ANALYSIS : Aztecs Are Under Scrutiny as Slow Start Continues

San Diego State’s 86-84 loss to Ball State Saturday in the consolation game of the Volunteer Tournament continued some disturbing trends for the Aztecs.

The loss was SDSU’s fifth in six games, with the only victory against Cal State Los Angeles, a Division II team.

Unless the Aztecs make a remarkable turnaround, they will finish with consecutive losing seasons for the first time in 25 years--statistics that would lead to questions about Coach Smokey Gaines’ status.

Athletic Director Fred Miller said he will “get aggressive” about evaluating the men’s basketball team after the Holiday Bowl Dec. 30.

Miller, who was hired last December, spent his first year concentrating on turning the football program around, including hiring Denny Stolz as coach.

When Miller does look at the basketball team, he will see a gloomy picture.

“Any time you come out with a slow start, many people will ask--and legitimately so--what the evaluation process is,” Miller said. “We have a constant evaluation process on all of us. In the world of athletics, you are only as good as you do today. We also have to consider the long haul.”

Gaines, who is 108-97 at SDSU, was named Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year two seasons ago when he led the Aztecs to the WAC Tournament championship and an NCAA playoff berth.

However, the Aztecs have fallen on hard times since. They finished 10-19 last season, despite starting four or five seniors a majority of the time. This season, they do not have a senior on the team.

Gaines was signed to a contract extension through the 1988-89 season after leading SDSU to its NCAA playoff berth.

“Whenever I feel that I can’t motivate the kids anymore, I’ll step aside,” Gaines said. “No one will have to ask me. I’ll be the first to tell Fred Miller and (school president) Thomas Day that if they want me in another capacity--like promotions--I’ll be glad to do that. I like San Diego. I would not hang around like some people and get fired.”

Gaines said he “can’t worry” about any speculation regarding his future.

“When you’re the coach in football, basketball or baseball, it’s only natural that people will start speculating. If people are fair, they will understand the circumstances here.”

After the 1984-85 season, SDSU officials cracked down on what some had considered to be lenient special admission procedures for athletes. It primarily affected Gaines, who often recruited youths who did not qualify for SDSU under normal admission procedures.

Three former Aztec standouts--Michael Cage, Leonard Allen and Anthony Watson--probably would not have been recruited by SDSU under today’s standards, Gaines said.

Like other universities, the Aztecs are affected by the NCAA’s new academic standards.

“Right now, we’re dealing with a new element,” Gaines said. “We’re trying to upgrade our academics. Therefore, our talent is lacking a little bit. I hope people will have patience. That’s tough to say when you have our record.”

Miller did not stress the special admission academic issue when discussing the basketball program.

“I don’t think we’re different than anyone else there,” he said. “You’re always going to get pluses and minuses related to admissions.”

When Gaines considers the future, he sees pluses in the program. He said that transfer guard Sam Johnson, who must redshirt this season, will help considerably next season.

Ultimately, the question is whether Gaines can be assured he will be retained through 1988-89.

Said Miller: “At this point, it would be awkward for me to respond to that question.”

SDSU freshman Tony Ross came off the bench to score 29 points, a team-high for the season, in Saturday’s loss to Ball State (4-5). Ross was 8 of 10 from three-point range and made 10 of 13 shots.

“He’s going to play at least 25 minutes a game,” Gaines said. “When you’re building a program like this, you need a bright spot like him.”

Gerald Murray tied the score, 81-81, on a tip-in with 1:50 remaining, but Charles Smith hit a field goal and Derrick Wesley made two free throws for Ball State, providing the Cardinals an 85-81 lead with 38 seconds remaining. Josh Lowery hit a three-point shot with three seconds remaining, cutting the margin to 85-84. Smith made one of two free throws with two seconds remaining, but SDSU could not get off another shot.

Lowery scored 17 points and Murray 16. Rodney Hawkins had a game-high 11 rebounds as SDSU outrebounded the Cardinals, 40-33. The Aztecs were 11 of 25 from three-point range and Ball State was 7 of 8.

Tennessee won the Volunteer Tournament Saturday by defeating North Carolina Charlotte, 86-69.