Aztecs Will Try to Change Their Luck in Laramie

The San Diego State basketball team is coming off two straight defeats, it has lost all six games it has ever played in Laramie, Wyo., it has a 1-5 record in Western Athletic Conference openers, and Wyoming is 27-7 at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie.

Other than that, the New Year is off to a great start for the Aztecs, who open their 16-game WAC schedule with a 6:30 game (KSDO-1130) against the Cowboys tonight in Laramie.

As of last Thursday, the Aztecs were coasting along with an 8-0 mark and were even dreaming of a possible Top 20 ranking if they won the Cabrillo Classic.

Then, Texas Christian University beat the Aztecs, 72-70, on a jump shot at the buzzer, and Michigan State ran over and by an uninspired Aztec team, 77-61 in Saturday’s consolation game.

The Aztecs (8-2) will be trying to regain the chemistry that enabled them to get off to their best start ever. That was when the Aztecs had starting forwards John Martens and Michael Kennedy.

Martens had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last Wednesday and will be out of action for two to three more weeks. Kennedy hurt his ankle, and saw limited action in the Cabrillo Classic.

Kennedy (9.9 points and 3.8 rebounds) has been practicing with the team and is expected to be back in the starting lineup tonight. He will be joined by forward Andre Ross (9.8 points and 4.8 rebounds), guards Creon Dorsey (7.3 points and 5.6 assists) and Anthony Watson (team-leading 15.8 points a game) and center Leonard Allen (10.9 points and 7.8 rebounds).

If the Aztecs are to rebound against Wyoming’s 7-4 team, Dorsey and Allen will have to start playing more like they were at the start of the season.

Dorsey will have to penetrate more and get the Aztecs’ fast break going, and Allen will need to be more aggressive inside.

The Aztecs will also have to overcome their Laramie blues.

In 1981, the Aztecs suffered their most one-sided loss in history, 102-57 to Wyoming in Laramie. Last year, Michael Cage scored 40 points and grabbed 21 rebounds, but the Aztecs still lost, 83-73 in overtime.