“The Student Section Supports” highlights one game each weekend that is under the national radar and/or has high upset potential. This week we’re looking at a game that I only wish was available to me on television. San Diego State could really use a big win in conference, and there’s no better team to steal a game from than the Cougars. These were the top two vote-getters in the preseason MWC poll.
When: Saturday, 10 ET.
BYU (19-1). Need to know: Brigham Young is more than a 19-1 team from a borderline-major conference. This group is extremely good. Final Four good. Yep. That’s no hyperbole. Still undefeated in the Mountain West, BYU enters its toughest back-to-back proposition on the schedule this season; it has a road game against New Mexico on Wednesday. Also on the line: the 14-game winning streak, which is second-best in college to Kentucky’s 18-gamer. A win Saturday would tie the 1987-88 team for the best start in program history.
Could win because … They go with a three-guard approach that hasn’t been anything but everything head coach Dave Rose could have hoped for. And they shoot well consistently. They’ve gone better than 50 percent in a game 10 times already. Although Jimmer Fredette is the only name that’s somewhat known on this team nationally, the Cougars have plenty of legitimate options. Jonathan Tavernari, with 232 3-pointers, is the all-time leader in BYU history — AND HE’S A BENCH PLAYER. This isn’t a classic-looking Cougars team in that they can bully you around the rim, but Chris Miles can lay lumber if needed.
SAN DIEGO STATE (14-5). Need to know: The Aztecs need to play this game in desperation mode, even though it’s only the sixth game of the MWC season. They’re 3-2 and have to keep up with UNLV and New Mexico to earn the right to be bubble-worthy. The Aztecs lost one too many of these kinds of games last year, which cost them a Tourney berth. The big issue: team doesn’t even crack the 60-percent mark at the foul line.
Could win because … They’re winning close games, and they already have proven they can beat the Mountain West’s other high-quality team, New Mexico. Malcolm Thomas is a guy who can find the spot on the floor he needs to shoot the ball well. For someone listed at 6-7, 215 pounds, shooting at a 58 percent clip is very impressive. Thomas will likely have to play mid-range to avoid getting plucked out on the perimeter by the BYU guards or hitting a wall too close to the hoop.
Huge Cougars fan here.
This game is HUGE. Pomeroy’s calculations doesn’t think it will be as close as it really will be, but this is a big test for BYU. SDSU hasn’t lost at home yet, but when the game is on the wire, you’re looking at the 3rd best FT shooting team in the nation vs. the 4th WORST FT shooting team: 77% to 58%. Some people may not think it means much, but it will, especially if the Cougs will attack the basket a lot and turn it into a FT shooting contest. They will need Jimmer to play up. It’s time for that mono to die off.
Go Cougs.
Haha, yes. The mono must go.
I’m really pissed I won’t get to see this one, Seven.