Wednesday night's battle between the Aztecs and BYU was hyped as the biggest game in Mountain West Conference history. San Diego State's 20-game winning streak came to an end in Provo. The Aztecs had no answer for BYU star Jimmer Fredette's 43 points. How will the loss affect the Aztecs' ranking and the rest of their season?
Guest
Mark Zeigler, Aztec coverage for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Transcript
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WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S BATTLE BETWEEN THE AZTECS AZTECS AND BYU, SAN DIEGO STATE WINNING STREAK CAME TO AN END IN PROVO. THEY HAD NO ANSWER FOR JIMMER'S 43 POINTS. HOW WILL THIS EFFECT THEIR RANKING AND THE REST OF THE SEASON. JOINING ME NOW IS MARK ZIEGLER. YOU COVER THE AZTECS, THE NEW RANKINGS COME OUT ON MONDAY, HOW WILL THIS EFFECT IT?
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE. IF IT'S A PERFECT WORLD THEY FALL TO SIX OR SEVEN. COULD BE TEN OR 12. I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THEM IF THEY GET DISRESPECTED A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IT WILL GIVE THEM MORE MOTIVATION.
NOW, JIMMER, HE WAS A ONE MAN WRECKING CREW. IS HE THE BEST?
HE MIGHT BE. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO LEAN THAT WAY. IN THE PROS, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW HE DOES. IT'S A DIFFERENT GAME IN THE PROS. BUT HE CAN SCORE POINTS.
ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE AZTECS ARE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE. WHY, ANY IDEAS WHY OR GUESSES WHY THEY HAVE BEEN PLAYING SO WELL?
I THINK SOME PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE HAVING A GREAT SEASON AND HAD A LOT OF LUCK. THIS HAS BEEN BUILDING BUILDING FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS. RIGHT MIX OF PLAYERS. LOT OF EXPERIENCE. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL. THEY HAVE THREE SENIOR STARTERS, LOT OF SENIORS OFF THE BENCH. THEY HAVE A GOOD CHEMISTRY. REALLY THE TOTAL PACKAGE.
SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE PLAYING WELL TOGETHER AS A TEAM. WHO ARE THE STANDOUT PLAYERS?
THE BEST PLAYER IS DJ GABE. HE IS THE POINT GUARD, THEIR HEART, SOLE. EVERY TIME THEY NEED A BIG SHOT, HE IS THE GUY. MALCOLM THOMAS. BILLY WHITE. CHASE IS A SOPHOMORE. THE ASSISTANT COACHES HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR FIVE YEARS. LOT OF FAMILIAR ART.
ARE THERE GAMES COMING UP --
THEY ARE ALL TOUGH. THEY MAKE IT INTERESTING. THEY PLAY WYOMING ON SATURDAY. INTERESTING GAME. WYOMING. THE REAL BIG GAME IS NEXT WEDNESDAY AT COLORADO STATE. THEY ARE VERY GOOD. THEY WILL PLAY BYU AGAIN. THE REST OF THE GAMES THEY ARE VERY WINNABLE. THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A VERY, VERY BIG RECORD.
EXCELLENT. LET'S HOPE FOR THAT. I HEARD ALL OF THE GAMES ARE SOLD OUT. WHAT IS THE ATMOSPHERE WHEN YOU GO TO THE GAME?
CRAZY. CRAZY. SO DIFFERENT. THEY THINK THIS IS THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN. IT'S BEEN JUST A COMPLETE CHANGE THIS YEAR. IT'S LOUD. IT'S ENERGETIC. THE STUDENTS ARE REALLY IN TO IT AND THE TEAM THRIVES OFF THAT ATMOSPHERE. A TEAM THAT DOESN'T PLAY WELL WHEN NOBODY IS THERE BUT WHEN PEOPLE ARE THERE, THEY GET THEIR ENERGY.
THANK YOU.
MY PLEASURE.
