Jim Brandenburg to Make Debut as Aztec Basketball Coach Against Soviet Team Nov. 10

Jim Brandenburg will get his first test as San Diego State basketball coach Nov. 10 at the San Diego Sports Arena against the Soviet national team, a team he called “one of the best amateur basketball teams in the world.”

The Aztecs will play their first regular-season game Nov. 27 against Kansas State in the Sun-Met Classic in Fresno. Northern Arizona and host Fresno State also are in the tournament.

SDSU also will play in the Kactus Klassic in Tempe, Ariz., Dec. 4-5, as well as its own Holiday Bowl tournament Dec. 27-28. Host Arizona State, Tulsa and Richmond are scheduled to play in the Kactus Klassic. Texas Tech, Fresno State and Bucknell will play in the Holiday Bowl tournament.

SDSU also has games against United States International University (Dec. 10) and the University of San Diego (Dec. 19) before it opens Western Athletic Conference play Jan. 8 against Utah at Salt Lake City.

Brandenburg, hired March 25 to replace Smokey Gaines, led Wyoming to the NCAA Western Regional semifinals last season. His Cowboy teams compiled a 176-97 record in nine years.

The Aztecs were 5-25 last season, their worst record in 66 years. All of their players are eligible to return.

The complete schedule:

Nov. 10--Soviet national team, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 27-28--Sun-Met Classic in Fresno

Dec. 1--Cal Poly Pomona, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 4-5--at Kactus Klassic, Tempe, Ariz.

Dec. 10--U.S. International, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 19--USD, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 21--Dartmouth, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 23--Rhode Island, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 27-28--Holiday Bowl Classic

Jan. 8--at Utah, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 9--at Brigham Young, 7:30 p.m.

Jan 14.--New Mexico, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 16--Texas El Paso, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 21--at Air Force, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 22--at Colorado State, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 28--Wyoming, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 1--at Hawaii, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 6--at Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 12--at New Mexico, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 13--at Texas El Paso, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 18--Brigham Young, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 20--Utah, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 25--Hawaii, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 27--at Wyoming, 7:30 p.m.

March 3--Colorado State, 7:30 p.m.

March 5--Air Force, 7:30 p.m.

March 10-12--at WAC tournament, Provo