San Diego State’s Intrasquad Scrimmage Reveals Offensive Potential and Defensive Challenges
San Diego State University’s men’s basketball team showcased their offensive prowess and defensive vulnerabilities in their first intrasquad scrimmage. The scrimmage, which was cut short after 18 minutes, highlighted the team’s potential to score at an impressive rate while also shedding light on the difficulties they may face on the defensive end.
The players, divided into teams, produced a lopsided score of 45-20 in favor of one group. Head coach Brian Dutcher acknowledged the impressive scoring output from the winning team while expressing concern over the lack of defensive stops from the other group. This disparity emphasized the challenge of replacing defensive stalwarts Nathan Mensah, Keshad Johnson, and Aguek Arop who have departed from the team.
One standout player from the scrimmage was true freshman Miles Heide. The 6-foot-10 post player delivered an impressive performance, scoring nine points on 4 of 5 shooting, grabbing five rebounds, and providing one assist and one block. Heide’s presence allowed senior Jaedon LeDee to shift to his more natural position at the power forward spot. LeDee, who had 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 18 minutes, displayed the versatility of his game by scoring put-backs off offensive rebounds and hitting back-to-back three-pointers – a skill he has been working on extensively.
LeDee, the only returning big man from the team’s interior rotation, showcased his ability to play both inside and outside. Coach Dutcher acknowledged LeDee’s progress in his outside shooting and expressed his eagerness to unleash LeDee’s potential from beyond the arc. The emergence of Heide and the potential pairing with LeDee present Dutcher with flexible lineup options and open up the floor for offensive opportunities.
Dutcher spoke highly of Heide’s performance in his first scrimmage, citing his comfort level on the court and his ability to fulfill the demanding role of defending on ball screens, boxing out, and recovering. LeDee praised Heide’s work ethic, motor, and fearlessness, highlighting his potential as a valuable asset to the team.
Other notable contributions came from Micah Parrish who added 10 points, and Miles Byrd who made three blocks and provided two assists for the winning team. Additionally, the Red Team showcased better ball security with only four turnovers compared to the Black Team’s nine.
Despite the impressive offensive display, senior guard Lamont Butler’s playing time was limited due to minor ankle issues. Coach Dutcher expressed his satisfaction in seeing other players seize the opportunity to get minutes without Butler’s presence.
The team plans to have another scrimmage on Wednesday as they continue their preseason preparations. They will also face Arizona State in a closed-door scrimmage followed by an exhibition game against Division II Cal State San Marcos. The season opener is scheduled for November 6 against Cal State Fullerton.
Coach Dutcher expressed his overall optimism about the team, acknowledging the areas that need improvement but also appreciating the talent and potential he witnessed in the intrasquad scrimmage. The San Diego State men’s basketball team is looking forward to building upon their offensive potential while shoring up their defensive challenges for the upcoming season.
