AZTECS MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESS CONFERENCE FEB. 10: PREPARING FOR NEVADA

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Story and photo by Liz Alper

February 10, 2017 (San Diego) - San Diego State men's basketball returns home to play host to Nevada on Sunday.  Coach Steve Fisher and junior guard Trey Kell took the media's questions today.

"I think both teams will play indicative of the fact that it's a big game for both of us," Fisher opened with. "From our end, we want to beat the team that's the leader of the pack.  From their end, they want to prove that they're an NCAA tournament team regardless...we're anxious to play.  Trey...is four to five points away from a thousand for his career.  Hopefully we'll get that in the first 35 seconds.  We have a thought of the day every day and today's thought of the day is 'fight.'...that means have a will and determination to compete and the results take care of itself...If we do that for 40 minutes collectively, we'll have a great chance to be successful."

"We can't look back and just keep dwelling on the past," Kell said when asked about if the statement "this team is still searching for itself" is true. "you've got to keep looking forward.  We just came off a loss and now our focus is on Nevada on Sunday."

Kell was asked about the confidence level of the team. "I think we are confident still in our ability because we have so much room to grow, so it's just, we have to do it now."

He was asked about what the team is going to do on Sunday to "fight."  "First thing first, with our effort.  We go out there, don't worry about missing a shot, don't worry about missing a defensive assignment, just go out there and play hard.  The rest will take care of itself.  Nevada is a very good and talented team and we feel the same way about ourselves, so like I said, we just go out there and play hard and play together."

Fisher gave the scouting report on Nevada. "They've got better players, I'll start with that.  They're not complicated in terms of how they play, but they play with a swagger that's indicative of a team that believes they're going to win.  They've got a really, really talented big guy in the middle.  The transfers that they've gotten in I believe have probably even surprised them with how well they've played.  (Senior guard Marcus) Marshall has had an unbelievable season.  He's a big time, big time scorer.  And (sophomore guard Jordan) Caroline, after I watched them, I knew that he was a really good rebounder.  After the game, I said 'he's by far the best rebounder in the league' and he's 6'5" probably, but he wills himself to get some of those balls.  They've got (guard D.J.) Fenner back as a veteran senior that has built and improved his skills.  They've lived up to expectations; they're 18-5.  They're good.  They're really good.  They've made big plays to win tough close games."

Kell was asked how to deal with the recurring injury bug the Aztecs have been facing this season. "It's tough because first off, they (sophomore forward Zylan Cheatham, junior forward Malik Pope, sophomore transfer forward Max Hoetzel) are talented players and key pieces to what we're doing this year and still trying to do this year.  As of right now, we have who we have and we have to produce."

Fisher echoed him, "You make do with what you've got."

SDSU takes on Nevada at Viejas on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

 


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