This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A year ago, when San Jose was midway through what turned out to be a disastrous season. It finished 2-28, including 0-18 in the Mountain West Conference.
The Spartans didn't beat a Division I opponent.
They lost at Boise by 50 points.
Suspensions and injuries crushed them.
After suffering a 61-33 loss at Utah State, then-Aggie coach Stew Morrill said, "I feel bad for them — the situation they're in. … With their depleted roster, we should win going away and we did."
San Jose State basketball coach Dave Wojcik said, "I've never gone through anything like this, in all my years. … But it's like I tell the kids: That's life. It's not fair sometimes. It's going to throw a curveball at you. But you have to continue on."
Wojcik wasn't lying.
He also made a promise.
"It will pay off," he said. "You've got to go through tough times to get to the good times."
Guess what?
At long last, San Jose has found some traction.
The Spartans are 8-15 overall and, more importantly, 3-8 in the Mountain West following Thursday night's authoritative 65-53 victory over Fresno State.
After winning one of its previous 36 conference games, San Jose State won two straight by a total of 33 points, including a 75-54 victory over Air Force on Jan. 30.
As the Mountain West season passes the halfway point, the Spartans might be the most improved team in the league, considering the depths from which they've risen.
Running afoul of refs
UNLV interim coach Todd Simon wasn't too pleased with the officials after New Mexico's 87-83 win over the Rebels on Tuesday at the Pit.
UNLV's Dwayne Morgan and Jerome Seagears fouled out of the game and three other Rebels, including star freshman Stephen Zimmerman, ended up with four fouls apiece.
New Mexico took 36 free throws in the game, compared to 16 for UNLV. The Rebels were called for 28 fouls, compared to 15 by the Lobos.
"There's no secret," Simon said, "you have to be 20 points better to win by two here."
Bus ride to respectability
Under first-year coach Eric Musselman, Nevada has already won as many conference games (five) as it did last season.
The Wolf Pack won their third straight road game last week by prevailing at Utah State, 89-84.
Nevada took an overland route to Logan.
After the Wolf Pack's flight out of Reno was canceled — and with no other options available — they jumped on a bus borrowed from the Reno Boys & Girls Club and made a 10-hour drive.
Nevada didn't practice on Friday and arrived at its hotel after midnight.
"I think our guys had a chip on our shoulder that we had to travel that way," said Musselman, whose team can't afford charters. "We know there are people in this league that don't have to do that. … The guys did a great job as using that as motivation."
Twitter: @sluhm