Only a little more than a year ago, DJ Gay was the guy who made fans of San Diego State basketball nervous. After two inconsistent years as the Aztecs shooting guard, he was set to take over the point, which was vacated by four-year starter Richie Williams. The thinking was that Gay would do his best, but...
There was some reason for worry. Gay ran some point his first two seasons while Williams rested, and the offense invariably stagnated. That was then.
Now, who is the most popular Aztec? Consensus NBA prospect Kawhi Leonard? Spectacular four-year veteran Billy White? San Diegan Malcolm Thomas? No. It's DJ Gay.
Oh, sorry, that was supposed to be "D! J! Gay!" yelled with gusto by 12,000 fans thrusting out their fists in a hopping Viejas Arena.
The kid who was going to do his best while playing out of position is now the best point guard the school has ever had. He played nearly every minute of every game last season and led the Aztecs to a Mountain West Conference Tournament championship and the Big Dance. He is the leader on a deep team in time spent on the floor this season. He's converting on 43 percent of his three-point shots, including a couple of daggers fired with the shot clock well into single digits -- such a play keyed a big first-half run in Saturday's 90-64 rout of an otherwise very good UC Santa Barbara team.
Handling the ball and running the floor at the point, "D! J! Gay!" has committed just 21 turnovers in a dozen contests. The Aztecs are making more than half their shots. That doesn't happen when your stagnant.
For all that, Gay is the most popular Aztec on a 12-0 team, a guy who takes care of business at the point on a squad that should be solidly ranked in the Top 10 when the new rankings come out Monday. Those old worries are long gone.
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A lot has been made over the four sellouts at Viejas Arena so far this season and how it plays into the "San Diego Only Supports a Winner" argument. To me, winning the conference tournament and going to the NCAAs and nearly knocking off Tennessee under unduly harsh conditions gave the program a stamp of legitimacy -- something more than simply winning a bunch of games. We'll see over the next few years, which will include a few lumps by this time next season, how it plays out.
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I would have been more excited about the Padres acquisitions of SS Jason Bartlett and 2B Orlando Hudson two or three years ago. While Bartlett is unquestionably an upgrade at the position, even over Miguel Tejada, he is still a punch-and-judy hitter who has had only one good season at the plate. Hudson's on-base percentage has dropped successively the past three years, his batting average the past two. His strikeout totals are up.
So the Padres are better in the middle of the infield than a year ago, but only by a small margin, unless we get lucky. And major questions remain at the top with CF Cameron Maybin, and at C where Nick Hundley works best in tandem, but might have to carry the entire load on his shoulders in 2011. With those two issues, the Padres are still far below where they were last year, even after the Bartlett/Hudson additions.
The field starting lineup in 2011 looks like this, so far:
1B - Kyle Blanks
2B - Hudson
SS - Bartlett
3B - Chase Headley
LF - Ryan Ludwick
CF - Maybin
RF - Will Venable
C - Hundley
There are currently zero power threats. Counting on a return to 2008 form by Ludwick is ludicrous, as is holding out hope that Blanks will return healthy and productive. Either or both could happen, but you can't plan for them. Occasional homers will come off the bats of Headley and Hundley, but not many.
Hopefully, GM Jed Hoyer still has some cards to play.
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