Knudson: Mini-Jimmer Awaits Aztecs
FacebookBy Mark Knudson, The Mtn. Insider
March 16, 2011
As of having to battle Jimmer Fredette three times during the season wasn’t bad enough for San Diego State. Now the Aztecs get to face Fredette’s Mini-Me in Northern Colorado’s Devon Beitzel in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Beitzel, the Big Sky Player of the Year, is averaging 21.4 points per game and is among the top scorers and free throw shooters in the nation. In the Big Sky title game victory over Montana, Beitzel scored 13 of his game high 27 points in the final five minutes of play to lift his team to victory.
Very Jimmer-like. The Bears guard even wears #32.
Beitzel is smaller than Fredette, standing 6’1” and weighing in at about 180 pounds. Most of that is heart. Like Fredette, he’s dangerous from beyond the arch and takes head first drives to the basket. Like Fredette, Beitzel is likely to play all 40 minutes in the game, shoots over 90% from the free throw line and is often times a one-man scoring machine.
Unlike Fredette, Beitzel doesn’t have a Jackson Emery or Charles Abouo to depend on when the double teams come. Fact of the matter is Beitzel’s supporting cast doesn’t really compare to BYU in much of any way. The Bears are scrappy and tenacious but were sloppy a lot of the time and had to come from behind in both their Big Sky tournament wins to secure their invite to the Big Dance. Maybe they were nervous playing such important games in front of their home fans, which is understandable. But if they play like they did against Montana, the Aztecs will beat them by 30.
UNC head coach B.J. Hill says his team isn’t done yet.
Still, it’s fair to say that the Bears fit the profile of a team that’s just happy to be here.
Logic will tell you that the Aztecs should cruise past the No. 15 seed Bears, who are going to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history and lost their only game against a tournament team this season (Arizona) by 23 points. San Diego State has far too many weapons and is far too strong in the paint for the Bears to handle. Bears post players, Mike Proctor and Taylor Montgomery, will give a stout effort, but on paper, they’re no match for Kawhi Leonard, Malcolm Thomas and Co.
Plus, DJ Gay should be able to make Beitzel work a lot on defense, likely slowing him down some at the offensive end.
Like his predecessor, Tad Boyle, Hill is an up-and-comer in the coaching profession. But the guy on the other bench, Steve Fisher, has already cut down the nets after winning a National Championship.
Northern Colorado is a great feel good story and Beitzel has overcome many hardships in his life to reach this pinnacle. But the Aztecs are a cut above and the game shouldn’t be close. In fact, looking at the brackets, the Aztecs have a legitimate chance to make it to the Elite Eight, where they could encounter Duke.
There’s a heckuva coaching match-up. Unless Mini-Me goes all Jimmer on them first.
ALL TIMES MOUNTAIN
