The reading of Jon Wilner's article on San Jose State University basketball history provoked a number of thoughts, including this one:
It was short-lived (we'll never know if it could have turned into something more) but the 2009-2010 Spartan roster (I don't use 'team' here for a particular reason) that contained Adrian Oliver, C.J. Webster, Chris Oakes and Justin Graham as mainstays, with designated shooters Robert Owens and Mac Peterson, had all the necessary elements to be a winner, except for cohesion. Oliver and Webster were never able to beneficially let alone mutually co-exist because each, first and foremost, wanted to be the focal point of the offense. The record therefore was a less than capable 14-17 and Webster subsequently departed with a year of eligibility remaining.
It also needs noting that Justin Graham hadn't fully recovered that season from surgeries on his wrist. I'll always believe that Graham was the most valuable player throughout this whole time simply because he was always willing to lessen his shot attempts and create for others, not caring how many points he scored. Too many others did and sacrificing for a greater good was not the pervasive spirit of the team.
On a different note, the 17-16 mark of the 'winning' 2010-11 season must always be remembered that counting a 95-62 victory over DIII Puget Sound made it so. That and a bevy of down-in-the-mouth opponents. But the 75-72 victory over Oregon in Eugene was one for the ages.
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