SDSU Will Be Tested on the Road at Utah, BYU

Before getting too excited about San Diego State’s start in the Western Athletic Conference, circumstantial evidence must be considered.

The Aztecs, who play Utah at 6:30 tonight (PST), have won their first two conference games. However, they came at home against weak Air Force and Colorado State teams.

In contrast, Utah lost its first two conference games at New Mexico and at Texas El Paso, the teams the Utes figure to contend with for the WAC championship.

No wonder Smokey Gaines, SDSU coach, would be pleased to return home with a split of a trip that ends Saturday night against Brigham Young.

“We know we haven’t played the best teams in the conference,” Gaines said. “We know we’re still hurting. We’re starting four kids who are 6-4 or smaller. I don’t think any other major college in the country does that.”

John Martens, a 6-foot 8-inch center, is SDSU’s only big man. He is joined in the lineup by forwards Anthony Watson (6-3) and Johnny Scruggs (6-4) and guards Creon Dorsey (5-10) and Bobby Owens (6-1).

The Aztecs have won three of five games since Gaines replaced 6-9 freshman Kevin Brown with Owens. And though SDSU has been outrebounded in all but one game this season, it has started using the quickness of the smaller lineup to its advantage. The Aztecs have 30 steals in two WAC games, 26 more than the opposition.

On the boards, however, SDSU is hurting. The Aztecs have been outrebounded by an average of 9.3 per game, worst in the WAC.

Utah is also among the WAC’s smallest teams and has been outrebounded by an average of 3.3 per game. The Utes start forwards Jerry Stroman (6-6) and Albert Springs (6-4), center Mitch Smith (6-8) and guards Manuel Hendrix (5-11) and Gale Gondrezick (6-4). All but Smith, a freshman, are returning starters.

Utah’s top man off the bench is 6-1 guard Kelvin Upshaw, the team’s leading scorer the past two years and second-leading scorer this year. He has missed the last three games with a bruised heel but is expected to return tonight.

“If Upshaw plays, it gives us one advantage,” said Michael Brunker, SDSU assistant coach. “He’ll be replacing a taller person, which will give us a better chance of matching up with their size.”

Upshaw was an Aztec killer when SDSU played at Utah last year. Despite suffering an injury early in the game, Upshaw hit a 23-foot shot with three seconds left as the Utes won, 67-65.

Utah (8-5) had won four straight before last week. SDSU is 3-9 overall. Its only win before WAC play was against Florida, 63-62, at Las Vegas.

The Aztecs are still considered a team to beat in the WAC because they won last year’s postseason tournament, earning an NCAA playoff berth.

“Anytime the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are on the floor, people get up for them,” Gaines said. “It’s the same way with us in the WAC. People play us hard because of my reputation as a winner.”

Aztec Notes Anthony Watson is fifth on SDSU’s all-time scoring list with 1,297 points. He needs 11 points to pass Steve Copp. . . . Darryl Gaines, son of Smokey Gaines, is expected to play extensively at small forward. Gaines had season highs of 14 points and 5 rebounds in last Saturday’s 72-56 win over Colorado State. Johnny Scruggs, the starting small forward, has been hampered by a thumb injury. . . . SDSU is 2-12 in the state of Utah since joining the WAC. The Aztecs won at Utah in 1982 and at BYU last year.