SDSU Aztecs: What to know a year after their historic March Madness run
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
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.