Aztecs’ Smith Benched In Favor of Freshman : College basketball: Brandenburg inserts Robert Ringo in starting point guard spot.

In a continuing effort to find a winning combination, San Diego State basketball coach Jim Brandenburg will start freshman Robert Ringo at point guard Friday against Texas Southern in the Longhorn Classic in place of junior Virgil Smith, Brandenburg said.

The move comes at a time when the Aztecs (0-3) are losing and hurting. Forward Courtie Miller, who led the Aztecs with 22 points in a 79-64 loss to UC Irvine Saturday, missed practice Tuesday with a sore left knee. X-rays were negative on Tuesday, but Miller was scheduled to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging test this morning.

And guard Terrence Hamilton, who started each of the first two games, missed the UC Irvine game with a broken toe in his left foot and is questionable for this weekend’s tournament at the University of Texas.

And meanwhile, SDSU searches for its first victory.

“We have not been a consistent basketball team,” Brandenburg said. “That’s been our problem. A couple of games, we’ve had solid rebounding, and then the rebounding left us. We thought we could shoot the ball a little, but we haven’t had a high percentage because we haven’t taken good percentage shots.”

By inserting Ringo into the starting lineup, Brandenburg is hoping that the offense will be run better, and with fewer turnovers.

“I’m not trying to point out any one player,” Brandenburg said of Smith, who transferred to SDSU from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York this season. “I’m just trying to take a little of the pressure off of Virgil, let him get the feel for what is going to happen so that when he goes in, he has a better feel for schemes and assignments.”

Smith, who has started all three games, is averaging eight points a game. He has 20 assists this season, but also has 23 turnovers. Against UC Irvine, Smith had one assist and eight turnovers and sat out most of the second half.

“I’m not going to sit there and cry,” Smith said. “So long as I can put in my little contribution, I won’t die.

“I can understand what he’s trying to do. I won’t take it personally.”

Said Brandenburg: “He obviously has to play. I’m not looking at this as a punishment so much as finding ways (to be successful).”

Ringo, whose Duncanville High team won the Texas 5-A championship last year, is averaging two points a game. He has made only one of nine field goals and has three assists and six turnovers.

“I’m just going to go in and do my best and see if we can get a win,” said Ringo, who will start alongside Ray Barefield. “Our backs are against the wall . . .

“I don’t try to do too much. I stay inside (Brandenburg’s) system.”

Said forward Keith Balzer: “I think the coaches are just trying to get us to do the simple things. That’s what Ringo does real well.”