Bill O'Rear

A basketball lifer who has spent decades either playing, coaching or writing about the game. Blessed to be a San Diego State basketball fan.

[🇺🇸TREYINBREX🇯🇵 @0fZVHhWgMh83602]

Quiet work. Total focus. All for the team. 🏀🔥

Trey, keep fighting for your brothers. Your dedication and team-first mentality never go unnoticed.

We believe in you. Keep pushing forward! 💛💙

Let's go, 栃木!
#TreyKell #BREX #INNOVATE

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

Congrats to former San Diego State sharpshooter Reese Dixon-Waters on recently signing with the G League’s Grand Rapids Gold. Good luck to Reese this year as a professional player who is chasing his NBA dream. #Aztecs

[Grand Rapids Gold @NBAGrandRapids]

🚨 Roster News 🚨

We have signed Reese Dixon-Waters! 🙌

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

Shot Ready: Coach Brian Dutcher says Oregon State transfer Isaiah Se is one of the best shooters he’s seen at SDSU & will be a dangerous 3-point threat all season. Isaiah tells @JakeGaregnani that he’s excited to play this year & help the promising Aztecs go as far as they can.

[Jake Garegnani @JakeGaregnani]

“A lot of shooting. A lot of threes...” 

After two years at Oregon State, the sharpshooting @isaiah_sy brings his talents to San Diego State. Get to know the senior hoping to light it up in the Aztecs backcourt.

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

Good stuff: @SportsOnTheMesa shares some thoughts on San Diego State’s exhibition loss to No. 21 USC at Viejas — including being better defensively vs. perimeter shooters, cutting down on turnovers & developing a more consistent offense where Aztec shooters will hit open shots.

[Sports on the Mesa @SportsOnTheMesa]

I break down the encouraging signs and more in this weeks episode: The Good The Bad and The Ugly.
https://t.co/NrOX0pQvo1

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

San Diego State’s Brian Dutcher understands you don’t start from almost scratch & build a conference title contender in a game or two. It takes time, lots of work, players buying into the system, growing confidence & getting the most out of the talent. Trust Dutch, he has a plan.

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

Great to see San Diego State sophomore guard Elzie Harrington feeling healthy again & primed for a big year with the Aztecs. Elzie scored 19 points vs. No. 21 USC on Friday night at Viejas Arena — including this high-flying dunk. #Aztecs

[MESA @mesa_aztecs]

OH MY @ElzieHarringto1 😤

#GoAztecs @Aztec_MBB

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

Big props to San Diego State sophomore guard Elzie Harrington who led the Aztecs with 19 points in Friday’s 85-68 loss to visiting No. 21 USC. Elzie was 6 of 10 on field goals, 3 of 4 3’s & 4 of 4 on free throws to go with 4 assists, 2 rebounds & 2 steals in 28 1/2 minutes.

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

“We have the talent in my opinion,” Dutcher said. “We need to get player buy-in & play tougher mentally against these top 25 caliber of teams. Arizona & USC exposed some things we’ll have to do better.”

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

Rodney Rice scored 23 points & Alijah Arenas had 22 to lead No. 21 USC to an 85-68 exhibition win over San Diego State on Friday night at Viejas Arena. Elzie Harrington led the Aztecs with 19 points. Bear Cherry added 16 & Latrell Davis 11.

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

Aztec coach Brian Dutcher praised USC as a very good team, one that made 9 3’d & forced 20 SDSU turnovers. “At the end of the day, it was lessons learned,” Dutcher said. “We’ve got to be better as coaches & players. So much growth we have to do this year.”

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

San Diego State will host Long Beach State in an exhibition game at 7 pm Wednesday at Viejas Arena, then officially open the 2026-27 season while hosting Cal State Fullerton at 7 pm Tuesday, Nov. 3 at Viejas.

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

The Trojans used their size & quickness to fight past the hustling Aztecs. USC led 51-31 at the half & made 7 3’s in the first 20 minutes. SDSU pulled to within 9 points in the final half on a couple of occasions before the Trojans closed the door on an impressive road win.

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

No. 21 USC leads San Diego State 51-31 at halftime Friday night in an exhibition game at Viejas Arena. Alijah Arenas tops the Trojans with 15 points & Rodney Rice has 13. Bear Cherry leads the Aztecs with 8 points & Elzie Harrington has 7. USC has hit 7 3’s; SDSU, 3.

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

The USC-SDSU game at Viejas Arena will not be televised but San Diego radio station 760 will broadcast the exhibition with Steve Quis & Allen Sliwa providing the play-by-play & commentary, respectively. Go, Aztecs.

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

San Diego State head coach Brian Dutcher loves this year’s Aztec team & believes they will be “a really good team” when all is said & done. “They’re talented. They’re good kids & they’re very connected,” Dutcher told @schaefferandsli during an upbeat afternoon interview Thursday.

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

The Aztecs traveled to play No. 5 Arizona last week & fell 82-67 in an exhibition. There were some highlights & some areas that need improvement. But Dutcher was pleased with the effort & can hardly wait until his roster is fully healthy. The USC game is an exhibition, too.

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

But to get to their best team version, the Aztecs need to compete vs. D-1 teams like Arizona, Gonzaga, USC, UCLA & BYU. “We’re going to try to not get too high or too low, and build chemistry to win games,” Dutcher said. “It’s all part of the process.” SDSU hosts USC on Friday.

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

“I feel we have a roster that can beat anyone on our schedule,” Dutcher said. “We’re trying to build a strong resume to play in the NCAA tournament.” He feels the Aztecs have the talent to compete at a high level while still playing a highly competitive schedule & in the PAC-12.

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

Great to see San Diego State’s Dave Velasquez honored as one of the best assistant coaches in the country. Coach Dave has been extremely valuable on Coach Fisher’s & Coach Dutcher’s successful teams over the years. #Respect #AztecForLife

[Silver Waves Media @SilverWaveMedia]

@UNImbb @AbeWoldeslassie @UNIAthletics @northerniowa @UCImbb @UCIAthletics @UCIrvine @GoMocsMBB @CoachAGalfsky @GoMocs @UTChattanooga @LBSUMBB @Coach_ASantos @LBSUAthletics @SacHornetsMBB @hornetsports @sacstate @USUBasketball @coachbpeery @USUAthletics @USUAggies @MKEPanthers @TUMBBHoops @bobjordan1 @TempleOwls @TempleUniv @OaklandMBB @GoldenGrizzlies @oaklandu @PacificMensBB @Coach__Brandon @PacificTigers @UOPacific @UCSBbasketball @UCSBathletics @ucsantabarbara @VandalHoops @CoachBLaird @Idaho_Vandals @uidaho @BelmontMBB @CoachBmullins @GoBelmontBruins @BelmontUniv @RamblersMBB @LoyolaRamblers @LoyolaChicago @SaintLouisMBB @CoachPutz Congratulations to David Velasquez of @Aztec_MBB on being selected to the Most Impactful/Influential Mid-Major Major Assistant Coaches list.

https://t.co/R8XsMoJKyq

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

@rosskre Yes, Marcus Fizer was in that team and battled Kenyon Martin in the tourney final at sold-out Hilo Civic. But physical Cincinnati was really talented & fought off the Tinsley & Fizer-led charge.

[Bill O'Rear @billohoops]

I had an opportunity to watch Bob Huggins & his Kenyon Martin-led Cincinnati team play in Hilo, Hawaii in 2000. The Bearcats won an 8-team tourney & the animated Huggins lit a fire under them during games. But in interviews afterwards, he was calm & respectful. A great coach. 🙏🏻

[Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein]

Bob Huggins’ family has released a statement.

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