By Navin Sunjay Krishnan (@NavinKthespear) – Spear Opinion Columnist
The San Jose State men’s basketball team (8-23, 1-17 MW) had a memorable, ‘meaningful’ season.
But Spartans men’s basketball will be revamping their rosters with significant changes to their crew. This is most notably expressed through the development and improvement of the current players that were there for last year’s shortcomings.
The Spartans, according to head coach Tim Miles, have all but executed their hunger for a better season in action this season.
However, something goes beyond that. There is a nuance of a chip on this team’s shoulders that dictate that the 2022-2023 season will not sift out of the hands of the Spartans.
Many members of SJSU’s basketball team are ravenous to prove themselves, including star junior guard Omari Moore and Spain native, sophomore standout guard Alvaro Cardenas.
“This year, we have a lot of athleticism and a lot of length,” said Moore. “Everybody has a pretty good feel for the game. Everyone’s interchangeable. People that we brought back have all gotten really better. Everybody’s been in the gym.”
Miles, despite his tenure in 2021-2022, seems to have maintained his belief in this SJSU men’s basketball team and remains optimistic is his group’s newfound potential and work ethic.
“I think we’re going to be better than last year,” said Miles. “I think we’re playing harder, we’re working harder.”
“When we were at full strength last year, I thought we’re in pretty good shape. But injuries decimated [the team].”
Miles credits not only his players for picking up the slack, but their toughness for overcoming injuries, COVID-19 and Moore’s leadership.
“I think now we’re going to make forward progress and we’re going to get better and better and build a winner,” said Miles.
Alvaro, according to Miles, is a key cog in the team’s development. The second-year Spaniard is often dubbed by Miles as the “ultimate team guy.”
“[Cardenas] is about winning. He’s a kid that’s improved his body,” said Miles. “He’s gained almost twenty-five pounds. His muscle and strength, he’s really changed from what he looked like. He’s a guy that is really a heart-and-soul guy of our team and he raises the level of our other guys.”
Cardenas led the Spartans as a freshman and is leading the assault this year.
Leadership: A-
Moore and Cardenas did a decent job at the team’s helm last year, considering they were both underclassmen. In a year that didn’t have many highlights or court-storming moments, this tandem took the team up the rocky road of the Mountain West.
This grade isn’t just about wins or losses. Instead, the team has turned from adequate frustration to wanting the spotlight on their transformation to the 2022-2023 season.
Moore and Cardenas are leading the team in terms of setting the example for the next generation of Spartans to have something to fight for.
SJSU men’s
basketball has taken a situation of discord and reconstructed it as an excuse to get better. Whether or not this translates into a long-awaited winning season will have to be determined by the games.
Winning mentality: B+
SJSU‘s record is not indicative of a powerhouse team, but there are ways to construct the team and get it to buy into a ‘winning way.’
The blue-and-gold had droughts in terms of strategically winning games. Omari Moore, in his sophomore year, was nearly able to put the Spartans on his back and win SJSU’s first Mountain West tournament game against the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Fresno State’s junior forward Orlando Robinson, who was recently invited to the Miami Heat training camp, will likely be absent.
Since SJSU men’s basketball does not have anyone of Robinson’s caliber to sustain a winning season, it must work out the Xs and Os of winning games with their mentality and effort, not just trying to outshoot their opponent.
“As a team, [we need to work on] a lot of mental toughness,” said Moore. “Being physically tough and hitting the other team first and coming out with that aggression every game.”
While SJSU shot a promising 35.2 percent from beyond the 3-point line in the 2021-2022 season, shooting and only shooting doesn’t win games.
SJSU men’s basketball also had 162 steals and 98 blocks but allowed its opponents to get to the line 484 times last season. Defense is key to winning games at any level of basketball and playing hard without fouling isn’t just something to chew on — it’s a mentality.
“It really matters how this team comes together, how well we handle the ball,” said Miles. “We’re trying to eliminate mistakes. If you eliminate mistakes, you eliminate losing. The only to win is to eliminate losing.”
The Spartans must make a sacrifice in order to really bang with the physicality of the Mountain West.
If SJSU men’s basketball can find a way to hang its hats on mainly defense and scrapping without fouling and trying to outlive their opponents at the foul line, the leadership of Cardenas and Moore can be more fluid in getting wins.
Recruiting: A
The Spartan fans may think Moore and Cardenas would be the face-of-the-franchise players for SJSU and that they’re the only ones to see develop this next season, but they would be mistaken.
Miles’ genius in recruiting players from the high school level is one of the reasons he was given the helm and the keys to make this engine go.
“As you get outside of that, as our young guys develop, you look at our freshman class,” said Miles. “Max Allen, J.T. Elder, high-level recruits. Leo Torbor won a state championship, Garrett Anderson can play multiple sports. Nico D’Augusta is a local kid.”
The future is looking bright in San Jose.
“Those are all young guys that I really like, and they all have a reason to be here,” said Miles. “As they grow and develop, that’s a great core to build on and build a winning program.”
Winning indeed starts from the grassroots of culture and tradition, one that has been rebuilt under the steady eye and iron fist of Miles.
“Do the best you can to win every game,” said Miles. “I expect us to be better. How big our jump forward is, to be determined.”
Cardenas and Moore are in sync with Miles’ pace and intensity and both believe the Spartan faithful and the Mountain West will take notice of their work ethic and newfound passion.
“[Last year] was a learning process,” said Cardenas. “The guys have come in and they were really willing to work. We’re athletic, we’re stronger, I think we’re better and we just want to win.”
“We’re definitely going to have a winning season,” said Moore. “We’re going to compete. Hopefully [we] make the postseason tournament.”
The light at the end of the tunnel is evident for the Spartans. With the right composition from Miles and the never-quit attitude from his players, SJSU men’s basketball can build from being a ‘meaningful’ season to an unforgettable one.
SJSU men’s basketball’s schedule kicks off their home schedule Dec. 28 against UNLV at the Provident Credit Union Event Center.
On the Sidelines with Sunjay will be producing a sibling article for the SJSU women’s basketball team in the recent future, so keep your eyes peeled.