Key matchup: Responsibilities piling up for FAU transfer Nick Boyd within shorthanded SDSU backcourt

Nov. 17—In a game between Gonzaga and San Diego State, it shouldn’t be too surprising that we landed on someone with Final Four experience when making our selection for the key matchup ahead of Monday’s showdown between two of the last West Coast programs to play for a national championship.

It’s slightly more surprising our choice made the Final Four wearing something other than a Gonzaga or San Diego State uniform.

Two years later, SDSU’s roster no longer includes any of the nine players who registered minutes in a 72-71 win over Florida Atlantic in the 2023 Final Four.

Although there’s no one who played for SDSU, senior guard Nick Boyd was on the opposing bench, starting and playing key minutes for FAU, who made a Cinderella run to the final weekend of the college basketball season before losing to the Aztecs in gut-wrenching fashion.

When FAU coach Dusty May left this offseason for Michigan — eventually replaced by former Gonzaga Director of Operations John Jakus — Boyd made a move of his own, entering the transfer portal and landing on Dutcher’s roster at SDSU.

Boyd could be a candidate to play heavy minutes — and take a few more shots than normal — for a SDSU team nursing multiple injuries in the backcourt ahead of Monday’s 7 p.m. (CBSSN) tipoff against the fourth-ranked Zags at Viejas Arena.

Boyd climbed to the top of the key matchup ladder after a stress fracture to Reese Waters sidelined the senior for six weeks and a sprained ankle to Miles Byrd held the sophomore out of last week’s game against Occidental, leaving him questionable for Monday’s matchup.

Boyd was also shelved for a period of time, missing eight weeks during the preseason after injuring his ankle, but he’s leading the Aztecs in assists (2.5 apg) through two games and one of four players scoring in double figures (10.5 ppg).

The 6-foot-3 guard from Garnerville, N.Y., was FAU’s second-leading scorer with 12 points in the Final Four loss to SDSU. He averaged 9.1 points and 3.5 rebounds over his…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/key-matchup-responsibilities-piling-fau-030100765.html

Author : The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.

Publish date : 2024-11-18 03:01:00

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