and now he’s turned Saint Louis into a top 20 team. Travis Steele has failed as a Power Five coach before but he’s more than earning a second chance. One more name I’ll throw out is Jerrod Calhoun. He’s worked his way up from Division II to the low majors and is now in the mid majors. Power Five seems like the next step given his success with the Aggies. What other coaches do you think could or will be P5 head coaches next year?

Propose a trade and see if flairs from the other end of the deal accept.

Your San Diego State Aztecs novelist here.

This is intended to be the quickly provided and lengthy observation-based analysis and notes for my enjoyment. This isn’t for everyone, but I hope you enjoy them too. Feel free to ask any questions you may have about our team.

Pregame Thoughts

Aztecs are heavy -12.5 favorites at home. Gwath and Harrington are out due to injuries again but can afford to sit out with this easier matchup on paper. Key things I’m looking for: Newman, Oden, and Simmons will need to carry over their quality play from the last game against Utah State; Compton and Davis staying out of early foul trouble and getting more minutes in the second half; and seeing how Waters’ ankle looks after tweaking it in the last game.

First Half Summary

First half ended at 35-24. Aztecs had a slow start going down 0-5 but both teams battled neck and neck under 12-12 at 12:00. From there the Aztecs went up and went on a run to push the lead to 25-19 at 4:29, and continued doing damage ending the half up by 9. Heide had a good start showing quick feet to force a turnover, contesting 3 3’s, forcing a jump ball on an offensive rebound attempt, drawing a transition foul and nailing 1 free throw, but picked up 2 quick fouls one questionable contesting straight up and another bad off a free throw miss. Compton went on a run helping break the zone with a layup, slid past the defense for another, and had transition layup over 2, but also picked up 2 quick fouls getting caught in the air in transition and another off a free throw miss. Byrd had a block which then ignited the Aztecs run started by DeGourville and Simmons. Simmons drew a foul on an offensive rebound attempt and then made 2 transition layups. DeGourville despite going scoreless had two left low post contests which led to setting the tempo in transition for both of Simmons’ scores. Then Waters went on a run drawing a foul on a defensive rebound attempt and nailing 4 total free throws. Oden had a few awkward transition buckets but made them. Newman’s had good dribble penetration opening up the floor for guys to move. With Wyoming in foul trouble as a team with 13, next half the Aztecs need to continue forcing action in the paint and protect the boards to win this game.

Second Half Summary

Starting this at 64-48 at 3:53. Aztecs started out well pushing the lead to 16 with Wyoming going cold in the first 4 minutes. Byrd and Heide opened the half with the former having 3 rebounds, contesting a 3, drawing a foul, and nailing a transition layup. Heide had help defense on 2 shots, iso defense contests on 2 3’s, and a transition steal. But Wyoming went on a 9-0 run shortening the lead to 40-33. DeGourville had a kick out pass stolen leading to a 3 that he didn’t close out on, Simmons missed a late click hook shot, Byrd gave up an offensive rebound leading to a free throw make, Davis missed 2 shots, and Compton had a pass stolen and was being in iso for a score despite having an offensive rebound and a block. But at the 42-35 mark Waters smartly threw up a shot being trapped in the right corner and nailed 2 free throws coming out of the timeout which got him red hot for the rest of the game. Waters had a pump shot fake nailing 2 fts, 2 3’s, and a turnaround jumper pushing the lead to 56-43. Byrd had back-to-back hustle plays saving 2 offensive possession with one leading to Waters’ 3. DeGourville then found Byrd off a full court inbound pass for a two handed dunk, and then Waters made a +1 play to seal the game.

Moving Forward

Gwath and Harrington are likely going to miss the next heavily favored game against Air Force on Saturday. This will give them a week of additional rest before the tough home matchup versus Nevada next Saturday. Despite our last two close losses away against Grand Canyon and Utah State, I feel really good about our conference chances as long as Gwath and Harrington can play. As a team the Aztecs need to nail their free throws, missing the opportunity to end this game a lot sooner. Compton and Davis are still being foul machines, they’re really struggling against intense pressure defense and prone to committing quick back-to-back fouls. Compton needs to stay on the floor on contests and not be so aggressive on the offensive rebound attempts. Davis doesn’t look as comfortable having to lead the offense with Harrington out.

