HOUSTON — They call San Diego State a mid-major. Not when it comes to having a quotable coach. The Aztecs’ man is high major all the way.
So before his team steps in the way of the runaway train that is Connecticut, here’s the San Diego State journey, in the invariably interesting words of Brian Dutcher.
Getting the job at San Diego State after his mentor Steve Fisher retired:
“I knew I had to probably win right away, being I’m coaching on Steve Fisher Court, and that’s the guy I was replacing. A little pressure to do that. You know you better win right away, especially if you have no head coaching on your resume.”
What he told his team before Friday’s open practice at NRG Stadium:
“I said today this is going to feel like an All-Star practice. But it’s not All-Star weekend. We’re playing a meaningful game. We’re not putting on a show. Go out there, put a smile on your face, but get yourselves ready to play a game.”
His first words when he came into the interview room this week:
“I was waiting until there were fewer people here so I could say something controversial.”
The changes in the college basketball landscape:
“We’re adapting to NIL. We’re adapting to the transfer portal. You can’t sit there and say, boy, I wish it was the way it used to be. It’s the way it is. And so I think I’ve had an ability to adapt to whatever rules are thrown at us.”
“They’ve got more wins than anybody in the country. We’re not looking at them as a Cinderella team. And I just told our team the chip on their shoulder can’t be bigger than the chip on our shoulder.”
“I always say March is for players. That’s not to excuse coaching, but if I put them in the right position, sometimes you live with the shot going in or ringing out. And that’s March basketball.”
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