Category: NCAA Tournament

2024 Mountain West Championship: New Mexico Secures First MWC Tournament Title in Over a Decade with 68-61 win over SDSU

Game Recap: No. 6 New Mexico 68, No. 5 San Diego State 61 Jaelen House get’s his moment & secures his first MWC title in his last conference game. Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire New Mexico secures first conference tournament title in a …

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 Game Recap: No. 6 New Mexico 68, No. 5 San Diego State 61

Jaelen House get’s his moment & secures his first MWC title in his last conference game.

Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

New Mexico secures first conference tournament title in a decade, thanks to the play of Jaelen House & JT Toppin.

Las Vegas, NV–If there were any better cherry on top of what has been one of the more competitive & entertaining Mountain West seasons in recent years, it was the championship game slated for Saturday afternoon in sin city. A showdown between longtime conference rivals No. 5 seed San Diego State & No. 6 seed New Mexico.

Two teams that may not have been on everyone’s bracket in the MWC Tournament title game, but two deserving programs nonetheless. New Mexico won three straight games in three straight days to get here. Beating Air Force on Wednesday (82-56), Boise State (76-66) on Thursday & Colorado State (74-61) late Friday night.

While San Diego State got a bye into the quarterfinals on Thursday, where they narrowly squeezed by UNLV 74-71. Then upsetting No. 1 seed & regular season champion Utah State 86-70 on Friday.

It isn’t unfamiliar territory for either program, but it’s been a second home for one & a once in a while destination for the other. San Diego State have become fixtures in the Mountain West Tournament title game the last decade. Making nine appearances in ten years & cutting the nets down four times in that span.

While New Mexico made a Cinderella style run in Paul Weir’s first season in Albuquerque back in 2018. That game was also against the Aztecs & their “first year” Head Coach Brian Dutcher. The Lobos fell 82-75 to their conference rivals that year.

Missing out on the title, one they haven’t brought home to Albuquerque since Craig Neals first year in charge in Albuquerque back in 2014. Noodles inherited a Steve Alford built roster to help lift that trophy. With history & an automatic berth to the big dance on the line, each team needed to cap amazing individual seasons with an amazing win Saturday afternoon.

The Lobos momentum was still in full swing at tip-off. Hitting the floor hard in the opening minutes on a 6-2 run. A Darrion Trimmell three pointer brought the Aztecs to within one. Sparked by Jaelen Houses’ energy, New Mexico found their offensive rhythm, though San Diego State kept things close.

Richard Pitino’s squad enjoyed small runs all throughout the first half. The first thanks to five straight Jamal Mashburn Jr. points, giving New Mexico their biggest lead to that point, 16-8 approaching the ten minute mark. To be followed with four straight three point field goals (3-House & 1-Mashburn Jr.) to extend their lead to double-digits, 30-18.

After a JT Toppin layup gave the Lobos the 34-20 lead approaching the two minute mark, the Aztecs made their stand. Going on a 10-2 run before half-time, with all points coming in the paint from their frontcourt duo of Jay Pal & JaeDon LeDee. As the buzzer sounded, New Mexico went into the locker rooms up 36-30.

Second Half

Even though the Lobos surrendered the closing minutes of the first half to the Aztecs, they wouldn’t let that influence how they emerged from half-time. Earning a quick five points from their backcourt duo before San Diego State decided it was time to put the clamp down.

The Aztecs fell victim to New Mexico’s fast pace style of play most of the game. Leading to their deficit & leadless first half. But Brian Dutcher’s squad wins their games in a much slower & physically charged way. San Diego State made a stand that would turn what was a comfortable Lobo lead most of the game into a one procession dogfight the rest of the way.

The Aztecs would turn to a style of play called, pass the ball to Jaedon. A play that would see LeDee vie for position in the post, receive the ball & eight times out of ten get fouled & head to the line. The other two times out of ten he would make the shot.

Creating quite a conundrum for New Mexico, who became spooked & decided their approach would be fouling the Aztec big to make him earn his points at the free throw line. Well, it sounded nice in theory. But LeDee came into this one shooting 72.4% from the free throw line. LeDee would go to the line multiple times over the next ten minutes, slowing the game down & taking New Mexico out of their offensive rhythm almost immediately.

A Jaelen House technical foul approaching the ten minute mark would trigger a series of plays that ultimately gave San Diego State their first lead of the game at 44-43 thanks to a Reese Waters jumper.

The next ten minutes were an exchange of free throws with a few genuine field goals scattered about. It brought everything down to the final two minutes of the game. Were both squads were tied at fifty-nine a piece, a time where the only way New Mexico would pull the upset would be if someone scored true field goals & rebounded when their opponents didn’t.

