Taking a look at SJSU -- a collection of thoughts

What a wild ride it has been so far this season -- winnable home games that were losses versus Portland and Denver, an uptick versus St. Mary's, followed by road victories versus Washington State (what a stinker of a team the Cougars are this season, having just been routed at home 70-54 by New Orleans) and then Idaho, and then finally taking down Santa Clara.

Upcoming Montana, Bowling Green and Southern Utah matchups are all winnable contests so it's looking positive. Which is critical because but this season will positively/negatively effect the talented Bay Area and northern California recruits being so heavily pursued in the next two classes. A positive non-conference record will bring momentum entering Mountain West Conference play and the Spartans need a .500 record there.

Still, we're calling this a bridge season because the team is not "there" yet, being too young, too inexperienced and thus inconsistent.

There remains a need for a breakout player who can always be counted on for a certain number of points or points plus rebounds each game. Maybe that is Ryan Welage. But who will it be in the backcourt?

The improvement in defensive effort and outcome is most heartening. It must be team wide due to some physical deficiencies and that it has been.

Player notes

All this is happening without a significant contribution from Ryan Singer (which blows up my pre-season prediction).

Maybe Jaycee Hillsman simply has range to 15 or so feet and isn't a three-point shooter considering his numbers both last season and thus far: 17-31, 1-7, 29-32

A redshirt class of Nai Carlisle and Keith Fisher III combined with incoming Noah Baumann looks really solid for next season. A 6-foot-10 serviceable center (one good at a couple of tasks -- rebounding and defensive presence, please) would still really help. The key for the success of any mid-major program is grabbing guys who are more than single talent prospects.

Gotta love the steadiness of Isaac Thornton. Yes, there certainly are holes in his game but play to his strengths, steer away from his weaknesses and that's good enough.

Not sure what is up with Cody Schwartz but playing time next season (yes, it's still far off) is looking very minimal considering the returnees and newcomers.

Again looking far ahead: will Brandon Mitchell be in a situation at the end of the academic year of graduating and transferring elsewhere for his final year of athletic eligibility? A lower level would bring much more court time.

Jalen James sports 18/6 assist-to-turnover numbers -- keep it coming. Like Mitchell, James is another candidate for graduate transfer status but he just may want to be part of what should be the best Spartan squad during his tenure.

Not sure how much Brandon Clarke has improved his shot -- he started out better but his free throw percentage is 57%.

Isaiah Nichols has displayed the typical ups-and-downs of most freshman campaigns thus far but his future is definitely a bright one.

Love the IQ and hustle of E.J. Boyce but not yet seeing him as a steady contributor at the Mountain Wes Conference level.