The San José State men's basketball team looks to get off to a hot start as it kicks off its season on Tuesday.
Tim Miles, reigning 2022-23 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year, returns for his third season in San José and said he is expecting the team to make a huge jump this season.
"We're looking to set the expectation. We want San José State to be recognized as a bonafide Mountain West successful program," Miles said. "We're dealing with some minor injuries right now but if we can get healthy, I really like our chances in the Mountain West this season.
The Spartans are looking to build off of momentum from last season as the team finished fifth in the Mountain West with an overall record of 21-24, with a 10-8 record in conference play. This was the most wins by SJSU since 1980 when it finished 22-9.
Coming into the new season, the Spartans look to replace the productivity of 2022-23 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Omari Moore. Moore went undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, but signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks and later signed with the Toronto Raptors before being waived again.
Last season, Moore was a team captain who started all 35 games for the Spartans. He also led the Spartans in scoring with 17.4, 4.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
Miles said in order to replace a talent like Moore, multiple players have to step up and play a big role, whether it's offensively or defensively.
"In the off-season, it was all about the returning guys taking a step forward and getting the younger guys involved," junior guard Alvaro Cardenas said. "Omari was the senior leader last season but now it's about having a committee of returning players that can contribute like Trey, MJ, Tibet and Garrett."
Cardenas started all 35 games last season, shooting 36% from the field, averaging 10 points a game along with three assists. Cardenas has also been unanimously voted one of the team captains along with Trey Anderson and Junior forward Robert Vailhola coming into the season.
"Consecutive years (Cardenas has) been voted team captain by his teammates and I think that says a lot about an individual and there's no doubt that he's our strongest voice," Miles said.
Cardenas said there's about nine new players, seven of which are freshmen, so the key is to get the new guys to understand what the team is trying to achieve on the court.
“It's been a challenge grooming the new guys during the off-season but they've been putting in the work and doing a pretty good job of understanding what's expected from them,” Cardenas said.
Senior forward Trey Anderson said the focus for the Spartans is veteran leadership and making sure the players who have been on the team for a while improve on their numbers from last season.
Like Moore, Anderson started all 35 games last season for the Spartans averaging 6.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. Anderson was also one of the top three point shooters for the Spartans last season, shooting 38% from beyond the arc.
"I have to do a little bit of everything because I know that I'm playing more of the four and not just the three this season," Anderson said. "Finishing around the rim, rebounding, guarding the opponent's most physical guy down low, just a little bit of everything."
Anderson said he’s looking to have an expanded role this season, with defense and rebounding setting the tone for the team moving forward.
The Spartans are scheduled to open their season at home against the University of California, Irvine at 7 p.m. at Provident Credit Union Event Center.
