Reese Morgan scored in double figures in both games in Texas this past week. By Kim Sutlive

After going 0-3 to start their season-long six-game road trip, Cal Poly bounced back on Tuesday night, beating UTSA 88-73 in a game that even as close as the final score suggested. Four players scored 12 points each and seven Mustangs were in double-figures in the game that Cal Poly led 51-26 at halftime. The Mustangs led by 31 points mid-way through the second half.

What a difference two days make

On Sunday afternoon, Cal Poly allowed Texas A&M Corpus Christi to shoot 46 percent from the field and 50% from three-point range en route to an 80-74 loss. In that game, the Mustangs allowed the Islanders to get out to a big double-digit first-half lead. Cal Poly scrapped back to take the lead in the second half, but wasn’t able to finish the second half as strongly as they began it, despite having five players score in double figures.

On Tuesday night in San Antonio, Cal Poly’s defense early was a little better, their opponent was worse, and the Mustangs sustained a first-half run of their own that allowed them to dictate tempo and style of play in the second half.

Daaamn, Gina!

Cal Poly freshman forward Josh Martin played in his third game back. As Joe Callero predicted early in December, it took Martin a few games to get into the flow, and Tuesday was a coming out party for the hyper-athletic Minnesota transfer.

The emergence of Josh Martin will give Cal Poly yet another weapon. By Kim Sutlive

Martin slammed-home three alley-oop dunks in the first half alone and finished with 12 points and was tied for the team lead with six rebounds in just 14 minutes.

Awich off the bench?

Senior forward Joel Awich, in a bit of a slump lately, was relegated to the bench in favor of Luke Meikle, who played the five position in a small starting lineup. Both played 20 minutes on Tuesday with Awich scoring 11 and Meikle 12. Joe Callero probably has four players on his roster who can man the four position and going forward rotations are sure to be something he’ll be forced to put some extra thought into — especially once conference play starts. Who matches-up well against what other teams do could play a big role.

Defending the three

After giving up over 50% three-point shooting in three consecutive games, Cal Poly finally held an opponent under that mark for a game. UTSA shot just 7-27 from downtown — an unsurprising mark given that UTSA has a 2-11 record and is the fourteenth-worst team in Division I college basketball according to kenpom.com. The Roadrunners are shooting just 31 percent for the season from downtown.

For what it’s worth, Cal Poly currently sits at number 121 overall (out of 351 teams).

Junior Ridge Shipley (above) and freshman Jaylen Shead had a good game on Tuesday night. By Kim Sutlive

Shead and Shipley get A’s

Joe Callero loves a point guard with a good assist-turnover ratio. On Tuesday, Ridge Shipley and Jaylen Shead — both native Texan point guards — combined for 11 assists, nine rebounds, and zero turnovers. They didn’t shoot the ball well, though they are both capable scorers. Callero will be pleased with them helping the team in other ways. For Cal Poly to be dangerous, they have to get continued improvements in efficiency from the point guard position.

Fast (Christmas) Break

The Mustangs will now get a week-long break for Christmas. Players will disburse out from Texas and return after th holiday. Sporting three players from the state of Texas on their roster and one incoming freshman from the Lone Star State next season (Mark Crowe), Cal Poly will head back to College Station, Texas for a matchup with #19/21 Texas A&M on Tuesday, December 29th at 5:00 pm Pacific time. The matchup with the Aggies will be Cal Poly’s final non-conference game.

The Mustangs will start conference play at Hawai’i on January 6th. Between December 22nd and January 14th (a span of more than three weeks), the games at Texas A&M and at Hawai’i are the only ones Cal Poly will play.

Photos below by Kim Sutlive

[See image gallery at www.fansmanship.com]

[See image gallery at www.fansmanship.com]

I’ve considered all of the madness I have seen over the past four days, and I have come to the conclusion that I have vastly underrated college basketball over the past few years.  Maybe its because my favorite teams, the University of Oregon and Cal Poly State University have stunk over that time period, but I almost feel like I have missed out on something great over that time period.

Yes, every year I have  still paid attention to the tourney, but it seems this season, due the the heightened pressure from peers to pay attention and actually utilize your sense of sports knowledge, I have come to realize that college basketball is worth the attention.  Throw my gripes about hand-checking and the lack of defensive upkeep in the game aside for now.  The effort I have seen from all of these teams the past four days has glued me to the TV, whenever possible, as I have made my on-going daily life almost secondary to turning up the radio in the truck or turning on the Visio first thing when walking in the front door.

Sunday was somewhat of a disappointment, even though yesterday I lost my Final Four surprise, the Kansas State Frank Martins.  Today the Orange were juiced, Purdue laid down and Notre Dame laid an egg.

