SAN DIEGO STATE BASKETBALL PREVIEWS : Gaines Has Reason to Gripe as Injuries Hurt Aztecs Early

Whenever Smokey Gaines wants to emphasize a statement, he underscores his point with a sentence: “Believe me when I tell you.”

Sometimes in the past, it has been hard to believe the San Diego State basketball coach. He has always bemoaned that tough times were ahead for his team, even when he had stars such as Michael Cage of the Clippers.

When Gaines bemoans this year’s situation, it is much easier to believe him. All one has to do is attend a practice to believe what he is saying.

Tucked away in a corner of the gymnasium recently, Steffond Johnson was shooting baskets in solitaire during practice. He could not practice with the rest of the team because of muscle spasms in his lower back.

In the training room afterward, Johnson sat across from Gerald Murray and John Martens. Murray’s right knee and Martens’ left knee were heavily taped.

The training room trio represented SDSU’s top three big men, all of whom are 6-foot, 8-inches. Their condition told much about the state of Aztec basketball--very unhealthy.

Guard Anthony Watson, last year’s leading scorer, has been slowed by a cut in the webbing between the index and middle fingers of his right hand. Watson, the healthiest of SDSU’s four injured players, will be less than 100% physically when the Aztecs open their season tonight against Louisiana Tech in the Sun-Met tournament.

The Aztecs were already facing a rebuilding season with six freshmen among their 12 players. Little did they know that it would be a rebuilding year for bodies as well.

“This is the first time in my life I’ve had it this tough in the preseason,” Gaines said. “At one time or another, I think 8 of our 12 players have missed practice time with injuries. It’s hard to get any continuity. Believe me when I tell you.”

Even before the rash of injuries, it figured to be a difficult year. The Aztecs lost their entire front line of 1984-85, which had led them to the championship of the Western Athletic Conference tournament and an NCAA playoff berth.

Johnson, a transfer from Louisiana State, figured to be their No. 1 big man. However, his physical condition may vary on a day-to-day basis throughout the season.

Murray suffered a broken kneecap in September and may have to redshirt this year after aggravating the injury in practice this week. Martens has been hobbled in practice from postseason knee surgery.

With Johnson, Murray and Martens questionable, the only healthy big man is 6-9 freshman center Kevin Brown.

“Everyone says we have a small team,” Martens said, “but we have enough big men. We just need to get them healthy.”

If Johnson regains his health, he will be counted on as the team’s top rebounder and second scorer behind Watson.

Five years ago at Longview High in Texas, Johnson averaged 18 points and 15 rebounds a game. However, he never averaged more than 5.6 points or 3.9 rebounds for LSU.

“I played against the best talent in the nation in my three years at LSU,” Johnson said. “Now, this is my opportunity to beef up my statistics. It’s something I need.”

Though the Aztecs are in need up front, they have an overabundance of guards. The team is so heavily stacked outside that Gaines said he will often play with a three-guard offense.

Watson, a three-year starter, is the team’s top guard. He averaged 17.5 points last season, earning all-Western Athletic Conference first-team honors.

Also returning at guard are Creon Dorsey and Bobby Owens. Dorsey, the point guard, averaged a team-leading 5.5 assists last year.

Top freshmen appear to be Josh Lowery and Tracy Dildy. Lowery scored a team-high 18 points in last week’s 90-61 exhibition loss to Athletes in Action.

“As long as we do well inside, our outside game will be there,” Watson said. “Our question mark is the interior. Once Steffond Johnson gets back, we’ll be all right.”

Fortunately for the Aztecs, Johnson and Martens should have time to heal before conference play. SDSU opens its WAC season Jan. 2 at home against the Air Force Academy.

Before WAC play, the Aztecs will certainly be tested. Seven of their first eight games are on the road. Among the opponents are highly-rated Arkansas and Nevada Las Vegas.

“We thought that with a young ballclub, we needed to get their feet wet,” Gaines said. “We have 12 home games this year and 17 or 18 next year. We figured this would be a down year. We decided to go on the road and try to get ready for the WAC.”

Gaines said he could not even predict whether the Aztecs would be a .500 team this year, saying only he would be “damn happy” if the Aztecs were 5-5 in preseason play. SDSU was picked to finish fourth in the nine-team WAC in separate polls of the coaches and media.

“It’s kind of difficult to throw new kids to the wolves and ask them to do well right away,” Gaines said. “The worst thing that could happen now would be to put a lot of pressure on these kids. We need to be patient. Believe me when I tell you.”

Aztec Notes Smokey Gaines has a 6-0 record in season openers with the Aztecs. SDSU has not lost an opening game since Nov. 24, 1978, when it lost at Oregon, 75-64 . . . Louisiana Tech lost three of five starters from last year’s team, which finished 29-3 and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Midwest Regional before losing to Oklahoma, 86-84, in overtime. Karl (Mailman) Malone, the top player on last year’s team, passed up his final year of eligibility and was a first-round draft choice of the Utah Jazz. Andy Russo, last year’s head coach, has since become the coach at Washington. He was replaced by Tommy Joe, a Louisiana Tech assistant last year . . . Tonight’s game will be broadcast by KSDO 1130 radio with Ron Reina calling the play-by-play . . . Fresno State will play Eastern Washington at 8 in tonight’s other Sun-Met tournament game. Winners of tonight’s games will play for the tournament championship at 8 p.m. Saturday. Losers play in the consolation game at 6 p.m . . . SDSU has not played in Fresno since Jan. 21, 1978, when it lost to Fresno State, 59-49.