In comes MWC Freshman of the Year JT Toppin, Who grabbed four rebounds & scored five points, which became the cushion needed for third year Head Coach Richard Pitino to secure his first conference title.

The Lobos began to celebrate their 68-61 win at the buzzer, as the first No. 6 seed to win the Mountain West Conference Tournament ever. Jamal Mashburn Jr. joined House & Toppin in double-figures 21 points thanks to some very clutch shooting from all three-levels of scoring.

Player Spotlights

New Mexico–JT Toppin & Jaelen House

Stat line: House-28 points, 5 rebounds & 3 steals on 10-22 (45.4%) from the floor & 3-7 (42.8%) from deep in 36 minutes of action Toppin-13 points & 11 rebounds on 6-8 (75%) from the floor in 35 minutes of action

The performance House had in the first half is the reason the Lobos were able to stay competitive as the Aztecs began chipping away at their grip on the lead. But it was also his level head in the second half as his team struggled, continuing to give effort & not letting it get to his head. His game high 28 points help attribute to an amazing final MWC game ever. And to go out cutting down the nets in the Pit West, there is no better feeling.

JT Toppin stepped up with his double-double as frontcourt mate Nelly Junior-Joseph was mainly tasked with keeping Aztec x-factor LeDee unimpactful until he absolutely couldn’t. So Toppin contributed in all the best ways down low, blocking & altering shots, securing boards of both variety & making shots when no one else could. I couldn’t give the spotlight to just one players as the game was won with the performances of both.

San Diego State F-Jaedon LeDee

Stat line: 25 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists on 7-12 shooting (58.3%) from the floor & a whopping 11-11 (100%) from the free throw line in 37 minutes of play

LeDee went scoreless in the first fifteen minutes of the game. Which is something no one realized until he began scoring every single minutes of the game going forward. The Aztec big man found his confidence late in the first half & found his role going forward, wrecking ball who can shoot free throws, exactly to his liking. LeDee can score at all three levels but is his most consistent battling for space in the paint.

No other Aztec scored in double-figures & his 100% performance from the charity stripe is the a huge piece of why the momentum of the game was laid gently in their hands most of the second-half. It was an All-Tournament level performance for the ages, a great way to cap a great career in the Mountain West.

Next Up:

With the final buzzer in Las Vegas on Saturday night, the conference postseason comes to a close with an incredible performance from all teams involved. The only thing left to do is tune in tomorrow Sunday March 17th for this year’s production of the NCAA Tournament Selection Show.

You can watch Selection Sunday on CBS at 4:00 PM MT & 3:00 PM PT. A streamed version of the show can be viewed on NCAA.com during their March Madness Live Special.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

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How Many Mountain West Teams Will Make NCAA Tournament?

How Many Mountain West Teams Will Make NCAA Tournament? Six-bid league? Follow @MWCwire Mountain West is doing extremely well in hoops It’s hard to ignore what is happening in the Mountain West Conference this basketball season when one looks at its …

How Many Mountain West Teams Will Make NCAA Tournament?

Six-bid league?

Follow @MWCwire

Mountain West is doing extremely well in hoops

It’s hard to ignore what is happening in the Mountain West Conference this basketball season when one looks at its history. 

Eight years ago, the Mountain West Conference was at the lowest point in basketball history regarding getting teams in the Big Dance. 

A gloomy shadow hung over the league as Fresno State emerged victorious in the league tournament, earning a modest No. 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament. 

Surprisingly, only some of the 25-win, regular-season champion San Diego State received an invitation. 

The following season brought no relief, resulting in just one NCAA Tournament bid, courtesy of Nevada.

Fast forward eight years, and things have changed for the better for the Mountain West Conference.  

The narrative takes a turn for the extraordinary as San Diego State triumphantly reaches the 2023 national title game under head coach Brian Dutcher. 

Undoubtedly, the Aztecs have been one of the most consistently winning teams in the Mountain West Conference. Still, the numbers don’t lie in that regard. 

This achievement propels the conference to new heights, boasting six teams in the mock field of 68—an unprecedented feat that threatens to break the league’s previous record set in 2013. 

The last time a non-Power six conference achieved such a remarkable milestone was Atlantic 10 in 2014.

The Atlantic 10 Conference earned a record six bids to the NCAA Tournament Sunday following a record season.

The Mountain West now stands proud with six teams positioned within the top 55 of the NET rankings: New Mexico (19), San Diego State (20), Utah State (25), Colorado State (30), Nevada (47), and Boise State (55). 

This formidable group has accumulated a remarkable 14 Quad 1 wins, putting them in a league of their own.

