Joey Ziber
Contributing Writer
I’m thinking it—You’re thinking it.
That was bad.
That was real bad. There really is no other way to put it.
The Aztecs fell to the Tar Heels 95-68 in their first four matchup of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Not even the 27-point differential accurately shows just how far apart this game truly was.
Maybe the Aztecs were doomed from the start. SDSU vs the ACC is a problem. Whether against North Carolina State, Duke, or Syracuse–the Tar Heels illuminated the Aztecs struggles against their Atlantic counterparts and again in lop-sided fashion.
We heard all across the college basketball landscape that the North Carolina Tar Heels didn’t belong. The talking points that they were abysmal in Quad-1 games or that West Virginia should’ve been in the bracket instead (at least their governor believes so).
To be honest, on Sunday when the bracket was revealed I felt that way too.
But as the week went on and the more college basketball content I consumed leading up to the tournament—coupled with hearing that opinion over and over—the more I got worried.
Wait, what if this bites us in the butt? What if this is bulletin board material for the Tar Heels? And sure enough, the nightmare became a reality.
The Tar heels started off hot from behind the arc, knocking down a staggering 5-for-5 three pointers and just never let up the rest of the game in every facet. RJ Davis (26 points, 6-6 three pointers alone) hitting a deep three at the end of the half that felt like a “we gotta talk” text from your girl was an absolute dagger through the heart.
Overall the Tar Heels had an unbelievable night. 52% from the field, 58% from three, 87% from the free throw line, 39-28 edge on the boards, and an 18-9 advantage in fast break points. The beatdown was thorough.
Not the defensive standard we’ve seen from SDSU.
On the flip-side the Aztecs were just stifled offensively—seemingly picking up where they left off with their loss against Boise State in the Mountain West Conference quarterfinals game. It was one of the hardest performances to watch, maybe ever as an Aztec fan.
I’m sure we were all thinking, the season just couldn’t end this way. But that’s the way sports and being a fan goes sometimes. You’re either on top of the world or at the bottom of the abyss.
It has been a frustrating year to watch as an Aztec fan. The beginning of the season holding so much promise with wins over #1 seed Houston and Creighton. Somehow it was the early peak in an otherwise roller coaster season. Being up 40-22 against Utah State at home and then ending with a loss. Getting swept by annual underachiever UNLV, to getting a win without Magoon Gwath against first place New Mexico at home. And don’t forget to mention the crazy comebacks against San Jose State and Air Force.
So much promise—so much potential. As much growth as we witnessed at times, in the end the young squad just never lived up to that potential and often lost their focus.
Now I can be a pessimist, but this is me choosing to embrace the opposite today.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I remember the sentiment being if we made the tournament, that would be a success with this young team. Brian Dutcher’s team accomplished that goal. So many seniors and programs had their last collegiate game last week, but the Aztecs got to play bonus basketball.
Now I’m sure it’s not the result they wanted but seniors Wayne McKinney III and Kimo Ferrari representing their hometown all season and getting to the Big Dance for the first time is what makes college sports so special. They represented this city very well.
Newcomers Jared Coleman-Jones and Nick Boyd came into the program and immediately embraced the culture and their teammates. Miles Byrd, Magoon Gwath, Miles Heide, BJ Davis, and Demarshay Johnson Jr., each carried on the Aztec way giving us many highlights. Freshman tandem Taj DeGourville and Pharoah Compton showed glimpses of excellence to be excited about.
We do have the offseason to look forward to as well. Who knows whom we get in the portal, but one things for sure, we will be locked and loaded for next season.
The lights might have been too bright for this Aztecs team this time. But I, like the rest of you, believe in your heart of hearts that the Aztecs will make another magical run in March once again.
So relax, the worlds not collapsing. And try to enjoy the rest of the best spectacle in sports.
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3 Responses
Agreed – it was a bad, bad loss, but when you lose 7 starters who produced almost all your points last season, just getting to the dance is a big win.
Really love the article, I think you captured the situation really well! And like you said, it isn’t the end of the world.