By Navin Krishnan (@NavinKthespear) – Reporter
It may be debatable whether or not the San Jose State men’s basketball team had a ‘meaningful’ season.
The Spartans finished 1-17 in Mountain West play, 1-13 away from home and 8-23 overall.
The Spartans managed to survive a bitter season sugarcoated with the much-improved play of star guard Omari Moore. He sniped a career-high 42.9% from the 3-point line and exploded for 397 total points during the 2021-2022 season.
Moore went from scoring 7.4 points per game in the 2020-2021 season to 13.2 points per game in the 2021-2022 season.
Unfortunately for San Jose State, one player developing his game isn’t going to pay drastic dividends in seasons to come.
The Spartans were outscored by a whopping 247 points during the 2021-22 season. But they will have all summer to prove they can play like winners.
For a Spartan team that has found itself in the bottom of the Mountain West in recent years, change and growth is a must.
Head coach Tim Miles is not just a tough, methodical and smart guy. He’s a credible basketball coach. Miles told the media his team will come back next year “bigger, stronger and better,” after the season-ending defeat to Fresno State in Las Vegas.
But the real enigma for a dominant team is formed with hard work behind the scenes. The Spartans need to relish the genius portrayed by Miles and his prowess.
SJSU shot a decent percentage from beyond the 3-point line at 35.2%. However, if it wants to dominate, this cannot be its best attribute.
Miles needs to restructure his team to create an identity built from the ground up.
Defense, toughness and a winning mentality are three weaknesses the Spartans are gazing at. The process of building these attributes from incongruity begins with playing the game the right way.
Attention to detail. Pride and consistency on the defensive end. Unselfishness and understanding dominance comes from hard work, effort and finding ways to consistently battle throughout games.
Perhaps it seems like a drastic change, but Miles isn’t looking to lay an egg and watch his team have another season with no winning streak whatsoever.
The Spartans need to wake up and realize dominance doesn’t always come from being better than your opponent.
In fact the game of basketball was invented to favor those who play with hunger, a chip on their shoulders and something to prove.
Maybe the Spartans seem audacious to say they can overcome such a hill, but they are backed by the belief of an experienced guru in Miles.
Maybe the level of their competitors may seem like a lot on their plate, but they can prove their hunger is a factor in the months to come.
This transformation may be the truest personification of heart and hustle. The time is now to build a winning culture. The Spartans have to make their own destiny.
The entire team needs to work to create change in San Jose. Whether or not the credit goes to center Ibrahima Diallo, guard Omari Moore or Miles, everyone needs to step up and give the university a chance for a turnaround they can believe in.