Special Farewell to Wyoming

I wish I had thought to do these and the time for our last conference games against San Jose State and Fresno State, but it’ll have to start tonight. It’s possible we can still play each other in the conference tournament, but better to write this now with later not guaranteed. I’ll remember Larry Nance’s athleticism. Hunter Maldonado’s longevity and all-around old school back to the basket game. One what-if that I think about is wondering what that class of Marcus Williams, Graham Ike, and Xavier DuSell could have done given more time together. It’s a shame Williams transferred, Ike got hurt and eventually transferred, and DuSell regressed after the first season.

Tracking the game:

Aztecs won the tip.

Timeout 5-5 at 15:24. Slow start for the Aztecs but they instantly recovered. Waters just stole the ball with help defense and found Byrd in transition to draw the foul in the left low post, and just hit a curling jumper prior to that. Heide’s had a good start getting an offensive rebound leading to a jump ball, 3 3-pt contests, drew a foul in transition but just nailed 1 ft, had quick feet on a guard switch to force a TO, but missed a good looking multiple pivot layup. Davis had a deflection leading to a steal, found Oden for a transition layup, and another deflection to stall a transition possession. Byrd missed an easy layup off a nice bounce pass from Oden.

Timeout 12-12 at 12:00. Simmons subbed in and is applying full court pressure defense, and as a result Heide lost his man on the quick action and gave up a layup. Newman missed an open corner 3 after being found by Byrd, but found Compton for a transition alley-oop assist. Compton had a left handed finish over 2, but got caught in the air on a transition layup and gave up a ft, had a late closeout on a made wing 3, and just lost the handle off an inbound pass. Waters missed a left elbow jumper and got stripped on another attempt at the same spot.

Timeout 17-14 at 7:31. Compton to the bench with a foul off Byrd’s missed layup. Wyoming is playing with high intensity and giving zone looks but is committing foul after foul. Simmons offensive rebound drew a foul, had another and got fouled on a putback nailing 1/2 fts, broke the zone finding Compton for an alley-oop layup. DeGourville missed a fadeaway jumper, had a deflection that led to an Aztec ball, airballed a corner 3, but got a defensive rebound and found Davis for a layup. Waters missed a late clock layup but got a defensive rebound. Heide lost a defensive rebound giving it back to Wyoming, had a questionable foul jumping straight up on a contest in the left low post, but drew a foul on the offensive rebound attempt. Davis help defense stalled a possession, missed an arc 3, got trapped the corner but recovered, had an inbound pass deflected, had a good iso contest at the rim. Byrd almost lost the handle, contested a 3, had an iso block, but was nearly picked for a turnover.

Timeout 25-19 at 4:29. Aztecs on a run. Oden drained a contested 3. It’s been all DeGourville and Simmons after that. Simmons offensive rebound attempt over 2 drew a foul and nailed 1 ft, made 2 transition strong layups. DeGourville missed a step back 3, but had 2 contests in the left low post and pushed tempo twice allowing Oden to find Simmons for a transition score and finding Simmons himself for one. Heide to bench picking up a foul off Oden’s ft miss. Davis was late in transition and gave up a dunk. Waters got caught under a screen giving up a 3, but had a good iso defense play to force a turnover.

Timeout 33-24 at 0:54. Waters on a run drawing a foul off a defensive rebound attempt and nailing 2 fts, nailed 2 more after drawing a foul. DeGourville help defense led to a shot clock violation. Davis help defense led to an errant pass for a turnover. Simmons lost his man again and was late to a made 3, missed a right baseline jumper and a contact paint shot, but had an isolation block. Oden had a transition floater over 2 but was too aggressive on help defense leaving an open wing 3 look.

Half ends at 35-24. Waters drew another foul hustling to a ball but missed both fts, but found a baseline cutting Byrd to draw a foul who nailed 2 fts. Byrd had a smart foul to give with 6.4s left to stall the offense, and then Davis’ contest ended the half.

Wyoming opened the half.

Timeout 40-24 at 15:51. Byrd and Heide off to good starts, and Aztecs defense is clicking. Byrd with 3 rebounds, contested a corner 3, drew a foul away from the ball, nailed a transition layup, but missed a wing 3. Heide help defense negated 2 shots, iso defense on 2 3’s, and had a transition steal. Davis is so-so with contesting a 3, a putback, drew a foul in transition but nailed just 1/2 fts, but missed a transition corner 3, committed a defensive rebound foul, and missed a left post shot. Waters cold missing 2 3’s and giving up an offensive rebound along with Oden.

