Thoughts on SJSU hoops

* To have a successful team, one of the integral components is possessing enough of the players winning their position on a nightly basis. For the current SJSU crew, that's possibly two when the stars are in alignment. Although he's been muzzled of late, Rashad Muhammad has that capability. It's also within Jalen James too but more as potential at this point. Once in a great while, Jaleel Williams bursts out but that doesn't happen on a consistent enough basis. Next season, redshirt guard Jordan Baker will carry that trait if he has shown the requisite improvement. Also add Jeremiah Ingram to the list, giving the Spartans the opportunity to win at the power forward spot although he isn't any sort of physical behemoth who will bulldoze opponents out of the way.

* Go big or go home -- for the obvious impaired, a big is desperately needed. At this point, just someone who is a rebounder/defender and capable of offensive putbacks would be acceptable but a well-rounded man in the middle, someone who demands defensive attention, would help create better looks offensively for the others.

* What has started, at least to a degree, is the landing of talent with the potential of getting better. For far too long in recruiting, it has been what you see is what you generally get the next year and the next year and the next year... Player improvement was a missing element. So getting guys who haven't peaked AND who will do what is necessary for annual betterment must became the norm.

* Connected to the point above is also the matter of landing Mountain West Conference level recruits possessing the capability or eventual capacity of competing with who and what other teams are bringing in for replenishment. In some cases, this must include beating out other MWC teams for this or that prospect whether that be in California or elsewhere..