Aztecs Hope to Get Moving With Pair of Transfers in the Starting Lineup

Last year, the big news for the San Diego State basketball team was the switch of its new coach, Jim Brandenburg, from the wilds of Wyoming to the beaches of San Diego.

People changing schools is the hot topic again, but this year it’s the players, not the coach.

The two new faces are forward Shawn Bell and guard Michael Best, and both are expected to start tonight when the Aztecs open the 1988-89 season against Delaware at 7:30 in the San Diego Sports Arena.

The presence of Bell and Best figures to be the biggest change from last season’s team, which finished 12-17.

Best, a 6-foot 4-inch junior from Washington, D.C., is a transfer from Clemson. Bell, a 6-6 senior who played at Morse High School, is returning to San Diego after 3 seasons at Chicago State.

Bell is expected to fill the Aztecs’ need for a small forward. Best should start at shooting guard, but don’t be surprised to find him moving to the front court.

“We’re asking Michael to do an awful lot for us,” Brandenburg said. “We are counting on him to provide leadership and communication on the court.”

Not to mention his potential value as a scorer, rebounder and defensive stopper. The question will be how well Bell and Best respond after sitting out the required season after their transfers.

Their first test will come against a Delaware team that opened its season with a 74-68 loss at USC Friday afternoon.

The Blue Hens return two starters--center Elsworth Bowers (9.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game) and guard Erek Perry (9.8 points per game)--from a team that last season started 15-2 and finished 19-9, tied for second in the East Coast Conference at 9-5. It was the Blue Hens’ best conference finish in 10 years and a school record for victories.

Junior shooting guard Tony Ross, the Aztecs’ leading scorer the past 2 seasons, will not start tonight. His place taken, at least for now, by Best.

“Tony has to work on handling the ball better and playing tougher defense,” Brandenburg said. But that doesn’t mean Ross will not get the opportunity to contribute. He is the team’s best proven outside threat, shooting 46.9% from 3-point range.

The rest of the starting lineup will be seniors Mitch McMullen at center, Sam Johnson at power forward and Bryan Williams at point guard.

“We’re still working to blend the new with the old,” Williams said. “But once we do, we’re going to have a good team. We have a lot more scoring power than we did last year. We just have to work on playing better defense.”