SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Shooting guard Tony Bland, who started all 32 games
for Syracuse University last season, is transferring to San Diego State.
The Los Angeles native said Wednesday he wanted to attend a school closer to
home so his family could see him play more often.
"It's just two hours away," Bland said. "My dad, my grandfather, my aunt
and uncle, they can all see me play. I'll be a lot closer to home."
Bland averaged 6.8 points and 1.7 rebounds as a sophomore for the 26-6
Orangemen, but a shooting slump late in the season led to a significant drop in
his playing time. In the NCAA Tournament, Bland scored 3.3 points in just 13
minutes per game.
The 6-foot-4 Bland joins a San Diego State program that just completed its
first year under former Michigan coach Steve Fisher. The Aztecs finished last
season with a 5-22 record, including an 0-14 regular-season mark in the
Mountain West Conference.
Fisher has brought in seven new players, including Bland, in an attempt to
turn the San Diego State program around.
"They were real bad," Bland said. "But I've seen a lot of the new guys
play. It won't be that bad for long."
Bland must sit out the 2000-01 season under the NCAA's transfer rules. He
asked for his official release from Syracuse in April and also considered
moving to Southern California, Arizona State, Oregon State and UCLA.
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