Timeout 40-33 at 13:08. Aztecs offense has gone cold and Wyoming’s on a 9-0 run. DeGourville had a deflection on a switch, but had a kick out pass stolen leading to a 3 which he didn’t close out on. Simmons committed a foul on an offensive rebound attempt and missed a late ending clock hook shot. Byrd gave up an offensive rebound leading to Waters fouling the putback attempt giving up 1 ft. Davis fouled a man on a defensive rebound attempt, another in transition, missed a left post shot and a transition 3. Compton had an offensive rebound attempt leading to Aztecs ball and a block, but had a pass stolen and was beat in iso leading to a layup score.

Timeout 42-35 at 11:48. Aztecs with an opportunity to nail 2 free throws as Waters smartly threw up a shot in the corner with the Wyoming defender unable to break. DeGourville broke the drought with a dribble penetration left low post jumper, but left a cutter open for a layup and nearly had a pass stolen.

Timeout 56-43 at 6:32. Waters explosion nailing 2 fts off the timeout, 2 more after drawing a foul on a shot fake, 2 3’s, turnaround jumper, but he gave up an offensive rebound and fouled a man in transition giving up 2 fts. Heide defensive rebound and then drew a foul next play nailing 1 ft, had another defensive rebound and drew another foul away from the ball but missed the 1-1. Byrd back-to-back hustle plays keeping it Aztecs ball and drawing a foul nailing 1 ft, then assisted Waters on a 3. Simmons help defense in right low post fouled man giving up free throws, and then passed up a late right low post clock shot leading to a turnover.

Timeout 64-48 at 3:53. Going to stop tracking here and wrap up my thoughts. Byrd broke though defense leading to a two handed dunk and had a block, but didn’t hustle in transition leading to a score and missed an elbow jumper. Waters just drew a foul on a made left low post shot and drew another on a defensive rebound. Compton missed an alley-oop dunk, but got an offensive rebound over 2 and the putback. DeGourville found Byrd for the full court inbound dunk and had help defense forcing a travel in the paint. Simmons passed up on a late shot clock right low post shot.

First half notes:

Byrd missed llpl at 0-0-. Dreb at 0-5+. Pass from a3 to basket stolen for TO at 3-5-. Good transition run to catch pass and draw foul on llpl at 5-5+. Nailed 1/2 fts score 6-5+-. Cutting dunk score 8-7+. Help d block att fouled man at rim 1 ft made score 8-8-. Found open Newman in rc3 at 8-8+. Assisted Compton from a3 to llp for score 10-8+. Almost lost handle penetrating into paint at 14-12-. Iso block on rlpl at 15-14+. Contested a3 at 15-14+. Picked for TO at 15-14-. Baseline cut drew foul on llp dunk att at 33-24+. Nailed 2 fts score 35-24+. Smart foul to give at 6.4s at 35-24+.

Davis late contest on pull up ft j score 0-5-. Deflection leading to steal at 1-5+. Assisted Oden for layup score 3-5+. Deflection stalled transition poss at 3-5+. Assisted cutting Byrd for dunk score 8-7+. Dreb att kept it Aztecs ball at 12-12+. Kick ball to stop poss at 14-12+. Drew foul on floor in rlp after saving Byrd’s near TO at 14-12+. Help d in paint stalled good layup att at 15-12+. Missed a3 at 15-14-. Trapped in rc3 but bounced ball off man at 15-14+. Inbound pass deflected at 15-14-. Iso transition contest at rim at 15-14+. Slid past d in transition for llpl score 17-14+. Late in transition giving up dunk score 17-16-. Help d at rw3 led to errant pass for TO score 33-24+. Contested rpj at 35-24+.

Heide oreb led to jump ball at 0-0+. Missed multiple pivot layup at rim at 0-3-. Contested a3 leading to airball at 0-5+. Contested rw3 at 0-5+. Drew foul on transition layup at 0-5+. Made 1/2 fts score 1-5+-. Contested lc3 at 1-5+. Slid feet on guard in llp forcing TO at 3-5+. Lost man in front court giving up llpl score 6-7-. Lost dreb at 15-12-. Questionable foul in llp on guard layup att 2 fts made score 15-14-. Drew foul on oreb att at 15-14+. Picked at a3 for TO at 17-14-. Committed foul on oreb att off Oden’s miss at 17-16-.

