Controversial whistle helped, but Aztecs' late-game push was impressive. Brian Dutcher's club belongs in Houston.
We’re expected to believe the Aztecs will play Saturday, on April’s Fool’s Day, in the Final Four?It’s all true — as on target as the free throw 5-foot-10 Darrion Trammell sank with 1.2 seconds left Sunday in Louisville, securing the 57-56 victory against Creighton in the NCAA Tournament’s South Regional Final.
Creighton looked mighty tough, especially in the first half. Led by an extra-tall center who was freed up by their shooting threats, the Blue Jays proved scarier than top-seeded Alabama on Friday in SDSU’s big upset victory on the same court.State figured to have better stamina. Would it show up?What transpired down the stretch is what I’ll remember most from the game that sent San Diego State to the Final Four.
San Diego’s geography teachers could devise a fun lesson plan, matching former home cities or countries to those four Aztecs shotmakers who, in recent years, gravitated to the hoops program built by transplanted Midwesterners and coaches, Steve Fisher and Dutcher. Best of all was Adam Seiko’s slick bounce pass to Nathan Mensah — Angeleno guard to Ghana-born center, after scrappy Creighton once again answered.
They may be griping for years about the whistle that sent Trammell to the line. A Creighton defender had applied a hand to Trammell’s hip as he rose for a shot, prompting the foul call.“I hate when a referee decides the game,” he said. Old San Diegans, whose hearts are covered with emotional sports scars, would be well-equipped to commiserate with Creighton’s fans. If they were so inclined.In an attrition game, the Aztecs’ spread-the-workload depth, physical maturity and collective experience were pivotal.
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