Scouting The Aztecs

After missing out on the NCAA tournament the last three seasons, it was announced last Sunday night that the Sooners would return to The Big Dance.

Their first-round opponent, the San Diego State Aztecs who finished with an overall record of 22-10, and 9-7 in Mountain West play.

Here’s a look at the Aztecs.

SDSU PROJECTED STARTERS

#21 Jamaal Franklin, 6’5, 205, Guard.
16.7 PPG 9.5 RPG 3.2 APG
#22 Chase Tapley, 6’3, 195, Guard.
13.5 PPG 3.2 RPG 2.8 APG
#2 Xavier Thames, 6’3, 190, Guard.
9.8 PPG 2.6 RPG 2.2 APG
#23 DeShawn Stephens, 6’8, 215, Forward.
5.9 PPG 4.9 RPG
#20 JJ O’Brien, 6’7, 225, Forward.
7.4 PPG 4.6 RPG

Key Reserves

#0 Skylar Spencer, 6’9, 235, Forward.
3.0 PPG 3.0 RPG 1.5 Blocks Per Game
#11 James Rahon, 6’5, 205, Guard.
6.5 PPG 0.6 APG
#13 Winston Shepard, 6’8, 210, Forward.
6.0 PPG 3.6 RPG

Strengths

Perimeter Defense: Thanks to a group of very athletic guards, the Aztecs biggest strength may be their ability to play tough defense on the perimeter. OU has struggled this year against teams who can defend well on the perimeter, and it’s likely they’ll have a tough time finding open shots and attacking the basket in this game. SDSU is also very capable of pressure the ball handler and forcing turnovers, something that the Sooners have struggled to handle this season.

Jamaal Franklin: The 6’5, 195 pound guard was the Mountain West player of the year in 2012, and was elected to the all-conference first-team this season. Franklin, is averaging 16.7 points a game, and will be a tough match-up for the Sooners. OU must find a way to slow down Franklin.

Tournament Experience: The Aztecs are making a school-record fourth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance this week. This gives SDSU the experience factor, whereas, only two players on OU’s roster have played in an NCAA tournament game.

Weaknesses

Recent Skid: The Aztecs aren’t playing their best basketball. They’ve lost five out their last nine games, which included a 10-point defeat at the hands of New Mexico in the semi-finals of the Mountain West tournament.

Size: Much like the Sooners, the Aztecs don’t possess a lot of size in the post. Their two starters on the block, DeShawn Stephens, and JJ O’Brien, are 6’8 and 6’7, respectively. If they are unable to contain Romero Osby, the Sooners will have a lot of success.

SDSU Keys To Victory:

Contain, Romero Osby. Don’t allow Steven Pledger to get open looks. Get Franklin going early and often. Pressure the ball handler.

OU Keys To Victory:

Win the rebounding battle. Get Osby going early and create opportunities for the guards to hit open shots and attack the basket. Limit turnovers and slow down Franklin.

Overview:

When looking at this game from a match-up standpoint, these two teams are very similar. The key for the Sooners, once again, will be the play of Romero Osby. If he gets going, it could take some pressure off of the guards, who will be tightly defended on the perimeter. If the Sooner guards can find a way to make a big impact, it will cause all sorts of problems for the Aztecs. San Diego State has been inconsistent at times when shooting from the perimeter. However, they certainly have the capability to catch fire. If that happens, it could be a long day for the Sooners.