AZTEC ATHLETICS PRESS CONFERENCE 11/8: A BREAK FROM ELECTION DAY
For more sports coverage, visit ECM’s sports section Story and photos by Liz Alper Full quotes courtesy Jamie McConeghy November 8, 2016 (San Diego) – Election Day saw a plethora of San Diego State coaches and athletes at this week’s press conference. Aztecs men’s basketball coach Steve Fisher and sophomore forward Zylan Cheatham, football head coach Rocky Long, women’s basketball coach Stacie Terry, junior defensive end Sergio Phillips and junior tight end David Wells took the mic this week. Aztecs men’s basketball finished exhibition on a strong note last night with a win against Cal State San Marcos and now begin their season on Friday night against crosstown rival University of San Diego at 8 p.m. SDSU lost to USD last year and hopes to have a better showing this year. Cheatham was asked why they lost. “I mean, obviously the game didn’t go in our favor. We didn’t make enough plays to win a game. It’s a new season, new year, some new guys, so our coaches are going to try to put together a great game plan, and we’re going to try to execute that and get a win. “Everyone knows what happened last year, but I think we’re coming in with the same edge, taking it one game at a time, trying to get a W.” “We are immensely excited to start the official season on Friday,” Fisher said. “Happy to be opening at home. Look forward to a great crowd and an atmosphere that will say this is how Division I basketball should be…We will be anxious to see how we will play and I, with all my heart, believe we will play really well.” There’s been a lot of buzz about the newest members of the team, mostly transfers: Valentine Izundu (Washington State), Max Hoetzel (Indiana) and Montaque Gill-Caesar (Missouri) who posted a game-high 18 points in his first game as an Aztec. Cheatham was asked what his feelings are towards them and the new players. “Excitement, to say the least. To come out first game and score 53 points in the first half, that hasn’t happened in a while so to see that happen and to see those new guys, guys like Montaque get accustomed to our style of play. It’s very exciting to me to see our potential and to see some of things we could have and be able to do. We haven’t even scratched the surface, we haven’t even had all our guys on the floor so that is really exciting to me, the future of this team and see where we can take it. “Valentine is a really interesting character. He is one of those guys that is an impeccable shot-blocker. His timing is crazy. Some of the things he brings to us on the floor—size, versatility, that inside presence—knowing that you’ve got him behind you when sudden plays break down, he makes up for a lot of our mistakes so I’m really excited to get him on the court and give you guys a first look at seeing him and what we have obviously seen through practice and various workouts. I’m really excited about him and I’m excited to get Malik and all our guys back, honestly.” There is a lot of concern over junior forward Malik Pope and an injury issue with his knee. Last night, according to Fisher, he warmed up fine and at the start of the game, his knee started to bother him. Cheatham commented on the situation. “I mean, obviously it wasn’t an ideal situation last night. He was obviously prepared mentally and physically going into the game and once the tip off came, it didn’t go ideal. He is always in positive spirits and he tried to stay strong about the situation and just wants to find out what’s going on with his leg so he can put it behind him and get back to war with us. Before the huddle, I was 100-percent sure he was going to play. I’d seen him in warmups looking like Malik, doing his fantastic dunks, doing his thing. I didn’t see any flaws and he didn’t either, so I think it was kind of one of those things that just happen and don’t feel right.” On Thursday night against UCSD, sophomore guard Jeremy Hemsley was draining shots from almost impossible angles. Last week, Fisher said that Hemsley has been working on his shot and shooting better. This week, I asked Cheatham about his opinion on what he’s seen from Hemsley. “The things Jeremy does now are—I wouldn’t say surprising to me. I watched him progress as a player all summer, I watched him put in the work, I watched him work on those finishes that you see now. I think that’s something that a lot of people don’t get the chance to see. They just see the end result. Seeing him doing the extra work in practice, seeing him do it before and after all summer, I’m not really surprised. He’s an amazing player, and he’s only going to get better because he has the mindset and loves to work, loves to get better at certain things. We expect a lot out of Jeremy and I for sure expect a lot out of him so everything he does is pretty much not surprising to me. I see him do it all the time.” Impressed by Gill-Caesar’s performance on Thursday night, I asked Cheatham and Fisher about how he and the other transfers help the team. “Montaque is an unreal scorer. I’ve been quoted saying that weeks prior to what he did,” Cheatham said. “He’s an unreal scorer and brings a new edge to this team, a new scoring ability, versatility-wise and brings us a new aspect that is definitely going to be beneficial in the long run if you ask me.” “I think we are all excited to see the guys who have not shot a ball when it matters for San Diego State,