GETTING INSIDE
Experienced teams like San Diego expect to hang on to leads and win close games, but the Toreros have done neither, blowing leads on consecutive nights in losses to Southern Illinois and South Florida in Las Vegas on Dec. 19 and 20.
The momentum and confidence built from the 4-1 start has disintegrated in a series of frustrating losses that leave the Toreros with defeats in seven of their last eight games as of Dec. 28, and leave them questioning their ability to perform when the game is on the line.
The 70-68 loss to Southern Illinois is the kind that can demoralize a team for quite awhile. The Toreros played well for most of the game and had a significant victory in their grasp when they took an 11-point lead with 3:43 left.
But San Diego’s offense fell apart down the stretch, as the Salukis outscored the Toreros 15-0 the rest of the game.
Not having De’Jon Jackson for the second half because of an injury did not help, but the Toreros should have enough experience to overcome such a loss.
San Diego starts four seniors and a junior, but the Toreros could not settle down when the game started getting away from them.
The Toreros’ collapse in their 69-60 loss to South Florida the next night was not quite as severe, but San Diego held an eight-point lead with under 16 minutes left and watched it disappear in a 15-1 run by the Bulls.
“Right now, we’re getting a little too satisfied when we get a lead, and we’ve had letdowns,” guard Devin Ginty told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “The positive thing is that it is still (before conference play) and hopefully we can learn from it and not do the same things when we get into league.”
The Toreros obviously have enough talent to compete in the West Coast Conference, and if they can prevent their offense from falling apart in the late stages of a game, they have the ability to finish near the top of the standings.
San Diego does not have a lot of offensive weapons, so it needs to execute well to be productive, and the execution has deserted the Toreros when it matters most.
With the leadership of experienced backcourt players Jackson and Brandon Johnson, that should not happen.
NOTES, QUOTES
• San Diego was 1-5 in games decided by four points or fewer, or in overtime, and that does not include the nine-point loss to South Florida, in which the Toreros led by eight points in the second half.
• The Toreros did not make a field goal in the final 7:27 of their game against Southern Illinois, and they made only 4-for-24 shots in the second half.
• San Diego and Southern Illinois were tied when San Diego was holding the ball for the last shot. But Patrick McCollum’s shot with four seconds left missed, and the Toreros’ Clinton Houston was called for a rebounding foul on the play with 2.5 seconds remaining. Southern Illinois’ Carlton Fay hit both free throws for the winning points.
January At A Glance: De’Jon Jackson’s turf toe is a tricky injury that could continue to plague him for much of the season. The Toreros need him in the lineup to be effective, and he should be ready to play the final two games in December and the start of conference play. The Toreros have a chance to end their slide with home games against Savannah State on Dec. 29 and Florida A&M on Jan. 3, and they even have the ability to win the game sandwiched in between those two—a Dec. 31 home game against Mississippi State. Although they are only 2-2 at home, the Toreros have played pretty well on their home court, losing close games to San Diego State and New Mexico. The three games give San Diego an excellent opportunity to regain some self-esteem heading into conference play.
Quote To Note: “We played so well for so many long stretches of the game, then we just had mental breakdowns.”—Coach Bill Grier, to the San Diego Union-Tribune, after San Diego’s Dec. 19 loss to Southern Illinois.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Season Recap: The 4-1 start that included impressive victories over Stanford, Oklahoma and Houston has been negated by the Toreros losing seven of their next eight games. What makes it worse is that the Toreros had a chance to win most of those games, but they were unable to produce the big points at crunch time. Losing to Southern Illinois after leading by 11 with under four minutes left on Dec. 19 was particularly deflating. The Toreros executed well down the stretch early in the season, but have not done so through much of December.
Player Rotation: Usual Starters—G Brandon Johnson, G De’Jon Jackson, F Chris Lewis, F Roberto Mafra, G Matt Dorr. Key Subs—F Chris Houston, G Patrick McCollum, G Devin Ginty.
Game Review:
San Diego 59, Boise State 56
Southern Illinois 70, San Diego 68
South Florida 69, San Diego 60
Game Preview:
vs. Savannah State, Tuesday, Dec. 29
vs. Mississippi State, Thursday, Dec. 31
vs. Florida A&M, Sunday, Jan. 3
at Santa Clara, Friday, Jan. 8
at San Francisco, Sunday, Jan. 10
In Focus: Mississippi State will be riding an eight-game winning streak when it plays San Diego on Dec. 31, but the game is in San Diego and the Toreros are capable of staying with the Bulldogs if they execute. The Toreros will have trouble dealing with 6-foot-7 G Ravern Johnson, and shot-blocking expert Jarvis Vardado will make things difficult for San Diego to get anything going inside. San Diego beat Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., last year, which began a six-game winning streak. Pulling off another such victory could start another run of success.
Roster Report:
• Senior G De’Jon Jackson left in the first half of the Dec. 19 game against Southern Illinois when he aggravated a turf-toe injury. He also missed the game against South Florida the next night, and his absence hurt the Toreros in the second half of both games. He is expected to play in the Dec. 29 game against Savannah State, but the effects of a turf-toe injury can linger.
• G Devin Ginty had a season-high 13 points and a season-high six rebounds in the loss to South Florida.
• Freshmen Patrick McCollum and Cameron Miles got more playing time in the loss to South Florida because of the absence of Jackson, but they combined to go 1-for-6 from the field with two rebounds, two assists and three turnovers.
