By Andrew Hartley(@andrewhart1ey) – Spear reporter
Robert Vaihola (left) and Trey Anderson (right) talking before shootaround before SJSU played New Orleans on Dec. 9, 2024. l Photo by Aikman Fang – The Spear
As we just pass the halfway point of conference play, many teams already have established its identities. But it’s also a fair time to start playing the “what if?” game with SJSU men’s basketball.
It’s always difficult losing your leading scorer, but it’s a shot to the heart when that player was 2022-23 Mountain West Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year. The departure of Omari Moore has been evident in late-game situations this season but not as evident as the rebounding disparity the team is suffering. A disparity that wouldn’t be quite as drastic had the Spartans had junior forward Robert Vaihola this season.
So is it that crazy to say a player who never started last season is a bigger loss than the reigning conference player of the year? Probably. But let’s dig into why it might not be.
Omari Moore’s brilliance can’t be taken for granted
When I share this opinion with fellow reporters that cover San Jose State, they shrug it off as a hot take. And they’re probably in the right. Here’s just some of Moore’s accolades during his SJSU career:
- Only Mountain West Player of the Year for SJSU (2023)
- Fifth most points all-time in program history (1,312)
- Fifth most assists in program history (429)
- Fourth most blocked shots in program history (90)
- Fourth most steals in program history (120)
- Led SJSU to its first conference tournament win and playoff win in 2023 season
One could say that’s pretty good. In his final season with the Spartans, the now NBA G-League product finished averaging 17.4 points, 4.8 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. Moore was largely the playmaker for the offense and played a key role on the defensive end. The 6-foot-6 guard continuously proved to be a matchup advantage for SJSU head coach Tim Miles.
So with Moore off to the pros, the team lost its leading playmaker, scorer and one of the Spartans best defensive assets.
How Miles solved the ‘Omari void’ this season
Believe it or not, the Spartans are actually scoring five more points per game this season (72.8) than in 2023 (67.5).
The emergence of junior guard Myron Amey Jr. is exactly what the team needed offensively. Amey Jr. averages 15.1 points per game and, as evidenced by his game-winner against Air Force, is who the Spartans can turn to in crucial moments.
Alvaro Cardenas has taken over the bulk of the playmaking duties and excelled. At the time of this article, Cardenas remains top-25 in both assists (132) and assist/turnover ratio (3.00) in the nation. Playing more than 35 minutes a night in a 40 minute game, Cardenas has become a staple in the lineup.
In fact, the Spartans only turn the ball over just 10.5 times a game, good enough to be top-70 in the nation.
And both Tibet Gorener and Trey Anderson are shooting more efficiently than they were just a season ago. Largely because of the looks Cardenas and Amey Jr. can generate.
| Field goal percentage by season: | 2023 | 2024 |
| Trey Anderson | .391% | .497% |
| Tibet Gorener | .352% | .410% |
It’s defensively that San Jose State has seemed to lose its touch.
Going from allowing 66.2 points per game in 2023 to allowing 74.9 points per game in 2024. Both Cardenas and Amey Jr. have proven to be consistent and versatile defenders for the Spartans this year. It’s the lacking interior presence that is the root of these problems.
Why the Vaihola injury hurts so bad
Despite never starting a game last year, Vaihola always managed to close games out for SJSU.
It also had starters Sage Tolbert III and Ibrahima Diallo to lock down the paint. But Miles knew that grad student Tolbert would depart at the end of the season. The transfer of Diallo was something different, especially with an SF Chronicle article stating he “transferred to Central Florida this past June for $160,000 in NIL money.”
And then the real dagger: Robert Vaihola receiving foot surgery in November right before the season began.
The Spartans came into the season needing to account for 13.3 rebounds a game and expected Vaihola to rise into a larger role. SJSU finished sixth in the nation in rebounding margin at the conclusion of the 2023 season, Vaihola playing a large part. A sophomore who finished the Mountain West’s top offensive rebounder.
Now we fast forward to 2024. Now try a 300 spot plummet. The team is now 306th in rebounding margin.
This year, the team has lacked that closing center due to Adrame Diongue being in consistent foul trouble and a combination of rookie big men sharing time.
And rebounds haven’t been the only paint killer.
In 20 conference games last season, SJSU only allowed 29.8 points per game in the paint. Fast forward again, it’s allowing 36.2 points per game in the paint through 10 games. Surely a number that would be lower if the Spartans had Vaihola’s presence.
So is it Vaihola or Moore?
Some could argue this number is higher because of playing a naturally smaller lineup with the departures of Tolbert, Diallo and notably Moore. But as previously mentioned, the offensive turnout would not be nearly what it is.
In my eyes, the Cardenas-Amey Jr. backcourt has been a success. Depth behind them could certainly be argued, but they’re leading the program to its most points scored since its 2009-10 season (73.8).
I think this tells Miles was prepared for the departure of Moore, especially with his plans of declaring for the NBA draft.
What he wasn’t expecting was a Vaihola-sized hole in the paint that Mountain West teams have been able to attack all year.