San Diego State guards back swagger with skill

SAN DIEGO - It was two years ago, and San Diego State's basketball team was in the midst of its best season in school history, a campaign that would end in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and with a record of 34-3.

Mark Fisher, assistant coach of the Aztecs, remembers it well.

Chase Tapley was on that team: "Our fifth option that year," Fisher said.

Jamaal Franklin was on it: "A good kid who averaged five minutes."

Xavier Thames was on it: "A redshirt watching it all."

It's incredibly difficult to predict how a player who offers little in terms of leadership or statistics one season might respond in ensuing ones, terribly hard to forecast what ultimately happened with three San Diego State guards who now make up one of the nation's top backcourts.

They will be a major point of concern for UNLV tonight when the Rebels meet the Aztecs in Viejas Arena, home to one of the country's best student sections and a team that doesn't lose when leading late.

San Diego State has won 84 straight games when ahead with five minutes remaining.

Eighty. Four. Straight.

It is a streak that stems from a level of confidence team leaders own, from the swagger players such as Franklin and Thames and Tapley exhibit.

Most colleges players would say their team could play with the Miami Heat.

Few really believe it.

Those three guards at San Diego State do.

"I think all of that is spearheaded by Jamaal, and everyone in the program has adopted his way of thinking," Fisher said of the junior, the reigning Mountain West player of the year and team's leading scorer and rebounder. "We couldn't beat the Heat, but we definitely couldn't if no one in our locker room thought we could. You have guys in Jamaal and Chase and Xavier who are genuinely shocked if we don't win every game.

"Obviously, you need to have good players. But there are a lot of good players who are uncertain of themselves at times, who are a little weak mentally, who maybe get tight in big moments. Those three are certainly not that way. They have all made game-winning plays. No matter which one we would draw up a last-second play for, the other two are always supportive, and I really believe it's genuine."

UNLV this week faces arguably one of the toughest two-game road trips it has encountered in years, following tonight's game with a matchup on Saturday against Colorado State in Fort Collins, where the Rams have won 22 straight.

The Rebels last won a conference road game in regulation in March 2011 and had to survive shots by Air Force and Boise State last season to force overtime and avoid being swept on the Mountain West road in Dave Rice's first year as head coach.

A common theme has emerged from each of the road losses.

Simply, UNLV hasn't been tough enough.

There would be no more impressive way of reversing such a truth than winning tonight in a building the Aztecs have won 10 straight and are 58-4 in their past 62 games. The teams split two-point games last season, each winning on its own floor.

The Rebels should own a significant advantage tonight along a front line of Anthony Bennett, Mike Moser and Khem Birch, but how they handle San Diego State's guards ultimately could decide a winner.

Oregon and North Carolina pressured UNLV guards out of any sort of comfort level in the half court, and you can bet San Diego State coaches watched those films and will instruct their three leaders to do the same.

Franklin, Thames and Tapley account for 60 percent of San Diego State's scoring, 43 percent of its rebounds and 61 percent of its assists. Each averages more than 29.1 minutes; no other player averages more than 26.1.

Translation: The trio start the bus, change its oil, put air in the tires and drive it.

"I think, first and foremost, they really care about each other," Fisher said. "It's not fake. Chase and Xavier grew up together (in California), and Jamaal and Xavier are now roommates.

"Every time one is struggling, the other two try and find ways during timeouts to get him going. They play to win, and that means they have to be selfless. They're truly happy for each other when awards come or Jamaal's dunk is the No. 1 play on SportsCenter. Everyone wants to play big minutes. Everyone wants to get their numbers. But winning is their ultimate goal. That's the bottom line for those three."

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on "Gridlock," ESPN 1100 and 98.9 FM. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney.