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San Diego State Aztecs (2001: 14-14)

The following team preview is provided by Blue Ribbon. For the nation's most comprehensive look at this and all Division I teams, be sure to order the 2001-02 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, on sale now at 1-800-775-2518.

The word around San Diego State last year was that two red-shirts were teaming with three walk-ons and regularly beating the Aztec starting five in team scrimmages.

That may say something about the lack of overall talent at SDSU last year, or it might tell you how good these red-shirts are who will be eligible to play for the Aztecs this year.

Tony Bland, a two-year starter at Syracuse and Brandon Smith, a former starter at Michigan, will be joining an experienced Aztec team that lost very little from last year's group that finished a respectable 14-14.

It has taken awhile, but the San Diego State basketball program looks like it might finally be ready to turn the corner under third-year coach Steve Fisher in 2001-2002.

"We've gone from survival to competitive and this year we expect to win,'' said Fisher, who won a national title at Michigan and twice took teams to the finals.

When asked to describe his situation at San Diego, Fisher says "progress'' is the one word that comes to mind. "We're excited about this season,'' Fisher said.

Having four starters back at any program is good news. But at San Diego State, the even better news is that two players who sat out last year as red-shirts are as good or better than any of the returning starters. The infusion of new blood along with some experienced starters should result in an improved team in San Diego this year.

The only players gone from last year's squad are center Marcelo Correa, Michael Marion, who played sparingly, averaging just 1.9 points, and David Abramowitz, who is taking a year off from basketball and may return next year after red-shirting.

Backcourt

The 6-4 junior Bland played two seasons at Syracuse and started all 32 games, averaging 6.7 points in 1999-2000 when the Orangemen were the Big East co-champions and advanced to the Sweet 16.

The year before he played in all 32 games and averaged 4.4 points in 15.7 minutes per game. Bland was a two-time high school All-American at Westchester High School in Los Angeles and one of the reasons for his transfer is that he wanted to be closer to his family in southern California.

Smith, a 6-7 senior, played three years at Michigan, where he was originally recruited by Fisher. During his sophomore and junior seasons, he averaged 8.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

Another transfer expected to contribute is 5-9 junior point guard Deandre Moore began his career at Vanderbilt before coming to San Diego.

Moore (6.8. ppg, 5.0 apg, 1.5 spg) started 24-of-25 games and made an immediate impact at the point for the Aztecs with his quickness and decision-making. He ranked first in the MWC in assist-to-turnover ratio, second in assists and third in steals. However, he was slowed by a shoulder that became dislocated four times last year and resulted in off-season surgery.

A surprising starter last year was Al Faux, a 6-2 junior guard who walked on after playing at Shoreline (Wash.) Community College.

Faux averaged 10.5 points while shooting 42 percent from three-point range and from the field. He finished third in the MWC in three-point percentage and 11th in three-point field goals made. In a win over Oklahoma State, he sank a record nine three-pointers and finished with 28 points.

Frontcourt

One of the best players on last year's team were also transfers from major programs. Senior forward Randy Holcomb played a year at Fresno State before transferring

The 6-9 Holcomb turned out to be the Aztecs' best player last year as he led the team in both scoring (15.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.6 rpg), ranking sixth in the MWC in both categories. He also averaged just under one steal per game and finished with 19 blocked shots. The Aztecs would like to see his shooting percentages increase after he shot just 29.2 percent from three-point range and 42.2 percent overall.

Myron Epps, a 6-6 senior, has been a three-year starter for the Aztecs, but with the influx of talent, he may be hard-pressed to earn a starting spot again. He averaged 11.8 points as a freshman, 14.4 as a sophomore and 11.1 last year, when he shot 54.9 percent from the floor.

He's No. 16 on the all-time SDSU scoring list, not bad for a guy who originally came to SDSU to play baseball. Epps gets most of his points inside and has made just two three-pointers during his career.

Chris Walton, the youngest son of former NBA star Bill Walton, is a 6-8 sophomore forward. He played in all 28 games last year and his production increased as the season progressed as he finished with a 4.3 scoring average in league play and 3.3 overall and also pulled down 2.5 rebounds per game.

Another transfer is junior Mike Mackell, the only true center on the team at 6-9, 230 pounds. He was selected California's junior college player of the year after averaging 22.4 points and 10.6 rebounds for Porterville Junior College last year.

Bottom line

For now Fisher has rebuilt his program with the aid of four-year transfers, who will keep the Aztecs competitive with most teams in the Mountain West Conference.

Eventually Fisher would like to maintain the program with freshmen and not have to rely on transfers as he is this year. But he says he may always have a few in the program.

This year the Aztecs should be as talented as any team in the MWC, on paper at least. They'll win some games on sheer athleticism alone, but it may not hold up every week, particularly with a lack of post men. Whether the Aztecs will be able to compete week in and week out with the Utahs, Wyomings and New Mexicos of the Mountain West Conference remains to be seen.

Still, watch for the Aztecs to emerge with a winning overall record this year and finish in the top half of the league standings for a change. They should also see their first postseason action, probably to the NIT, for the first time since 1985.