 A stark comparison with the Pac-12, boasting only four teams in the top 55, and the ACC, also with six teams but with 12 Q1 wins among that cohort, highlights the newfound prowess of the Mountain West.

How did this transformation occur? It all started with a strategic shift in scheduling. The league officials devised a plan to recognize the limitations of attracting power-conference teams to locations like Boise, Idaho, and Fort Collins, Colo.

 MWC teams were propelled into early-season multi-team events, providing them with opportunities to face formidable competition on neutral grounds.

 Home-and-home matchups with solid mid-major programs became the norm, avoiding anchor games in Quad 4 as much as possible.

Mountain West Commissioner credits the high level of understanding among the coaches regarding team positioning and scheduling. 

The goal was clear—to emerge with a 70-to-75% winning percentage in nonconference play, equipped with notable victories. 

The strategy paid off, with the league posting an impressive 73.2% winning percentage in nonconference play, ranking fourth among the 32 conferences.

As conference play unfolded, Quad 1 and 2 opportunities presented abundantly, mitigating the potential for damaging losses. 

The league’s commitment to avoiding losses to teams with lower NET rankings, exemplified by Air Force (200) and Fresno State (236), set the Mountain West apart. In contrast, the WCC struggled with three teams ranked below 250.

“When you lose to them,” Nevarez said of the conference stragglers, “you’re not losing to sub-300 NET teams.”

There is no denying the excitement around the league, and one would have to give some props to Gloria Nevarez’s new leadership.

 Having assumed that position from retiring MW commissioner Craig Thompson on January 1, 2023, Gloria Nevarez came into her leadership role at a great time!

The national runner-up finish last year by San Diego State brought unprecedented exposure and millions of dollars in NCAA Tournament units to the league. 

This success has spurred other schools to catch up and invest in their basketball programs. 

While it’s unlikely that the Mountain West will maintain all six teams in the dance, the Pac-12’s challenges and the WCC’s potential one-bid season underscore the indisputable fact— the best basketball in the West is being played in the Mountain West.

Boasting influential head coaches such as Steve Alford at Nevada, Richard Pitino at New Mexico, Brian Dutcher at SDSU, Tim Miles at San Jose State, Leon Rice at Boise, and others, it’s challenging to envision a weakened Mountain West Conference. 

From a fan’s perspective, this league has been electrified, offering exhilarating games that are an absolute joy to watch on either Fox Sports 1, CBS Sports Network, or national TV coverage on CBS Network. 

Home teams hold a definite advantage this season, setting the stage for intense matchups and potentially providing a crucial edge as the postseason and NCAA tournament draws near. 

The excitement is palpable, especially with the anticipation building for the inaugural mailbag edition of Bracket Watch.

 Fans are encouraged to submit questions about NCAA Tournament selection, the bubble, team outlooks, and more.

As we approach Selection Sunday, just 51 days away, the enthralling journey of Mountain West basketball persists, capturing the hearts of fans and serving as a source of inspiration.

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San Diego State Falls To UConn In National Title Game, 76-59

San Diego State Falls To UConn In National Title Game, 76-59 Aztecs are national runners-up Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire The loss hurts but what a season San Diego State’s first trip to the NCAA title game appearance was as an underdog …

San Diego State Falls To UConn In National Title Game, 76-59

Aztecs are national runners-up

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

The loss hurts but what a season

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San Diego State’s first trip to the NCAA title game appearance was as an underdog against UConn by being a 7.5-point underdog. It ended in disappointment by losing to the Huskies, 76-59.

This UConn team was very dominant in the NCAA Tournament by winning every game by double-digits en route to its fifth national title.

The Aztecs did start the game off hot with a 10-6 lead over the Huskies but UConn went on a 10-0 run to lead 36-24 at the half, and they never looked back or trailed at all.

The Huskies were in control for most of the game and were just keeping San Diego State at arm’s length for the majority of the game.

The closest the game came in the second half was when San Diego State went on a run midway through the second half to get it within six points, 56-50 with 7:15 left in the game.

During that run, it looked as if the Huskies were just playing with their food for a bit and allowed San Diego State to make things interesting, nothing more.

UConn then used its stout defense to smother the Aztecs who had difficulty passing the ball and getting clean looks not just in the second half but the whole game.

The Aztecs struggled to score and shot just 32% from the field and the defense did all they could to hold the Huskies to 43% but that was a big difference in this game. Free throw shooting also ailed the Aztecs as they were a respectable 15 of 20 but UConn was nearly perfect at 24 of 27.

Three-point shooting also was off the mark for San Diego State with making just 6 of 23 from downtown.

San Diego State just couldn’t get into a good groove in this game. They would get close and UConnw could respond, specifically with rebounding as they seemingly got the big ones when it mattered.

