SDSU Aztecs: What to know a year after their historic March Madness run
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Lamont Butler handles the ball earlier this season against UNLV. Photo: Louis Grasse/Getty Images
The San Diego State Aztecs begin postseason play today against rival UNLV in the Mountain West Conference tournament in Las Vegas.
Why it matters: A strong showing could improve SDSU's seed and win them bragging rights, a year after their historic NCAA Tournament run.
State of play: Regardless of their conference tournament showing, the Aztecs are expected to return to the NCAA Tournament — aka March Madness.
The big picture: It's been an up and down year for SDSU — breaking into and dropping out of the Top 25 on multiple occasions and notching a pedestrian 4-4 record in its final eight games.
- SDSU closed the regular season Friday with a home overtime loss to Boise State, which knocked them from 21st to again being unranked.
- The Aztecs begin defending last year's conference championship at 2:30pm today with a de facto road game, since UNLV's home court hosts the Mountain West tournament.
- SDSU comfortably beat UNLV at home in early January but lost a close one to the Runnin' Rebels in Vegas earlier this month.
- An Aztecs win against UNLV would earn them a matchup with top-seeded Utah State on Friday, before a potential Saturday championship game.
Catch up quick: Forward Jaedon LeDee emerged as a superstar for the Aztecs this year, leading the Mountain West with 20.5 points per game and finishing third in rebounding at eight per game.
- That was good enough for media members to vote LeDee the Mountain West player of the year, but conference coaches instead picked Utah State forward Great Osobor.
- SDSU guard Lamont Butler, last year's Final Four hero, won the conference's defensive player of the year award.
- And, Aztecs head coach Brian Dutcher won his own award this year — a contract extension that made him the highest-paid employee in the Cal State University system.
What we're watching: ESPN and CBS Sports both project SDSU as a 5 seed in the NCAA tournament, which was SDSU's seed last year before they won five March Madness games.
- Meanwhile, The Athletic projects them as a 6 seed — so making a run in Las Vegas gives the Aztecs their best chance of securing a manageable path through the Big Dance.
