Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Basketball Beat Reporter
Via Titus Wilkinson of The Spear
Omari Moore’s stoic eyes widened at the question.
“I didn’t even think about that until you said that,” Moore replied.
The San Jose State point guard knows he’ll be in lockstep with immediate family during SJSU’s senior night pregame ceremony against Colorado State. However, what he doesn’t know is if he’ll sit by himself at his locker afterward and grapple with the possibility of it being his last home game as a Spartan.
“It’s something that I’m definitely proud of and like I said it was bittersweet. I’m happy that it’s coming to an end,” said Moore. “It was a great journey through its ups and downs, but still a little bit sad that it’s coming to an end at the same time.”
Shaking Moore’s hand at half court during the pregame ceremony is SJSU head coach Tim Miles. It could be a Senior Day of sorts for him, too.
Victims of their own success, the two might be enjoying the fruits of their labor elsewhere next season.
For Miles, a favorite for Mountain West Head Coach of the Year, potentially heading up the road to Cal Berkeley as reports have come out that he could replace Golden Bears head coach Mark Fox at the end of this season.
And for Moore, possibly at the professional level as he’s capitalized on the NBA Draft buzz he had garnered entering this year.
The face of SJSU’s unheralded rebuild, Moore’s 17.1 points and 4.8 assists per game have lifted SJSU (17-12, 8-8 MW) from its 8-23 one conference win season a year ago to now skyrocketing up the NET rankings. SJSU finished 333rd last season, but enter Tuesday night’s bout at No. 102 and celebrating its most conference wins since the 1995-96 season.
What’s more, now in position to not only win its first ever Mountain West Tournament game, but run the table and win the tournament.
What next season looks like, however, is a road Moore isn’t ready to gallop down yet.
“Man, that’s a whole other lane that I’m not even trying to focus too much on right now because that whole thing can get a little bit stressful,” said Moore, who has an option to return to SJSU next season.
After all and unlike his previous three seasons, there are postseason plans for SJSU. An NIT bid is in the cards if SJSU concludes the regular season with two wins and wins at least a couple in the conference tournament.
“So that’s something I’ll just handle after the season, but it’s definitely something to be thought about,” said Moore.
Following last Saturday’s upset over Boise State, SJSU’s biggest of the NET era, Moore celebrated his first career Mountain West Player of the Week, putting finishing touches and solidifying his mark on SJSU.
He’s now averaged 25 points in SJSU’s three biggest upsets over Santa Clara, Utah State and Boise State.
Last Saturday night varnished Moore’s legacy, helping the Spartans celebrate an 11-3 home record which is one of their best in school history.
Besides postseason glory, there isn’t much left for Moore to accomplish.
He came to San Jose State in 2019 after former head coach Jean Prioleau went 8-53 in his first two seasons and was on the roster for Prioleau’s next two seasons as SJSU went 12-38.
Yet he was one of a few Spartans who remained on the roster after the entire coaching staff was turned over following the 2021 season.
With so much accomplished, there’s a bit of wishing and wondering what his career would’ve been like if he was with Miles all four years and not just two.
“You know you think about stuff like that, but it is crazy to think if he was here my first year maybe how much I may have grown as a player or how much better San Jose has been doing,” said Moore.
Considering all the losing he’s endured and winning he’s manufactured, if Tuesday night is his last in Provident Credit Union Event Center, there should be practically no resentment from Spartan fans.
Similar to Moore, SJSU might be holding Miles from bigger and better pastures that match his worth and if it’ll be his last in front of the home crowd, too.
“We’re all replacements. We’re all replacements. Somebody will replace me and I’m going to replace somebody and the same thing as players,” Miles said sarcastically in regards to the senior night charade.
“What you mean by that is, sometimes coaches get all calloused, but the important part is that in life those special moments matter,” said Miles.
Miles’ rebuild work has been so extraordinary that a power five program who can offer better facilities and a higher pay grade could poach him.
Sure, the recent win over Boise State might’ve extended his contract and upped his tenure and salary, but there’s little chance he’ll remain in San Jose long enough to see it.
For Tuesday’s game to be played against Colorado State, one of Miles’ most renowned reclamation projects from 2007-12, is just happen stance according to Miles. It’s far from melodramatic.
As he puts it: “coincidental.”
It’s also the last thing on his mind.
“I’m truly focused on the team and I’m truly focused on how to move this team forward,” said Miles.
But moving forward, Miles does remain hopeful that Moore’s first senior day won’t be his last.
“Omari’s got the option to come back and we can celebrate it again next year. If that’s something he wants to do, I’m in,” said Miles.
And if Moore chooses not to, it’s a fact of life that he’s accepted.
“What can I do?” Moore said, “That’s just the way things go. You move on. You get older and then you’re out and the next people are in.”
