By Haddy Barghouti (HB_SportsBeat) – Spear Reporter | Junior guard Colby Garland makes a pass during SJSU’s 73-60 win over Cal State East Bay on Oct. 27. (Photo by Max Garcia – Spear Reporter
A new college basketball season is just around the corner, and the San Jose State men’s basketball team is looking to build on last year’s promising campaign.
The Spartans finished the 2023-24 season with a 15-20 record and earned their first National Invitation Tournament (NIT) appearance since 1981.
Although SJSU fell 73-70 to Loyola Chicago on March 18, the game marked the first time in program history that the Spartans hosted a postseason contest.
SJSU will enter another season under head coach Tim Miles, who is now in his fifth year leading the program.
He has 53 wins as a Spartan and looks to build on last season’s performance, when the team finished eighth in the conference.
Miles has led SJSU to two postseason appearances in three years. The Spartans hadn’t done that since the 1980s.
“We’re doing some things that haven’t been done around here in men’s basketball for a long time,” Miles said.
This year’s roster has a much different look. The Spartans welcome eight new players, seven of whom are freshmen, as they look to reload and continue their momentum.
SJSU will have to fill some big shoes following the departures of key contributors such as former guard Josh Uduje, who led the team in scoring with 16.4 points per game.
Junior guard Latrell Davis had transferred to San Diego State, averaged 11.1 points while leading the team in three-point percentage at 38.3% last season.
The Spartans spent the offseason reloading their roster, highlighted by the addition of senior guard JaVaughn Hannah.
The Western Michigan transfer averaged 9.1 points per game over his first three seasons and brings proven shooting ability to SJSU, having made 90 three-pointers during his time with the Broncos.
Now stepping into a bigger stage with the Spartans, Hannah said he’s eager to make the most of the opportunity.
“We’re coming out with pure excitement. We’re opening up the basketball season doing something that we all dreamed of, playing on one of the highest stages in college basketball,” Hannah said. “We just want to go out, take advantage of the opportunity, and continue to grow.”
SJSU still has key returning players to look forward to this season, including sophomore guard Jermaine Washington, who appeared in all 34 games last year.
Senior forward Sadraque NgaNga also returns after averaging 6.8 points per game and providing a stretch-big presence, shooting 36.7% from deep with 22 made threes.
NgaNga said the team’s chemistry and mindset have stood out early on.
“Everybody is on the same page, we all want the same thing, which is to win,” NgaNga said. “The effort everyone brings every day, not worrying about themselves but putting the team first, has been great to see.”
The Spartans averaged 72.2 points per game and 13.1 assists per game last season, ranking 217th in the nation in assists.
Despite that, players are confident they can improve those numbers this year, with new scoring options including junior guard Colby Garland, a transfer from Longwood.
Garland averaged 12.1 points per game last season and said the transition hasn’t been easy with a whole new group.
“It’s been a challenge. The way college basketball is now, there are just so many new guys, everybody has different goals and different things they want to do,” Garland said. “But we all ultimately have the same goal, which is to win.”
SJSU could make a mark by staying competitive against top teams. SJSU has a big test to start the season, opening against Big 12’s Utah, followed by UC Santa Barbara, who went 21-13 last year and finished fifth in the Big West, before facing No. 22–ranked Michigan State.
The Spartans will open their season at 6 p.m. on Monday at the Jon M. Huntsman Center against Utah, starting a three-game road trip to begin the regular season.