The best part of the day was the unsung.  My prediction from the start was that Kansas, if they could get by the Illini in the round of 32, would only have to only play the winner of Richmond and Morehead State (12 and 13 seeds, two of my three major first-round upsets) in the round of 16.  What I didn’t consider as well, is that after that win, and due to the upsets in the bottom of the bracket, they will have to only face the winner of two other upset seeds in the elite 8 – either 10 seed Florida State or 11 seed VCU.

This chain of events sets up perfect for my national champion.  In the rounds of 16 and 8, they only have to beat a 12 seed in the sweet 16, and either a 10 or 11 seed in the elite 8, to reach the Final Four.  Kansas fans will then migrate in drones to Houston for the Final Four, which is only a straight shot South from Lawrence, either 12 hours by wheel or 2.5 hours by wing.

This plus will give the Jayhawks a distinct advantage at the penultimate moment.  I can’t believe I’m saying this, but – Rock Chalk – Jayhawk – KU!  – ADS

Sun 3:20 8:25

With the in-laws in town, what could be more unpredictable than child-birth or the NCAA Tournament? The answer is Russell Crowe. So we’re watching Robin Hood. A decent end to a weekend of the underdog. — OM

Sun 3/20 8:12

As if this can’t get any more maddening, now Notre Dame is down eighteen to ten seed Florida st. with fifteen minutes to play. What is going on?–Loco

Sun 3/20 7:21

Greg Anthony was more right than anyone. This truly is the year of the underdog. Not much difference from 4 to 16 this year. Purdue just went down. Syracuse just went down. Pitt went down yesterday. Everyone is going down early this year.–Loco

Sun 3/20 5:21 PM

Brown from Texas is the best sixth man since Maggette with Duke in 99′.–Loco

Sun 3/20 5:11 PM

Zona by four with eight minutes to play. This is what it is all about. Two teams laying it on the line in the heated one and done atmosphere of the Madness. The NBA pales in comparison right now.–Loco

Sun 3/20 4:20

Ohio st. blowing out George Mason. There will no re-living of GM in the final four. Wow. Most dominate showing by any team I have ever seen in Tournament history. Ohio st. is 13 of 19 from 3pt.–Loco

Sun 3/20 3:45 PM

Zona by seven with seven to play in first half. I like the way they are shooting the corners and lobbing the ball into Williams. Getting Williams involved early has tired the Longhorns super-frosh Tristan Thompson. –Loco

Sun 3/20 2:02 PM

Coach Beilien has the Wolverines going in the right direction. This year’s Duke team is better than last years title team. I have go to hand it to the Wolverines, they simply DID NOT quit being down fifteen at one point in the 2nd half. Nice survival game by the Dukies though, 73-71.–Loco

Sun 3/20 12:31 PM

May be Duke by only five right now, but they clearly are in control of this game. Nolan Smith is the director of traffic. He is the dime dropping assasin leading charge for a balanced Duke team.  I like the Wolverines, but they are scrambling: living and dying by the three point shot. They are on life support, a half away from death.–Loco

Sun 3/20 11:50 AM

I too hate UNC. Mostly because I picked Washington. Duke better watch out vs. Michigan. Their coach always puts his team in a position to be in games late. If Nolan Smith keeps playing awesome D and if Michigan keeps throwing the ball away, it could be a long day for the Wolv’s… — OM

Sun. 3/20 11:25 AM

Over the emotions of my last post. I just don’t know what to make of this North Carolina team. In fact they piss me off. Wish I could see them lose by thirty to Cuesta College.–Loco

Sun. 3/20 9:02 AM

Will George Mason repeat their stunning 2006 run? Not if Ohio St. has something to say about it. How serious should we be taking Arizona? It is officially day four of March Madness. Yesterday gave us everything we hope to see: upsets. Butler is reminding us of their amazing 2010 team that upset, upset, upset, all the way to the title game. Their win over number one seed Pittsburgh was the funniest thing this tournament has ever seen. Two fouls in the final three seconds–one from half court, then another from 3/4 court, created the bewilderment of a one point Butler win.

Things really hit home for me while watching the Kansas st. v Wisconsin game. For four years, I have enjoyed Wildcats guard Jacob Pullen’s maturation into a collegiate all-American.  Despite his quickness and ability to shoot the three, pro scouts have shown no interest. After College, Pullen will be forced to reinterpret his life, try things out in the NBDL, overseas, or in the 9 to 5. For all of us who’ve enjoyed watching him, we have been left with memories that will fade as the years go by. When the final buzzer sounded with score of Wisconsin 70, Kansas St. 65, Pullen dropped to his knees with tears streaming down his face. Jacob I take nothing for granted. Thank you for everything young man.–Loco