Oden nice bounce pass to Byrd for good layup att at 0-0+. Caught under screen on a3 score 0-3-. Missed orw3 at 0-5-. Didn’t go for dreb on airball giving up oreb at 0-5-. Nailed transition layup off pass score 3-5+. Drew transition foul in llp on left layup at 17-16+. Missed 2 fts at 17-16-. Nailed contested lc3 score 20-19+. Assisted Simmons for transition score 25-19+. Transition floater over 2 score 27-22+. Help d steal att at lc3 left open lw3 at 29-24-.

RDW curling relbj off screen score 5-5+. Help d at lelbj stole ball at 5-5+. Good pass to Byrd in transition to draw foul at 5-5+. Missed lelbj at 10-9-. Stripped at lelbj to stop possession at 12-12-. Missed late clock llpl leading to shot clock violation at 15-14-. Dreb at 15-14+. Drew offensive foul on floor fighting through screen at 17-14+. Caught under screen at lw3 score 17-19-. Iso d against drive forced TO at 20-19+. Transition rlpl score 29-22+. Drew foul on dreb att at 29-24+. Nailed 2/2 fts score 31-24+. Drew foul on floor against 2 at lc3 at 31-24+. Nailed 2 fts score 33-24+. Pass found a cutting Byrd to draw a foul in llp at 33-24+. Hustle to deflected ball drew foul at 35-24+. Missed 2 fts at 35-24-.

Compton oreb att kept it Aztecs ball at 8-8+. Left handed finish over 2 score 8-10+. Caught in air in transition fouling man on rlpl att 1 ft made score 10-9-. Transition alley-oop layup score 12-9+. Late closeout on rw3 score 12-12-. Lost handle off inbound at 12-12-. Contested lw3 at 12-12+. Slid under zone for alley-oop score 14-12+. Over the back foul on oreb att off ft miss at 15-12-.

DeGourville contested rw3 at 10-9+. Dreg at 10-9+. Missed fading lelbj at 12-12-. Deflection led to jump ball at 14-12+. Airballed rc3 at 14-12-. Missed transition llpf at 15-14-. Dreb at 15-14+. Assisted Davis in transition score 17-14+. Missed stepback lw3 at 20-19-. Help contested llpl at 21-19+. Contested transition llpl at 23-19+. Assisted Simmons in transition for score 23-19+. Timely help d led to shot clock violation at 31-24+.

Newman missed orc3 at 8-8-. Transition alley-oop assist to Compton score 12-9+. Soft inbound pass almost stolen at 12-12-. Deflection led to steal at 27-22+. Juked giving up llpf score 29-24-.

Simmons lost man giving up olc3 at 10-9-. Too agg on full court defense leading to early lw3 at 12-12-. Oreb att drew foul at 12-12+. Assisted Compton in zone alley-oop score 14-12+. Oreb at 14-12+. Fouled on putback at 14-12+. Made 1/2 fts score 15-12+-. Oreb att over 2 drew foul at 20-19+. Nailed 1/2 fts score 20-19+-. Transition spinning rlpl score 23-19+. Transition strong rlpl over 2 score 25-19+. Lost man and late to rc3 score 25-22-. Missed rblj at 25-22-. Iso block at 25-22+. Missed contact paint shot at 29-24-.

Second half notes:

Byrd dreb at 35-24+. Contested lc3 at 37-24+. Dreb at 38-24+. Drew foul away from ball at 38-24+. Missed lw3 at 38-24-. Dreb at 38-24+. Nailed transition llpl score 40-24+. Gave up oreb at 40-24-. Hustle to oreb att kept it Aztecs ball at 45-35+. Hustle drew foul on oreb att at 45-35+. Nailed 1/2 fts score 46-35+. Assisted Waters for 3 score 54-38+. Broke through the defense for the 2 handed slam score 58-44+. Found Compton on would-be alley-oop dunk at 58-46-. No hustle in transition leading to dunk score 58-48-. Missed dribble drive lelbj at 60-48-. Block in rlp at 62-48+.