SDSU FACTS & FIGURES

ROSTER

RETURNEES

NO PLAYER POS HT WT CL PPG RPG FG% FT%

14 Creon Dorsey G 5-10 185 Sr. 8.3 3.7 .459 .661 52 John Martens F 6-8 220 Sr. 6.0 4.3 .438 .700 50 Gerald Murray C 6-8 245 Jr. 3.0 2.3 .557 .294 24 Bobby Owens G 6-1 180 Sr. 5.1 0.9 .538 .758 12 Anthony Watson G 6-3 170 Sr. 17.5 3.3 .467 .781

NO HOMETOWN (Previous School) 14 Houston (State Tech. Institute) 52 Thousand Oaks (USF) 50 Detroit (Kettering HS) 24 Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman HS) 12 Detroit (Cooley HS)

NEWCOMERS, REDSHIRTS

NO PLAYER POS HT WT CL 34 Jeff Bobin F 6-7 210 Fr. 32 Kevin Brown C 6-9 215 Fr. 11 Tracy Dildy G 5-11 180 Fr. 4 Darryl Gaines G 6-3 175 Fr. 33 Steffond Johnson F 6-8 240 Sr. 21 Josh Lowery G 6-4 175 Fr. 10 Johnny Scruggs G 6-4 185 Fr.

NO HOMETOWN (Previous School) 34 Seattle (Shorewood HS) 32 Gr. Rapids (Ottawa Hills HS) 11 Chicago (Martin Luther King HS) 4 San Diego (Patrick Henry HS) 33 Longview, Tex. (Louisiana State) 21 Oakland (Oakland Tech HS) 10 Silver Springs, Md. (All-Saints HS)

COACH: Smokey Gaines (7th season, 97-73 record)

SCHEDULE

All times PST. Starting times subject to change.

Date Opponent Time

Nov. 29 Sun-Met Classic at Fresno vs. Louisiana Tech 6 p.m. Nov. 30 Sun-Met Classic 6 or 8 p.m. Dec. 3 at Arkansas 5 p.m. Dec. 4 at Oral Roberts 5:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Arizona 6:30 p.m. Dec. 14 U. San Diego 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 Las Vegas (Rebel Roundup) 9 p.m. Dec. 21 Rebel Roundup 6:30 or 9 p. Dec. 27 *Holiday Bowl vs. UNC-C 8:45 p.m. Dec. 28 Holiday Bowl Classic 6:30 or 8:45 Jan. 2 *Air Force 7:30 p.m. Jan. 4 *Colorado State 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10 *at Utah 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11 *at Brigham Young 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16 *New Mexico 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 *Texas El Paso 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23 *at Hawaii 9:30 p.m. Jan. 27 *Wyoming 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 *at Colorado State 6:30 p.m. Jan. 31 *at Air Force 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6 *Brigham Young 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 *Utah 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 *at Wyoming 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15 *Hawaii 2:00 p.m. Feb. 20 U.S. International 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27 *Texas El Paso 6:30 p.m. March 1 *at New Mexico 6:30 p.m. March 4-8 WAC Tournament TBA.

* Western Athletic Conference game

All home games at Sports Arena.

1984-85 RESULTS

RECORD: 23-8 overall, 11-5 in WAC (Second place)

Result Record SDSU 86, UC Irvine 77 1-0 **SDSU 128, Morgan State 68 2-0 **SDSU 57, U. San Diego 53 3-0 **SDSU 84, UC Santa Barbara 69 4-0 SDSU 62, CS Long Beach 60 5-0 SDSU 91, McNeese State 85 6-0 SDSU 86, Southwest Louisiana73 7-0 **SDSU 71, Texas 65 8-0 **Texas Christian 72, SDSU 70 8-1 **Michigan State 77, SDSU 61 8-2 SDSU 60, Wyoming 57 9-2 SDSU 88, Air Force 73 10-2 **SDSU 76, Utah 67 11-2 **SDSU 89, Brigham Young 70 12-2 New Mexico 94, SDSU 85 12-3 Texas El Paso 87, SDSU 81 12-4 **SDSU 112, U.S. International 74 13-4 SDSU 70, Hawaii 66 14-4 **SDSU 74, Air Force 64 15-4 SDSU 77, Brigham Young 71 16-4 Utah 67, SDSU 65 16-5 **SDSU 75, Colorado State 72 17-5 **SDSU 79, Wyoming 70 18-5 **SDSU 86, CS Long Beach 69 19-5 **SDSU 76, Texas El Paso 63 20-5 **SDSU 99,New Mexico 80 21-5 **Hawaii 69, SDSU 68 21-6 Colorado State 78, SDSU 72 21-7 WAC TOURNAMENT SDSU 98, New Mexico 84 22-7 SDSU 87, Texas El Paso 81 23-7 NCAA TOURNAMENT Nevada Las Vegas 85, SDSU 80 23-8

** home game