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No. 23 San Diego State Faces Cal in San Jose Nightcap
San Diego State and California are set to cap off the San Jose Tip-Off on Saturday night, offering both teams a final opportunity to solidify their form before diving into conference play.
A Rematch With Roster Shake-Ups
The Aztecs, ranked No. 23, bested the Golden Bears 76-67 in their last meeting in November 2022. However, both teams will look drastically different this time around. San Diego State’s top five scorers from that matchup are absent, including Reese Waters, who remains sidelined this season with a stress fracture. Sophomore Miles Byrd, who scored four points in last year’s game, is now the Aztecs’ leading scorer at 13.1 points per game.
For Cal, the turnover is even more pronounced. None of the 10 players who faced San Diego State last year remain on the roster, with the Golden Bears now fielding a mix of freshmen and transfers.
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San Diego State’s Quest for Consistency
The Aztecs (7-2) enter the game riding a four-game winning streak, including an 81-75 victory over Cal Baptist on Dec. 11. Despite the wins, head coach Brian Dutcher sees room for growth.
“I’m just trying to get a young team better,” Dutcher said. “I have to coach them without tearing their confidence down, but being realistic with them. I like this team a lot, but obviously we’re entering a really tough three-game stretch with Cal, and then Utah State at home, and then Boise on the road.”
San Diego State has earned its national ranking with key wins over then-No. 21 Creighton and then-No. 6 Houston. However, the team is preparing for the challenge of Mountain West play, beginning with a critical matchup against Utah State on Dec. 28.
Stojakovic Shines for Cal
Cal (7-4) has shown flashes of potential, thanks in large part to swingman Andrej Stojakovic. The freshman, and son of former NBA star Peja Stojakovic, delivered a standout 31-point performance in the Golden Bears’ 84-66 win over Northwestern State last Saturday.
In an unusual twist, Stojakovic played that game wearing a jersey with his last name misspelled as “Stojajovic.” When asked about the mishap, he downplayed any thoughts of superstition. “I want to fix it,” he said. “It’s my name.”
Stojakovic, who previously played at Stanford, has proven to be a consistent scorer for Cal, posting 20 or more points in six of his last eight games.
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Both Teams Eye a Momentum-Builder
The San Jose Tip-Off offers both squads a valuable chance to refine their game plans. For San Diego State, maintaining their defensive intensity and integrating their younger players will be crucial as they head into a demanding Mountain West schedule. Cal, meanwhile, is looking to build on its recent success and see further development from its new-look roster.
As the Aztecs aim to extend their winning streak to five games, and Cal continues its rebuild under a fresh cast of players, the clash in San Jose promises an intriguing mix of experience, talent, and potential.
