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Knudson: Newsflash - Steve Fisher Can Coach

By Mark Knudson, The Mtn. Insider
January 19, 2012

We all knew Steve Fisher could coach. Maybe we just didn’t realize just how well.

The only MW coach with a national championship under his belt, Fisher has this year’s version of the San Diego State Aztecs back in the Top 15 and making another run to a Conference title and an NCAA Tournament bid. Wasn’t supposed to happen like this.

This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Aztecs. Kawhi Leonard left for the NBA. DJ Gay is gone, as are Billy White and Brian Caldwell. His entire front court and his point guard needed to be replaced. His team was inexperienced and slated to struggle against the Conference favorites, New Mexico and UNLV.  

Maybe not.
 
Fisher decided to skip rebuilding and move right on to reloading. MW basketball fans can get used to some new names wearing Aztecs colors: Jamaal Franklin, Xavier Thames and Chase Tapley.  This group of long and lean leapers just finished knocking off the 12th ranked Runnin’ Rebels on a Franklin layup at the buzzer, and then four days later, they go into The Pit in Albuquerque and beat New Mexico 75-70 to end the Lobos 13-game winning streak.

Most impressively, SDSU overcame a 10-0 deficit to start the game in the raucous Pit, showing poise and maturity few knew they had. Instead of the game quickly turning into a rout, the Aztecs got off the deck, fought back and made it a back-and-forth battle the rest of the way. Clutch shots in the second half and good free throw shooting down the stretch brought home SDSU’s ninth consecutive win and 16th overall against just two losses.

Two signs of great coaching: In as tough an environment as any in the country, the Aztecs turned the ball over just six times. And, it was the Aztecs’ 56th straight win against unranked opponents. Great coaches don’t let their teams let down against lesser competition.

These Aztecs are younger, but maybe more athletic than a season ago. They aren’t as big as the Lobos or Rebels, but for whatever reason, are able to hold their own on the boards with scrappiness and tenacity that are trademarks of Fisher’s teams.
 
No one is ready to proclaim this year’s Aztecs better than last year’s MW co-champs just yet, but it won’t be an upset if they’re cutting down the nets at the end of the conference tournament in March while getting ready for the NCAAs.
 
While it’s still early, it’s not too early to start talking about Steve Fisher as the national Coach of the Year. Awards like this are presented to coaches whose team exceeds expectations and reaches heights no one expected of them. Winning another Conference title and getting back to the NCAAs in a season that was supposed to be all about rebuilding is an accomplishment that should put Fisher squarely in the conversation.
See all of Mark Knudson's blog entries HERE.