San Diego's chances at March Madness bid have slimmed
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The SDSU Aztecs are stretching for a March Madness bid this year. Photo: Sam Wasson/Getty Images
San Diego State's men's basketball team wraps its final Mountain West regular season Friday night, but the fight for a spot in March Madness is heating up.
The big picture: The Aztecs have been sitting on the bubble of the bracket, and the team's chances for an at-large bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament fell significantly this week after a string of critical losses.
- Winning the Mountain West tournament championship next week is the team's best (and potentially only) shot at going dancing this year.
Driving the news: SDSU plays its final regular season game, celebrating Senior Night, against UNLV at Viejas Arena on Friday at 7pm. Tickets are $45+.
- A win could put the Aztecs in a three-way tie for first place in the Mountain West. New Mexico would have to beat Utah State on Saturday for that to happen.
Flashback: The last time SDSU men's team failed to make the NCAA tournament was the 2018-19 season.
State of play: Coming off an early exit from March Madness last year, SDSU hasn't lived up to expectations as the unanimous pick to win the regular-season title in its final Mountain West campaign before joining the Pac-12 next year.
- But a share of the title would help their chances at an NCAA bid.
- The Aztecs already secured a top seed and first-round bye in the Mountain West tournament, so they'll start play in the quarterfinals next Thursday in Las Vegas.
- Winning that championship guarantees an automatic bid to March Madness.
Meanwhile, the SDSU women are soaring into the postseason as Mountain West regular-season champions on an eight-game winning streak.
Zoom in: The Aztecs went 19-1 in the conference, setting a league record.
- They're looking for a second-straight Mountain West Tournament championship to send them dancing again.
- With a first-round bye, that run starts on Sunday in the quarterfinals.
The UC San Diego men's and women's teams will be chasing Big West tournament championship titles next week to make the NCAA tournament again.
How to watch: The Mountain West men's tournament games will be March 11-14 on SI TV, the Mountain West Network and CBS.
- Watch the women's conference tournament March 7-10.
- The Big West men's and women's tournaments will stream on ESPN+ or broadcast on ESPN networks March 11-14.
What's next: College hoops teams nationwide find out their March Madness fate on Selection Sunday on March 15.