Aztecs lack numbers, home edge SDSU has seven scholarship players and rents court time
By Cindy Luis
Star-BulletinIt's a difficult task, Fred Trenkle says, to prepare to play Hawaii. Not because the Rainbow men's basketball team has two great guards in Alika Smith and Anthony Carter.
Not because the Rainbows are playing the best ball of anyone in the country, according to Trenkle, the San Diego State coach.
And not because Hawaii was Trenkle's preseason pick to win the Western Athletic Conference's Pacific Division.
What makes it difficult for the Aztecs to prepare for anyone - let alone the No. 21-ranked Rainbows - is they don't have enough players to scrimmage.
Due to various problems, San Diego State is down to seven scholarship players and a couple of walk-ons. When the Aztecs practice, Trenkle and student assistant Chad Nelson - last season's leading scorer - fill out the scout team.
"It doesn't give you a good feel for how your team is when you and an assistant have to walk out and practice just to get you 10 players," Trenkle said in a phone call from San Diego. "Our best days are when we can actually get out and play somebody.
"If Riley (Wallace) thinks he heard me whining during our preseason (WAC coaches) golf tournament, he should have heard me after we lost to Tulsa (77-57 on Jan. 3). He would have been whining with me."
Wallace might empathize with Trenkle's plight, but said he thinks the Aztecs' coach is crying wolf. Two days after the loss to the Golden Hurricane in their WAC opener, the Aztecs beat a good Air Force team in Clune Arena, seeing a 22-point lead nearly evaporate before holding on, 84-81.
"That's a tough place to play," Wallace said. "We know from experience."
Last season, Hawaii opened the WAC road season with a 73-68 loss at Air Force. The Rainbows finished the year with a 5-3 conference road record, their best ever.
The Aztecs have a new on-campus home - the 12,414-seat Cox Arena in the Aztec Bowl. The arena was built on the site of the former football field, with part of the concrete bleachers remaining on the hillside above the loading area. Its design is similar to New Mexico's Pit, with 100 stairs going straight up from court level to the concourse.
The Aztecs don't practice on the new court because they have to pay rent for usage - the arena was built with student funds and is considered a student-owned facility. Hawaii won't practice there for the same reason.
"We're trying to build a home-court advantage," said Trenkle, whose team had played at the San Diego Sports Arena some 10 miles away. "I don't expect a huge crowd for the Hawaii game. Our students aren't back in school.
"Mostly we've just been having people showing up out of curiosity for the new facility. It is a nice place to play."
The Aztecs are averaging 3,591 in six home games and are 2-4 so far in Cox.
As concerned as Trenkle is about Hawaii's guards, it's the Rainbows' frontcourt that gave his Aztecs problems in both games last year.
"Micah Kroeger walked in and killed us (20 points) at our place," Trenkle said. "And (Eric) Ambrozich and (Mike) Robinson are always lurking on the boards.
"I think Riley's done a tremendous job and I think his team is the best in the Pacific (Division). No one is passing the ball any better and they make these passes, phenomenal passes, time after time. And it's not just Carter. When I saw them beat Nebraska, I knew they had a chance to beat Kansas. I'd like to think we'll give them a battle. If we play 40 minutes hard, I'll be happy, regardless of the outcome."
Hawaii leads the series, 26-14, and has won 16 of the last 18 meetings.
UH's Robbie Robinson, who walked on after completing the football season as a defensive back, is especially looking forward to the trip.
"I'm having a lot of fun, but you've got to work hard," said Robinson, who hopes to play a full basketball season next year. "My coaches taught me to work hard in football and I try to bring it to the court. I love it.
"I admired these guys and wanted to play with them. It's a big jump from sitting in the stands to sitting on the bench. And going to San Diego is going to be great. I know some people there and told them, 'We can't beat you in football, but we'll get you in basketball.' "
The Rainbows haven't defeated the Aztecs in football since 1989.
The facts
Saturday: No. 21 Hawaii (11-1, 0-0) at San Diego State (6-6, 0-1), 3 p.m. HST