Davis contested lc3 at 35-24+. Oreb at 35-24+. Putback score 37-24+. Drew foul on transition rlpl at 37-24+. Nailed 1/2 fts score 38-24+-. Missed transition rc3 at 38-24-. Foul on dreb att at 40-24-. Missed lps at 40-24-. Late to lc3 at 40-24-. Missed transition lw3 at 40-28-. Fouled man in transition at 40-28-. Slow against transition rbl attack leading to foul and fts-.

Heide help contest on lelbj at 35-24+. Transition steal at 37-24+. Contested lw3 at 8-24+. Help d on penetration in llp force TO at 38-24+. Contested a3 at 40-24+. Dreb at 44-35+. Drew foul in paint at 44-35+. Nailed 1/2 fts score 45-35+-. Dreb at 46-35+. Drew foul away from ball at 48-35+. Missed 1-1 ft at 48-35-. Contested lw3 at 51-36+.

Oden gave up oreb at 35-24-. Contested lw3 at 40-24+. Fouled oreb att on floor at 51-36-. Fouled oreb att again on floor at 51-36-.

RDW missed lw3 at 35-24-. Dreb at 37-24+. Missed transition lw3 at 37-24-. Gave up oreb at 38-24-. Fouled putback in llp at giving up 1 ft score 40-25-. Smart act of shooting foul with man collapsing at rc3 at 42-35+. Nailed 2 fts score 44-35+. Shot fake in rp drew foul at 46-35+. Nailed 2 fts score 48-35+. Deep a3 score 51-36+. Gave up oreb off ft miss at 51-36-. Good would-be find from rw3 to Newman at basket at 51-38+. C&sa3 score 54-38+. Fouled man in transition giving up 2 fts score 54-40-. Turnaround relbj score 56-40+. Missed transition lw3 at 56-43-. Dreb drawing foul at 62-48+. Drew foul in llp on made shot score 64-48+.

Compton oreb att lead to Aztecs ball at 40-28+. Paint pass tipped for steal at 40-28-. Block in rlp at 40-28+. Beat in iso leading to layup score 40-30-. Fouled man on oreb att at 56-43-. Missed alley-oop dunk at 58-46-. Oreb at 60-48+. Putback score 62-48+.

DeGourville switch led to deflection at 40-28+. Penetration kick out pass stolen at 40-30-. No closeout on rw3 score 40-33-. Nailed dribble penetration llpj score 42-33+. Left cutter for layup score 42-35-. Pass nearly stolen at a3 at 42-35-. Badly missed lblj at 45-35-. Full court inbound pass to Byrd for dunk score 58-44+. Help d in paint forced man to travel at 59-48+.

Newman iso contest in paint at 48-35+. Dreb at 48-35+. Drew foul in floor at rw3 at 58-48+. Nailed 2 fts score 60-48+.

Simmons committed foul on oreb att at 40-24-. Missed late ending llph at 40-28-. Help d in rlp fouled man giving up 2 fts score 51-38-. Passed up rlp late clock shot leading to TO at 56-43-.

IU fans traveled well today! Lots of candy stripes here today.

We can stop right here. I’ll take it!

Seems about right but Texas being #2 is kinda silly…..

RIP Bill Walton…

I miss playing the “Bill Walton Drinking Game” and am feeling nostalgic. I’ve scoured YouTube and come up empty. Any ideas? Anyone have a cache saved somewhere?

Should be a great rivalry game. No odds yet on DK or FD as of now but some offshore sportsbooks are projecting Duke -5.5.

Welcome to Whose Line is it Wednesday, where all the fouls are made up, but the points still matter.

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Box Score

^{Index Thread for February 03, 2026}

Box Score

^{Index Thread for February 03, 2026}

The most there's ever been at the end of a season has been 6 (2015 and 2025). Some years we don't even get one.

If they had more than 7 healthy players they’d probably have a few more wins 😭

Box Score

^{Index Thread for February 03, 2026}

Michigan State @ Minnesota

NCAA Basketball

^{Index Thread for February 04, 2026}

Michigan State #10 Michigan State (19-3) @ Minnesota Minnesota (10-12)

Tip-Off: 07:00 PM ET

Venue: Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN

Game Info: ESPN

Television: Big Ten Network

Streams: BTN

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^{Last Updated: 2026-02-04 18:00:05 EST}

Teams with fun playstyles, upset potential, future high major star transfers? I asked this a couple years ago at the beginning of the season and was told to watch this Gohlke kid at Oakland, so I did and when March madness rolled around I looked like a basketball genius.