Bakersfield tops the Spartans 82-77

a pre-game view of CSUB's campus arena

Some games, it's just seems impossible individually and/or collectively to establish a rhythm or continuity. That's when a grinding-it-out slog mentality becomes a necessity. Tonight, Cal State Bakersfield performed better at it and came away with an 82-77 win.

Adrian Oliver led the way for San Jose with 26 points and Justin Graham contributed 16. Sophomore Stephon Carter paced the hosts with a personal best 32 points. Donavan Bragg added 20.

With 2:45 remaining, it was 69 all. Adrian Oliver put in a shot down low with two minutes showing to make it 71-69.

On a late foul call after Calvin Douglas knocked the ball away, Bakersfield's Stephon Carter made a pair of free throws to tie up the game.

After Oliver missed a trey attempt, Keith Shamburger nagged the carom. Oliver subsequently was fouled and he made 1-2 at the foul line putting SJSU up by one.

Roadrunner guard Alex Johnson then nailed a trey at the 1:04 mark, elevating Bakersfield to a 74-72 margin, a lead they never relinquished.

Next time down, Oliver missed off the front rim and it became a free throw line march after that until the horn sounded giving Bakersfield the 82-77 victory.

BK came in shooting 41% and averaging 70 points a game. The Roadrunners shot 47% on the night to San Jose State's 51%.

At the half, it was 44-39 in favor of the hosts, the same point differential as at the end. San Jose State shot 52% but the Roadrunners were just behind at 50%. Eight Spartan turnovers and seven BK offensive rebounds provided Bakersfield greater offensive opportunities.

At that point, Stephon Carter was the gigantic man on the Roadrunner campus with a remarkable 19 points and seven rebounds.

Remember the 1971 crime film "Get Carter," starring Michael Caine? SJSU should have watched it on the way down to Bakersfield because the sophomore was mucho en fuego in the initial 20 minutes.

On to Bakersfield Wednesday night

Cal St. Bakersfield athletics is a WAC wannabee (we appreciate their good taste) and the next opponent for San Jose State University hoops. The Spartans travel south and east to take on the Roadrunners on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. The game will be played at the on-campus Icardo Center, not the usual Rabobank Arena.

BK is 2-2 having won at Sacramento and at Pepperdine while falling to Santa Clara on the road and Southern Utah at home. Guards Donavan Bragg and Alex Johnson (twice) plus wing Stephon Carter have been the Roadrunner high scorers in each contest.

The very athletic Carter leads the team in scoring at 16.5 points per game while Johnson is second at 15.3. Donavan Bragg checks in at 11.8 points a contest. Carter is shootng 47% this season, Johnson 37% and Bragg 33%. Keep in mind that of Johnson's 45 shot attempts, 36 have come from long distance -- in fact, he's shooting better beyond the three-point line (39%) than overall.

What is also interesting is that while Bakersfield is shooting slightly better than it's collective opponents -- 41% to 40% -- the Roadrunners have 13 less assists than opposing teams. This generally indicates more one-on-one play and dribble-driving to shoot rather than kick out.

The other significant statistic is the Roadrunners are garnering six less rebounds a game than opponents. 6-foot-6 junior college newcomer Rashad Savage is the top BK boardman at 11.5 a game with 5-10 Alex Johnson next. Yes, you read that correctly.

Also, let's see who takes on the 5-10 Johnson as a defender. Size indicates it will be freshman Keith Shamburger, with Adrian Oliver and Justin Graham matching up with Carter and Bragg.

Looking in the notes of earlier games, there is no indication of BK pressing opponents but the athleticism is there to do so. However, the big three of Carter, Johnson and Bragg are playing at least 30 minutes a game and requiring extra effort may take away proficiency in other areas.

KSJS (90.5 FM, San Jose) originates San Jose State University basketball broadcasts and Mike Chisholm will call the play-by-play. Air time for the Cal State Bakersfield game is 6:30 p.m.

The Bakersfield Starting Five

* 5-foot-10 Alex Johnson - point
* 6-foot-3 Donavan Bragg - two guard
* 6-foot-3 Stephon Carter - wing
* 6-foot-6 Rashad Savage - frontcourt

Either 6-foot-10 Cory Brown or 6-foot-8 Donald Johnson will also start upfront.


It's also worth noting that CSUB is now a fully-fledged D-1 school and eligible for post-season play.

The Roadrunner roster (by position, alphabetized)

Donavan Bragg G 6-3 196 Sr.
Lance Bailey G 6-2 195 Fr.
Reynaul Baker G 6-2 175 Fr.
Stephon Carter G 6-3 180 So.
Robert Hayes G 5-10 186 Jr.
Cody Kale G 6-3 190 Fr.
Alex Johnson G 5-10 170 Jr.
Ivan Matip G 6-3 205 Fr.

