Three thoughts on San Diego State’s 100-49 win against Division III Occidental at Viejas Arena on Tuesday night:

1. Wayne’s world

The book on Wayne McKinney III was that he couldn’t shoot the III.

A tough, athletic, defensive-minded point guard with the strength to finish at the rim but susceptible to opposing defenders going under ball screens and daring him to shoot. In three seasons at USD, he shot 31.2% behind the arc. As a sophomore, it was 21.3%.

He showed some improvement last season, then closed 3 of 19 over his final seven games.

The bad taste stuck with McKinney through the spring and summer, providing the fuel to do something about it.

He transferred to SDSU, which meant a higher level of competition and expectation. It also meant he had 24-hour access to the JAM Center practice facility as well as a fleet of student managers to rebound for him, something most mid-major programs don’t have.

“It’s helped me a lot,” McKinney, who started in place of injured Miles Byrd, said after a 4-for-7 performance behind the arc against Occidental, “getting in there every day, having a practice facility with really no restrictions and having people come rebound for me, everybody being there for me, getting work in every day.

“It’s been a blessing. It’s something every basketball player should ask for. It’s beautiful.”

McKinney’s size (he’s generously listed at 6 feet) dictates that he play the point, but with Florida Atlantic transfer Nick Boyd and other options at lead guard, coach Brian Dutcher has the luxury of playing McKinney off the ball. That’s helpful when it comes to perimeter shots, because firing off the dribble behind a ball screen is statistically harder than catch-shoot off a pass.

“He’s shown if you get him into a step-in 3, where his feet are set and he can step into it, he makes them,” Dutcher said. “We know he’s a great mid-range scorer, but if he adds a 3 to that, he’s going to be a hard guy to guard.”

So far, so good. Through two games, he is 4 of 8 on 3s. Include the preseason exhibition against Division II Cal State San Marcos, and he’s 5 of 10.

There is no secret other than repetition when no one’s watching. McKinney is among the players who most religiously stays after practice to shoot, in addition to separate individual workouts in the mornings or evenings (and sometimes both).

“It’s just knowing my preparation is really important for every game,” he said. “The first two years (at USD), I was kind of off shooting the ball. I realized I’m a smaller guard, and I need to make some outside shots to help the team. Every day in the offseason and even in season right now, every day I’m focused on getting my shots up, making sure I’m prepared.”

San Diego State stands for the national anthem with an injured Reese Waters and Miles Byrd before a game against Occidental College at Viejas Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

2. Game-time decision

Here’s the prognosis for Byrd’s sprained ankle ahead of Monday’s game against No. 4 Gonzaga: It’s going to be close.

Byrd rolled the ankle in practice Monday, meaning he has one week to heal. Ankles can be fickle. Sometimes they require the standard four to six weeks; sometimes guys are back on the floor after a few days.

Byrd was hobbling around on crutches Tuesday night with a protective boot on his right foot.

“He’s in a boot, and it’s bothering him right now,” Dutcher said. “We’ll just treat him and hope and pray he’ll be available Monday. Now, whether he is or not, that depends on how quick a healer he is. We won’t throw him out there injured, obviously. It’s a November game, and we have a big season to play for.

“But if he’s healthy and ready to go, that will be a huge plus for us, because Miles is a dynamic player and this is going to be an important game. … It probably will truly be a game-time decision.”

The Aztecs, already missing 6-6 Reese Waters with a stress fracture, will have four practices before Gonzaga. There’s a chance the 6-7 Byrd could sit out all of them, then suit up Monday.

“If he’s ready to play, I’ll put him out there,” Dutcher said. “I don’t need to see a lot of practice, and that’s because he’s a third-year guy. He’s been in the program, and we kind of know what to expect from him. Sometimes when the older guys get hurt, they don’t fall as far behind because they’ve already played in the program and they know how to do things.

“Sometimes they come back and they have fresh legs, and that’s a huge advantage.”

San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher looks on during a game against Occidental College at Viejas Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

3. Continuity

The Aztecs hit triple digits in regulation for the first time in six years. They’ve done it once since 2007 against a Division I opponent.

“We scored 100 points and everyone is like, wow, that’s fantastic,” Dutcher said. “I think Gonzaga is averaging 95. How is that possible? They’re playing Arizona State and Baylor. It’s common for them to score this many points. Now we have to play a team that scores that many every night. We have to find a way to not allow that to happen in this building.”

That’s Monday at Viejas Arena. The next game is against No. 14 Creighton, which scored 99 and 96 points in its first two outings.

One reason is the superior talent, of course. Another is continuity. Their players aren’t still learning each other’s tendencies, let alone their names.

Gonzaga ranks ninth nationally in minutes continuity from last season at 66.5% and eighth in average Division I experience at 3.02 years. Creighton is 70th (48.5%) and 56th (2.5 years).

The Aztecs? They’re 316th in minutes continuity at 11.2% and 198th in Division I experience at 1.69 years.

The Zags opened the season with an 101-63 win against then-No. 8 Baylor, which has good talent that hasn’t played together (268th in minutes continuity at 21.7%). Play that game in March, and Gonzaga might still win — just not by 38.

This is the new reality in college basketball, though, with unprecedented mobility for players from free transfers and not-so-free NIL payouts. The Division I average in minutes continuity has been steadily falling as a result, from 48.9% in 2021-22 to 41.5% to 39.1% to this year’s 33.9%.

It’s a new position for the Aztecs, the 11.2% being their lowest by quite a bit in the 18 years the statistic has been kept. In 2010-11, 80.3% of their minutes came from returnees. Two seasons ago, when they reached the national championship game, it was 61%. Last season it was 47.1%.

“I know we’ve got a good team,” Dutcher said during the preseason. “We have good talent that cares about the right things and practices the right way. But how soon are we a good team with all those (new) individuals remains to be seen. I always say we get better as the year goes on, but we have to be good in November this year, if possible, because of the schedule we play.”