Navin Sunjay Krishnan (@NavinKthespear) – Spear Opinion Columnist
After a lackluster ending to last year’s 5-25 season by SJSU women’s basketball, the Spartans are looking to become relevant in the Mountain West.
New head coach April Phillips has reinvigorated her team with accountability and can engage the Spartans in a winning way. Phillips has significant experience throughout the ranks of the NCAA.
During the 2018-2019 season, Phillips aided the University of Arizona to a total turnaround, with the program capping its biggest win improvement in Wildcats’ history under her guidance.
They improved by 12 wins from than the previous season without Phillips.
The Spartans opened the season with an 81-43 blowout exhibition win against Cal State Monterey Bay, sending a message that this season could bode better than rebuilding.
While exceeding expectations demands a certain standard of hard work and practice, the Spartans can be expected to improve in the following categories:
Defense:
The lone bright spot last season was the Spartan’s defense. SJSU women’s basketball averaged 7.1 steals and 3.2 blocks per game.
The Spartans also forced 13.7 turnovers per game.
In the exhibition blowout win versus CSU Monterey Bay, the Spartans showed their anticipation and instinct defensively by recording a whopping 11 steals in the first quarter.
In addition, the Spartans held CSU Monterey Bay to an astounding 33.3 percent from the field.
Because the game is complex defensively, Phillips and the blue-and-gold must work together to establish themselves as the best they can be.
The Spartans were able to establish themselves as a defensive-minded team in their first exhibition game versus CSU Monterey Bay.
Execution:
SJSU women’s basketball had a 0.8 assist-to-turnover ratio last season.
In order to be successful, Phillips cannot be the only one leading the team. They must hold everyone accountable. One of the main reasons SJSU beat CSU Monterey Bay is because it was able to execute defensively and offensively as a unit.
Making the right decision, executing solid cuts and learning to run the offense crisply without turnovers will add up to wins.
SJSU women’s basketball will have Phillips in its ear every time it has a breakdown. The team must see this as an opportunity to tap into its potential.
Chemistry:
A successful season takes near-perfect execution, and Phillips is exactly the engineer to install that into her team. The more the team gains confidence in their offense, the better their chemistry will become.
The positive part about this influx of players to SJSU is that it can hold everyone accountable.
“I am super excited about this class,” said Phillips. “Outside of being extremely talented basketball players, they are amazing young women. I know our fans and community will enjoy watching the passion in which they compete.”
SJSU women’s basketball has to realize it must take matters into its own hands by allowing pride and cohesiveness to promote a positive attitude, a main cog for chemistry.
Expecting to win is one thing but putting the whole picture together is a hell of a task, especially with it being Phillips’ first season at the helm.
Phillips and her squad are ready to take center court this season and wash out the ghastly taste of losing that has plagued the program.
If SJSU can keep up its defensive game and find ways to play its own game the right way at its own pace, it can become a scary force in the Mountain West this season.
On the Sidelines with Sunjay with Navin Sunjay Krishnan will be releasing in-depth content on the SJSU women’s basketball team. Stay tuned for more.