James Albright F 6-6 212 So.
Donald Johnson F 6-8 215 Jr.
Kregg Jones F 6-8 235 Fr.
De'Aundray Robinson F 6-5 210 Fr.
Rashad Savage F 6-6 220 Jr.

Cory Brown C 6-10 223 Sr.

"Play Their Hearts Out" -- a great holiday gift book

If there was such an authority, George Dohrmann's book "Play Their Hearts Out" should be required reading for all parents and college basketball prospects. It's the story of Demetrious Young, now redshirting at New Mexico, chronicling his life from middle school onward. He was once the highest-rated-in-his-age-group prospect in the country (yes, there are some adults who stoop to such a level of rankings) and his fall, along with many others, including a number of adults, from grace is starkly depicted. The book contains a lot of good, bad and ugly but ultimately is extremely informative and a great read.

Here is an excerpt from Dohrmann's book.

Here is another lengthy excerpt.

Here is one Q-and-A with Dohrmann.

Here is a second one.

Here is a strong endorsement of the book with the last line reading "It'll make you sick."

Here is another related article.

SJSU wins 75-72 over Oregon

To quack or be quacked? And we're not talking Aflac here.

That was the question facing San Jose State basketball on Saturday afternoon on McArthur Court in Eugene.

The answer? A 75-72 last second win over Oregon, the final scoring being a three-point-play acrobatic dribble-drive six-footer and free throw by Justin Graham on a possession that began at the 27.9 second mark and concluded with the ball sliding through the net and 2.8 seconds showing.

Adrian Oliver paced the Spartans with 19 points and freshman Keith Shamburger also totaled a big time 19.

San Jose State is now 3-0.

In the second half, SJSU took the lead back 49-48 on two Oliver free throws. His fadeaway jumper made it 51-48. A Keith Shamburger and1 three-point play opened the lead to 54-48. An AO trey and jumper sandwiched around a Chris Jones layup put the Spartans ahead 61-55 with 7:55 remaining.

But Oregon persevered and it was 63 apiece with 5:30 to go.

At the half, it was 39-34 in favor of the Ducks. In a Ripley's Believe It Or Not submission, Oliver was in the books with but two points at that point. But he also was on the court for just 11 minutes. In a clear cut case of momentum shifting, SJSU performed well for the initial 15 minutes -- leading 20-13 at the 11:03 mark -- but Oregon owned the last five.

A trio of Spartan basketball-related articles

Here's a Spartan Daily feature on Justin Graham and Adrian Oliver.

Here's Dan Shell at CSNBayArea on AO.

Here's a report from SJSU athletics on two signees for next year's team.

San Jose State at Oregon on Saturday afternoon

Ernie Kent is gone after 13 up-and-down seasons and Phil Knight...er....Mike Bellotti, the then Oregon AD, decided on Dana Altman as a replacement. The latter came west after a successful 16-year run at Creighton.

Altman wasn't the first choice (nor were many of us by our spouses so hey) but should do a fine job once he has a couple of full recruiting seasons. He and the Nike-Oregon imprint already landed Oakland High guard Jabari Brown who will be the top scorer for the Ducks -- but that's next season.

So what has Altman's 2010-2011 squad encountered so far?

* a 97-92 overtime win over North Dakota State

* followed by a 68-56 victory over Denver

* and most recently a 72-70 success over UC Santa Barbara

What is intriguing (who knows if it means anything as yet) is Oregon has trailed at halftime in each of those three victories this season. Plus, each win came on venerable McArthur Court.

Let's sidetrack for a moment here because Oregon moves to a new basketball facility -- Matthew Knight Arena -- on January 13, 2011. At the top of this article is a view of what the new court looks like.

As for the current assembly of basketball talent, as expected, Oregon is down, predicted to be the caboose in the PAC-10.

Fifth-year senior forward Joevan Catron is the leading scorer to date and his play is twined in the second-half comebacks by the Ducks. He has tallied 40 of his 62 points in the second half and is averaging 13.3 points after halftime versus 6.7 points per game in first half. He is an equal opportunity rebounder, having grabbed nine offensively and the same number at the defensive end. Catron has also gone to the foul line a bountiful 33 times in three games. He will be a load inside.

As a team, UO is playing similarly, shooting an abysmal 16.7 percent on three-point attempts in first half play (4-of-24), while hitting 38% in the second half (10-of-26).

Conversely, Oregon's foes are shooting 64.0 percent on three-pointers in the first half (16-of-25), yet 28.6% in the second stanza (6-of-21).

