The Rivalry : dion’t Expect Fireworks: SDSU vs. USD Game’s Safe and Sane

This intra-city rivalry seems almost intramural now.

On one edge of town, University of San Diego men’s basketball Coach Hank Egan--waiting, waiting, waiting for publicity--said: “I don’t feel the buzz. Maybe I’m not getting the message.”

And on another edge, San Diego State Coach Smokey Gaines--waiting, waiting, waiting for a victory--said: “There are no bragging rights (in San Diego).”

So it is just a game, perhaps just the way it should be. In another place and town, this kind of hoops would bring hoopla. Kentucky vs. Louisville? Georgetown vs. Maryland? Memphis State vs. Tennessee? North Carolina vs. Duke?

And then there’s San Diego State vs. University of San Diego at 7:30 tonight at the Sports Arena.

It’s really quite sane.

Usually these neighborhood games aren’t. That’s because players tend to bump into each other on the local playgrounds, and then it is important for them to be able to say: “We got you this year, so shut your face.”

But Egan said his players don’t bump into San Diego State players, except this one night a year. Egan said he and Gaines don’t bump into each other when they recruit, either.

“Well, that’s because the academics are different,” he said, alluding to USD’s higher entrance requirements.

Gaines agreed.

“If we recruited the same kids, they’d go to USD because it’s said that’s a better academic school,” Gaines said. “And it’s a smaller school, and they think they can get more individual teaching. And it’s a private school. But I say a kid can get his degree from Oshkosh or wherever. It’s if he wants to do something with it . . . that’s what matters.”

So, in essence, neither team has much to gain, other than a victory. USD (4-3) might normally have more incentive because it has not defeated the Aztecs since the 1976-77 season. The fact that San Diego State is 0-5 tends to even things out.

“We’re really O and 4 1/2,” said Gaines, whose team has yet to play a home game. “We won the first half (Thursday night) against Arizona . . . but USD’s team is better than ours. They’ve got more seniors and have a bigger team. We’ve had problems with big lineups this year. They usually play harder in the game than we play.”

Still, if there can be a pressure game this early in a season, San Diego State has one tonight. A loss to USD would add insult to their injuries, and 6-9 center Gerald Murray and 6-8 Steffond Johnson are still out with injuries.

“When you live in a fish bowl, everyone can take shots at you,” said Gaines, responding to early season criticism. “When you’re in the public sector, it’s always like that. You’ll always be in the microscope. That’s the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, I guess. You just do the best you can do.”

Egan is trying his best with a very inexperienced backcourt. Pete Murphy, an off-guard who averaged 18 minutes last season, is the only one returning. Thus, the offense hasn’t been smooth.

There is one controversy to be found here, however. USD is always the road team in this series, and Egan doesn’t know why. He also isn’t too pleased that his squad will only get one workout in the Sports Arena, a morning shoot-around today.

“I’m up for the game, though,” Egan said.

Is anyone else?