Steve Fisher has done a great job building up the program at San Diego State over the last few years. The Aztecs have flown under the radar a bit in the Mountain West Conference, but they have been solid every year. Last year the team finished with a 25-9 record and made it into the NCAA Tournament. The Aztecs lost a hard-fought battle with Tennessee in the first round, but this year’s team has the potential to be even better than the 2009-10 team. Look for Fisher’s veteran team to do some major damage this season.

San Diego State Aztecs Basketball: Offseason Changes

The No. 1 reason this team can be expected to be so dangerous this year is because they return all five starters from a year ago. Kelvin Davis and Tyrone Shelley are both gone from last year’s squad, which thins out their backcourt a little bit. The good news is the team was able to bring in some reinforcements at the two-guard positions. James Rahon will be eligible this year after transferring over from Santa Clara. Rahon averaged 11.3 points per game two years ago, and he shot 41 percent from beyond the arc. Two freshmen will also vie for playing time in the backcourt. Jamaal Franklin and LaBradford Franklin are both expected to be able to contribute off the bench in their first season at San Diego State.

San Diego State College Basketball: Outlook

San Diego State had five players that averaged more than 10 points per game last year. The team is as balanced as you will find, and everyone on this team knows their role. Seven different players led the team in scoring in individual games. The Aztecs return 83 percent of their scoring from last year, which should mean this team has a different star every game once again.

Kawhi Leonard is a powerful 6-7 sophomore forward that dominated the glass in the conference as a freshman. Fisher likes his rebounding skills so much that he says Leonard is as good as any rebounder he has coached in 20 years. If you remember the players Fisher coached at Michigan, you know that is a huge compliment. Billy White is a great athlete, and he currently leads NCAA Division I in field goal percentage among active players. Chase Tapley had a great freshman year at the shooting guard position, and he appears poised for a big breakout this season. D.J. Gay is their best long-range shooter, and he has proven very capable of being the primary ball-handler in this offense. San Diego State has talent all over the court, and they play well together as a team.

San Diego State College Basketball Futures Odds

Sportsbook.com has the Aztecs listed at +6,000 to win the NCAA Tournament this season. While none of the sportsbooks currently have odds listed on the Mountain West Conference, I strongly believe that San Diego State is the team to beat in the conference.

San Diego State Aztecs Basketball Schedule

The Aztecs will play Gonzaga and St. Mary’s in their second and third games of the year, respectively, so they will be tested by two West Coast Conference powers right out of the gate. In January, they must play both Brigham Young and New Mexico on the road. Expect their late February game against BYU to be a battle for the Mountain West Conference crown.

San Diego State Basketball Predictions and Picks

The Aztecs have one of the deepest frontcourts in all of college basketball. I fully expect Leonard and White to dominate in Mountain West conference play this year. This team will be able to score at will down low, and they also have the shooters to beat a zone defense. Fisher always has his team playing tough defense, so I expect the intensity to be high on the defensive end. Look for this team to get into the NCAA Tournament and win at least one game.

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