San Diego State's 62-59 loss to Tennessee in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday night was, ironically, another sign of progress for coach Steve Fisher's men's basketball program.
The past eight years, since the Aztecs first NCAA appearance under Fisher, have been marked by incremental progress that is sometimes too slow to see -- geologic time. It can be a frustrating process. But you have to walk before you can run, and SDSU was so far behind when he took over as coach that his team has only been traveling at a quick pace for a few years.
Consider, they nearly beat a good, likely Sweet 16 team that has defeated two number one seeds after traveling more than 3,000 miles to play them. That is far ahead of the 2002 rout at the hands of Illinois and the gag against Indiana in SDSU's second Big Dance under Fisher. Add the deep run in last year's NIT.
Next season's incremental step should be even better since only reserve Kelvin Davis is leaving -- that we know of. James Rahon, a sharp-shooting transfer from Santa Clara who would have come in handy in Providence, becomes eligible. Maybe, pray to God, Tim Shelton will return to health. The returnees will be bigger, stronger and more experienced. Add in two freshmen named Franklin -- a wonderful athlete from Arizona and one of California's best point guards -- and you have to figure next season will show more progress.
As things stand right now, and Lord knows a lot can change between now and when practice gets going in seven months, Fisher's Aztecs should challenge for a national ranking and a high tournament seed next season. National respect came to them this past couple weeks and I don't think the loss to Tennessee will dampen it too much -- especially with the way cleared for the Volunteers to go to the Sweet 16 and beyond.
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Back to baseball, huh?
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