Athletes Don’t Fit the SDSU System

I like Jim Brandenburg. I don’t like his style of basketball, but it has worked. To play it you need a big, strong center in the middle and some guards who can shoot from the perimeter. What we have here at San Diego State is neither.

With the exception of Joe McNaull and Tony Clark, who are outstanding athletes playing out of position, and Nelson Stewart, who is certified blue-collar worker on the boards, most of these kids are run-and-gun athletes who really don’t fit this system.

The one area no one has really questioned is the assistant coaches. There has been a different bunch every year since Brandenburg has come here. These are the guys who are out recruiting every year. And every year they bring in poor-shooting, guards, 7-foot cigar store Indians and a few local prima donna who suddenly find out what real basketball is like.

For Brandenburg to stay here and be successful, I think he needs to find some assistants who think a little more like him when they are out recruiting, or change the system to fit the players.

ED BRISENDINE, Ramona