E.J. Singler, brother of Duke's Kyle, is averaging 12.7 points and 6.3 rebounds a contest.

6-foot Malcom Armstead and 6-foot-4 Teondre Williams are also averaging in double figures at 10.3 and 10.0 a game respectively. Armstead is the point but his assist-to-turnover ration stands at 13/11. Williams is at 57% shooting from long range, 44% overall so it's likely he'll be found some distance away from the basket.

5-foot-11 Jay-R Stowbridge comes in at 9 points per game and 5-foot-8 freshman Jonathan Lloyd isn't shooting all that well but possesses 8/1 assist-to-turnover numbers.

The Ducks are out-boarding opponents 37-33 and it truly is a team effort in attacking the backboard, losing the turnover margin 36/44 but winning at shotblocks and steals with six a game.

The Spartan opponents on Saturday aren't big but they play tough. So who will defend best for the longest? The Ducks are shooting .435% overall while holding foes to 410% but underwater in distance shooting at 30% to 46%.

Also, who commits the fewest errors and turnovers?

* Oregon, Saturday, November 20, 2010, McArthur Court, Eugene, Ore., 2:00 p.m. (PST)

* Radio Coverage: KSJS (90.5 FM, San Jose) originates San Jose State University basketball broadcasts. Shawn Murphy calls the play-by-play of the Oregon contest. Air time is 1:30 p.m.

The Duck roster (by position and alphabetized)

Malcolm Armstead G 6-0 195 Jr (STARTER)
John Elorriaga G 6-2 205 Jr (walk-on)
Nicholas Fearn G 6-1 188 Jr. (walk-on)
Jonathan Lloyd G 5-8 160 Fr
Matt Losli G 6-4 185 So.
Nicholas Lucenti G 6-3 212 Fr
Garrett Sim G 6-1 181 Jr (STARTER)
Jay-R Strowbridge G 5-11 180 Sr
Teondre Willaims G 6-4 218 Jr (STARTER)

Joeven Catron F 6-6 245 Sr. (STARTER)
Jeremy Jacob F 6-8 226 Jr
Tyrone Nared F 6-8 210 Jr
E.J. Singler F 6-6 210 So (STARTER)

Martin Seiferth C 6-10 223 Fr

Spartans down the Dons 74-64

San Jose State kept pocketing the trey ball in the first 20 minutes, leading USF 40-23. The largest Spartan point differential reached 21 points. But the Dons' second-half zone defense bothered SJSU and Rex Walters' squad crept to within six at one point and eight on multiple occasions but couldn't get any closer, falling 74-64 tonight at Walt McPherson Court.

Adrian Oliver led the way with 25 points and Justin Graham was next on the scoring chart with 18, including a trio of three-pointers. Wil Carter contributed a double-double of 12 points and 11 boards and another newcomer, Calvin Douglas, totaled 11 points, aided by a trifecta of treys.

Threes advanced the lead in the first half and also kept USF at bay in the second 20 minutes. For the game, San Jose State went 11-26 from long distance

SJSU shot 37% overall for the game -- USF finished at 40%. The Spartans made 19-22 free throw attempts, USF 9-18.

This was the second straight contest with single digit turnovers for SJSU -- just seven after garnering nine against Eastern Washington.

Matt Ballard and Wil Carter fouled out but the senior leadership maintained the equilibrium.

A leg cramp momentarily exited Oliver from second half action but his quick return calmed the hearts, minds and stomachs of Spartan fans and shut down the burgeoning sales of Maalox.

Also, San Jose State wore its new gray uniforms, adding a third selection to the gold and the blue outfittings.

Coach George Nessman again started Matt Ballard, Wil Carter, Keith Shamburger, Adrian Oliver and Justin Graham.

It's USF on Wednesday night

Fresh off a recent way-out-of-left-field (if we can mix sports metaphors) call by a sportswriter in the Sacramento Bee for former Don and longtime Chicago Bull center Bill Cartwright to take over the program, Coach Rex Walters and his USF squad come to Walt McPherson Court 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening.

Walters was hired in April 2008 and charged with rebuilding the once storied basketball program. This after an internecine 'war' between the former head coach (who was fired and is suing) and the AD (who recently resigned). After playing at Piedmont Hills High in San Jose, he originally signed with Northwestern and then was a star backcourter at Kansas after transferring there and also spent some time in the NBA.

It's been a struggle for Walters but that was expected early on in his tenure. No longer can/will USF land (a-f-f-o-r-d) the Cartwrights, the James Hardys, the Winford Boynes and the (late) Quintin Daileys because the payments for such services got USF into NCAA trouble and actually led to a shutdown of the program from 1981 to 1985.

