By Sandeep Chandok (@sandeepchandok):
If you’re unsure of how to forecast the upcoming San Jose State men’s basketball season, well, it’s understandable why.
The team has a new, first-time head coach in Jean Prioleau, it lost Brandon Clarke, last year’s leading scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker to an offseason transfer and it has just one senior on deck.
A new offense was implemented during the summer and the 13 team members are still getting comfortable running it. Inexperience will also be evident as seven of the baker’s dozen haven’t logged a second in an SJSU uniform.
But there is incentive to watch the revamped Spartans because the players surely believe a favorable season is impending.
“I expect the highest out of my team, out of our team,” said Keith Fisher, a freshman forward. “It’s realistic. I expect us to win every single game.”
Fisher’s expectations may be a bit farfetched, but his bolstering confidence in his teammates will likely boost their morale with the season starting Sunday.
SJSU’s non-conference slate features meetings with preseason No. 22 Saint Mary’s (11/19), Southern Illinois (12/02) and Santa Clara University (12/21). All three teams restored three of their top-six scorers and will be troublesome for the young Spartans group.
SJSU returns junior forward Ryan Welage, however, its second leading scorer last season (13.2 ppg).
Besides, Prioleau and company, including his two assistant coaches, have only been together for a little over a month. But there has been progression since offseason practices in the summer and surely there’s still room for growth.
“We probably just need to work on being more consistent, and that’s in everything,” Prioleau said. “That could be defense or offense, both, but we’re making strides. The guys have come a long way.”
Prioleau has been reiterating defense as the focal point of his team and junior guard Jaycee Hillsman has bought into his coach’s vision.
“He’s really had an emphasis on defense, rebounding and being in shape,” Hillsman said. “So I feel like we’re going to be a team that’s exciting to watch. We’re going to bring it every night and you’re going to know what you’re coming to see.”
We’re coming to see the men’s basketball team play, of course, but more so, win.
Prioleau said, his team has improved. The one player who really has come a long way is the lone senior on the roster, guard Jalen James.
Coming into his final collegiate season, James is undoubtedly one of the leaders for SJSU, and he knows it.
“I have to lead,” James said. “We got a lot of new guys that have never played college basketball before, so I got to lead.”
James’ guidance of a developing San Jose State program will be assisted by Hillsman, who’s had a proactive voice this year in practice.
Like James, Hillsman recognizes his team’s rawness which he sees as a challenge, but one that can be overcome collectively.
“We have to bring those young guys along because we need everybody this year,” Hillsman said. “There’s nobody that’s not going to play. We need everybody, and we need everybody to know exactly what’s going on on the court.”
It will be a season of trial and error for Prioleau’s club, and though no one is setting expectations for his team, the Mountain West coaches predicted the Spartans will finish 10th in the conference.
Regardless of the poll, the guys are optimistic of a satisfactory year.
“I expect us to be a team that plays hard game in and game out,” Hillsman said. “[If] we execute our offense and we stay solid on defense, if we do all those things, I feel like we’ll have a successful season.”