Team and player betterment

Saw an article recently by Dan Hanner in which he analyzed certain teams with a history of getting better as the season moved into January and February and that got me thinking about the history of San Jose State University basketball. 

The question is: when was the last time a SJSU team progressed during the season?

Second question: has this ever happened?

A team's progression is based on individuals becoming higher calibre and more consistent performers as well as these players demonstrating a 'five-playing-as-one -- no individual ego' method of operation.

The foremost issue preventing this betterment at Washington Square has been because damn near everyone on the roster, from November to March, annually displaying who they were and what they have to offer minus any upgrade in productivity or proficiency. Translated: what was witnessed at the beginning of practice was what was viewed at the season's end for the last 10, 15, 25 years.

Why?

A generalization of sorts is required but three intermingled factors are usually involved:

* recruits were at their apogee when signed and that was that for advancement

* recruits failed to work hard enough over the period of their scholarship in order to realize their respective potential

* the coaching staff failed to realize the most possible out of recruits

As to playing as a meshing collective versus five individuals out on the court doing their separate things, a lack of the necessary culture was absent. Certainly not in everyone but enough so that it was evident in the results. The more recent teams featuring Adrian Oliver and C.J. Webster were the ones with the most promise but never got on the same page and a winning record was never achieved.

So how about the present?

Jalen James and Rashad Muhammad have shown fine promise early on, demonstrating the potential for greater production, consistency and efficiency. They are the two talents on the current roster with the capability of winning their respective positions on a nightly basis.

As for the remainder of the roster, the jury is still out on some and the verdict has been rendered on others.

The biggest remaining key: Matt Pollard. The body and athleticism are there, just not enough reps so that moves are much more instinctual rather than a thought-out process.

Jordan Baker gets back on the floor next season and that will be another plus player potential added to the lineup. Let's see if he has maxed out his potential or if he still has room for betterment and achieves that.

It's going to be important next season for James, Muhammad and Baker to mesh and not be counting touches or shots. The 2013-14 season has James and Muhammad establishing themselves as team leaders but Baker will have to be part of such in 2014-5 and hopefully 'we' and not 'me' will be at the forefront.