Games this season

USF took down Seattle (a December 18 SJSU road foe) 97-76 on November 12, primarily by forcing the Redhawks into a half court game. On November 7, it was a 95-62 exhibition contest win against Menlo College

Currently, the point production is well distributed among the team, with Angelo Caloiaro and Michael Williams averaging 18 per game and Marko Petrovic and Moustapha Diarra at 14 apiece. Petrovic especially (all five of his made shots have been from long distance), and Williams have been the most skilled outside shooters early on.

Who started against Seattle? It was 6-foot-2 freshman backcourter Cody Doolin, 5-foot-10 redshirt frosh point Dominique O'Connor plus 6-foot-4 junior Rashad Green as the outside players and 6-foot-8 junior Caloiaro and 6-foot-10 senior Diarra upfront. Caloiaro also has shooting ability from distance.

As for predictions, the West Coast Conference Coaches poll had USF finishing in sixth place come March.

The Players

Here's the Don roster -- a mini-United Nations (by position and alphabetized)

Walters has a very young squad -- boasting of just seven years of returning D-1 experience.

Straight out of Bad Krotzingen? And someone else from Babylon? These must be some nefarious dudes.

Osekalome Akhile G 5-11 178 freshman Oakland, CA/The Branson School
Cody Doolin G 6-2 170 freshman Austin, TX/Westlake HS
Chad Eppley G 6-1 165 junior Boone, NC/Watauga HS
Rashad Green G 6-4 195 junior Babylon, NY/Manhattan
Avery Johnson G 6-3 180 freshman Huntington Beach, CA/Ocean View HS
Dominique O'Connor G 5-10 165 freshman Los Angeles, CA/Westchester HS
Marko Petrovic G 6-3 200 freshman Zagreb, Croatia/Findlay Prep
Jay Wey G 6-2 185 junior Cupertino, CA/Archbishop Mitty HS
Michael Williams G 6-0 170 sophomore Van Nuys, CA/Taft HS

Perris Blackwell F 6-9 240 sophomore Etiwanda, CA/Etiwanda HS
Angelo Caloiaro F 6-8 225 junior Saratoga, CA/Archbishop Mitty HS
Cole Dickerson F 6-7 230 freshman Federal Way, WA/Federal Way HS
Khalil Murphy F 6-7 235 freshman Willingboro, NJ/Fishburne Military School
Antoine Roy-Condron F 6-8 210 freshman Long Beach, CA/St. Anthony HS
Charles Standifer F 6-5 185 freshman Sacramento, CA/Capital Christian HS

Moustapha Diarra C 6-10 235 senior Marseille, France/Sheridan JC (WY)
Justin Raffington C 6-9 225 freshman Bad Krotzingen, Germany/Urspring Academy

Stephon Smith's initial journal entry

6-foot-8 235 pound Stephon Smith will be a San Jose State Spartan next season. Currently, he is playing at the CJEOTO Academy in New Jersey after finishing high school in Dallas. Here is Stephon's initial journal entry:

It’s been a while since I gave some feedback on everything that has been going on with me so far since I verbally committed. I'll start by saying that on my visit the coaches, players, and the people that I met around campus definitely made me feel at home.

One thing I won’t forget is the food; THEY FED ME SO MUCH, but I don’t think I turned down one meal, ha-ha.

Midnight Madness was really fun, the energy in the building was incredible, and to say it was the first Madness they had it really went well, I can only see it getting better.

The coolest thing about the campus is that its in the city, I love the whole urban scene along with the night life and the different races of people around; I instantly felt attached to the city and San Jose State.

I'm beyond excited for next year.

As of recently, I’ve just been concentrating on playing here in Jersey-- (the CJEOTO Academy). It's been pretty tough I have to say, I’m learning a lot about myself and where I need to be physically and mentally to compete on the WAC level; I do plan to dominate, ha.

But in the mean time, I have to get through and push through issues here.

Oh!!! Before I forget. how could I? I just recently received my NIL (National Letter Of Intent). I didn’t get to sign the way I initially wanted, which is at my old high school, but I’m beyond excited about the whole ordeal. I feel so good that I belong to such a good program that takes such good care of their players. I realized while I was on campus that the players and coaching staff were like a close family, on and off the court. I’m real happy to be a part of the family.

I’m ready to come in and work hard, so this summer is going to be my “No Days Off” summer -- I can’t wait…… looking forward to the team yoga, ha-ha-ha.

Stephon Smith

Stats for the game

Here are the stats for the SJSU victory over Eastern Washington.