Conspiracy theorists of San Diego, here's one for you.
Beth Burns, Cindy Fisher, Steve Fisher and Bill Grier are conspiring, with a host of enthusiastic youthful followers, to drag San Diego – screaming and kicking if necessary – into being a college basketball town.
They know that given San Diego's long-established infatuation with the Padres and Chargers – strained though those relationships may be at the moment – and the uninspiring overall histories of San Diego State and USD basketball, it won't be easy. But with the start of the college basketball season at hand, consider what the NCAA Division I women's and men's coaches are working on.
Burns' SDSU women went 18-13 last year, the first winning season and largest victory total for the team in 11 years, and came up just one win short of an NCAA berth with a loss to New Mexico in the Mountain West Conference Tournament championship game.
Cindy Fisher's USD women won the West Coast Conference Tournament to advance to the NCAAs before a first-round loss to Cal ended a 19-13 year.
Steve Fisher's SDSU men are coming off a third straight 20-win season (20-13) and a second straight NIT berth, which made four postseason appearances (two NIT, two NCAA) in the past six years.
Grier's USD men won the WCC Tournament and recorded the first NCAA Tournament victory by a San Diego Division I team with an overtime upset of Connecticut. The Toreros finished 22-14 in Grier's first season at the school.
The SDSU women and USD men have their entire starting lineups returning; the other two teams have back significant strength in terms of the starting lineups and key reserves. The SDSU women are the preseason No. 2 pick in the MWC; the other three teams occupy the No. 3 spots in strong, veteteran-laden conferences.
Last month, the four conspirators were in Las Vegas on back-to-back days for their respective conference media days. Their thoughts on the conversion of San Diego from pro to college, and baseball/football to basketball were solicited.
“San Diego is like a lot of communities in my opinion,” Steve Fisher said. “If you win, they'll be there. But you have to win to get those extra 5,000 (followers).
“It's well-documented that there are a lot of things that you can do in San Diego. And if the people don't think it's a) entertaining and b) winning, they'll find other things to do.
“I'm proud of the way we've grown our attendance. We've got a great student following that creates an atmosphere to have a home-court advantage. That in itself helps create the buzz that brings people back and maybe gets them to bring a friend with them as well.
“But I've been around long enough to know that winning is the big key to creating that environment.”
Said Burns: “We live in a city that is fabulous and we all appreciate that. So I don't blame people one bit for wanting to spend their time, which is really more precious than their money, watching something worth watching.
“I joked a few years ago that we (SDSU women's team) were in witness protection and rightfully so. We're out now and it's on us, not on the city of San Diego. If our product is good enough, if we build it, they will come.
“Call me an optimist, but I'll go down swinging that way. We envision Cox Arena being filled on both sides (men's and women's). We envision hanging banners on both sides.”
Cindy Fisher said seeing the success at both schools last season, “It was almost like, 'Wow, this really can be a basketball town.' If the city would embrace that, I think it could be really exciting for the whole community.
“One night a year Beth and I are very competitive, and one night a year Bill and Steve are very competitive. But other than that, we're each other's fans.
“And the more we can come together and keep that success going, the whole city is going to benefit. And this is a good time, right?”
In 16 years as an assistant at Gonzaga, Grier saw how interest can build in college basketball and what it can do to a community. But that was Spokane, Wash., which obviously is a lot different from San Diego.
Still, Grier said, “No question it can,” when asked if San Diego ever could become a college basketball hotbed.
“Last year, being a rookie and all, I didn't know much about the situation,” Grier said. “Then at the Hall of Champions lunch before we played them, Steve Fisher made an interesting point. He said 'When USD plays well it helps us (SDSU) and it helps the sport in San Diego.'
“With the success both schools have had, and I'd also throw in UCSD as well, there's reason for interest and there's certainly enough people to support all three programs.
“I know it traditionally hasn't been a good college basketball town. But I don't see any reason why it couldn't be one.”
Hank Wesch: (619) 293-1853; hank.wesch@uniontrib.com
