“Disappointing” and “frustrating”. These are two words frequently used by San Diego State men’s basketball fans when you peruse the online spaces these days. This is the vibe following the Aztecs’ two consecutive losses to end the 2023-24 regular season.
For a team that just finished a 22-9 regular season and maintains a top-20 NET ranking nationally—those words seem just a bit harsh.
But such are the realities for a program coming off an improbable run to the national championship game last season; one saddled with the additional expectations as the preseason choice for the Mountain West Conference’s top spot.
But facing lofty expectations from a fan base spoiled by a sustained run of unprecedented success isn’t anything new. Just as we saw in last season’s banner raising year, this year’s SDSU team has endured its fair share of criticism.
Aztecs fans of recent vintage are accustomed to seeing a Brian Dutcher-coached team improve as the season goes along—not a team entering the Mountain West tournament on a two-game losing streak and outside of the conference’s top four spots.
But if last year taught us anything it should be to never bet against the Aztecs putting it all together. Making a run in Las Vegas, or in the following week’s “March Madness” NCAA Tournament, is still in the cards and the Aztecs are guaranteed to have a seat at the table.
Yes, San Diego State completed Mountain West play with a disappointing 11-7 record. However, outside of an 18-point road game drubbing by New Mexico in January, every other conference game saw the Aztecs with a chance to win coming down the stretch.
The difference between a desired 13-5 conference record and the actual 11-7 record they ended up with could be as little as one more bucket made, one more converted free throw, one more defensive stop, or in Friday night’s case against the Broncos—one more defensive rebound.
In speaking after the 79-77 overtime loss to Boise State at home, Coach Dutcher talked about the little things that determine a game’s outcome.
“There were lots of great moments for us,” he said. “The moments that cost us were not being able to secure rebounds down the stretch. They (Boise St.) got offensive rebounds that turned the game.”
It was indeed an offensive rebound by the Broncos’ Cam Martin that sealed SDSU’s fate on Senior Night. The center was fouled as he went up for a short follow up and made both free throws to put the game on ice.
Heading to Las Vegas for the third time this season, SDSU enters this final portion of their schedule knowing a few more things about itself than before.
Bonafide All-American—Jaedon LeDee
One, the Aztecs have a stud in the middle with forward Jaedon LeDee. The senior leads the team in points per game (20.5), rebounds, free throws made, field goal percentage and minutes played. In the conference, LeDee tops the Mountain West in scoring and ranks third in rebounding and field goal percentage.
On a national scale, LeDee’s stellar season has earned him significant recognition. He was recently named a top-15 candidate for the prestigious 2024 John R. Wooden Award as the most outstanding college basketball player.
LeDee is also a finalist for the Karl Malone Award which honors the nation’s top power forward and has been included on the Oscar Robertson Award and Lute Olson Award late season Watch Lists.
Defense Wins Championships
Two, SDSU once again has a defense that keeps them in every game. The men from Montezuma Mesa rank atop the conference in scoring defense giving up only 66.26 points per game. Their field goal percentage defense, 40.6, also leads the deep and talented MWC.
Coming off a Conference Defensive Player of the Year award last season, Lamont Butler continues to be a lock down defender most nights. Off the bench, sophomore Miles Byrd disrupts offenses with length, athleticism and activity. Campbell transfer Jay Pal provides more defensive versatility and has shown an ability to deliver timely blocks.
SDSU has enjoyed success pressing teams full court, but it will be their standard tough and physical man-to-man defense that gives them a chance to taste post-season success again this year.
Coming of Age in March
Third, and finally, the Aztecs enjoy quality depth. Nine players contribute significantly nightly with size, shooting, and skill. That type of depth often separates good teams from elite teams when the schedule demands you play three games in three days or coming off a one-day prep.
So, with all of these positive elements of a successful season why is there all this angst around this year’s team?
Because so much more was there for the taking. A Mountain West regular season title, a top 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, a conference player of the year award all seemed possible one short month ago. And now, after a 2-3 finish to the regular season, Aztec fans are left feeling disappointed and frustrated and yet hopeful that once again this team will capture the magic that has thus eluded them.
It begs the question how do we reconcile these competing feelings?
It’s a challenge facing not only SDSU supporters, but the team as well. We all might be wise to listen to the suggested approach from Coach Dutcher after the loss to Boise St.
“We’ll put this in the rearview mirror,” he said. “We’ll get positive again, get our attitude and energy up, and get ready to compete in Las Vegas in the conference tournament.”
On to Vegas. Let’s go Aztecs!
San Diego State’s men’s basketball team will begin MWC Tournament play against UNLV in Las Vegas on Thursday, March 14 at 2:30pm PT. CBS Sports Network and San Diego Sports 760 will have the coverage.
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