This loss stings for San Diego State fans but at least we can all agree,  we aren’t this guy who bet a cool half-million on Aztecs to cover the 7.5 points.

In all seriousness, this season for San Diego State basketball was amazing as they had their best season ever by becoming national runners-up. The Aztecs got over the hump after years and years of disappointing exits in the NCAA Tournament.

Now, San Diego State can be considered one of the elite teams in college basketball.


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SDSU vs. UCONN: Three Keys (Plus Two) To An Aztecs NCAA Championship Win

SDSU vs. UCONN: Three Keys (Plus Two) To An Aztecs NCAA Championship Win Just one game now separates the Aztecs from 2023 NCAA National Champion status, on college basketball’s biggest stage. Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire The Huskies are …

SDSU vs. UCONN: Three Keys (Plus Two) To An Aztecs NCAA Championship Win

Just one game now separates the Aztecs from 2023 NCAA National Champion status, on college basketball’s biggest stage. 

Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire

The Huskies are dynamic, yet they have vulnerabilities the Aztecs can exploit in pursuit of a national championship.

Houston, TX — The No. 5 Aztecs (32-6) play the No. 4 Huskies (30-8) in the NCAA National Championship Monday night. Tipoff takes place at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, at 9:20 p.m. EST.

UCONN finds itself in familiar territory as it seeks a fifth national championship.  The Huskies are favored to win the championship by 7.5 points.  Meanwhile, the Aztecs have waged impressive upsets during this tournament, most notably against No. 1 Alabama.

It will take an intensely focused effort to beat UCONN, as the Aztecs look to become the ninth team this season to achieve this goal, even though the stakes have never been higher in Aztecs program history.

Here’s how the Aztecs can wage victory in the NCAA Championship.

Keys to an Aztecs Victory

1. play big and rebound aggressively

UCONN’s Twin Towers consist of scoring leader and junior forward Adama Sanogo (6’9″) who averages 17.2 points on 60.7 percent shooting, and 7.6 boards per game, and super big freshman center Donovan Clingan (7’2″) with 7.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

The Twin Towers dominate rebounding, so finding a means to disrupt this is vital. A steady rotation of Nathan Mensah, Jayden LeDee, Aguek Arop and other SDSU bigs playing physically and tenaciously will impact Sanogo’s and Clingan’s ability to dominate the glass. When possible it makes a lot of sense to have two SDSU bigs battling the twin towers.  It’s also notable that Clingan is a poor free-throw shooter, and if fouled, he will often miss at the charity stripe.

Focused attention on winning the battle of the boards is critical to the Aztecs taking control away from the Huskies, while exposing the twin towers to foul trouble as they aggressively fight for the ball.

2. deny sanogo the ABILITY TO BE “OUTSTANDING”

Many prognosticators have predicted Sanogo to be the outstanding player of the game, which is both understandable and very presumptuous. If Sanogo can’t rebound and score effectively, it will not only impact this game’s score- it will rattle the Huskies.

A goal for the Aztecs is keeping Sanogo to under ten in scoring and under five in rebounds. If he cannot produce, the lack of production will  detrimentally affect the Huskies’ ability to wage victory.

3. disrupt uconn’s three-point shooting

UCONN’s top three-point shooters are:

Jordan Hawkins, averaging three 3-pointers per game on around seven attempts (38.6%). He attempts as many three’s as the second and third most prolific perimeter shooters combined.  Shutting him down reduces arc production.

Alex Karaban, averaging two 3-pointers per game on roughly five attempts (40.4%). He’s not as prolific as Hawkins, but he’s a more accurate three point shooter.

Joey Calcaterra, (former USD sharpshooter) averaging more than two 3-pointers per game on five attempts (44.0%). Calcaterra is UCONN’s best perimeter shooter, so he must be guarded very closely. Calcaterra plays half the minutes as Karaban on average. He typically comes out and plays with a hot hand.

Tristen Newton, typically makes one-to-two 3-pointers per game on three attempts (36.7%). Newton is UCONN’s leader in assists as well.

If the Aztecs do what they did to Alabama and Creighton, it will be hard for Connecticut to win.  They can’t allow the same looks that FAU got during the Final Four. This is vital to winning.

4. CONVERT UCONN ASSISTS INTO TURNOVERS

Watch for Tristen Newton and Andre Jackson Jr. to repeatedly feed the ball to Sanogo, Clingan and others.  Clutch Aztec steals and alley-oop interceptions will be a big momentum shifter in this game, and simultaneously shake UCONN’s confidence.

5. SLOW DOWN THE PACE OF PLAY

A lower scoring UCONN will be easier to defeat. Reducing the frequency of fast breaks, consistently consuming clock time and offensive rebounding could help the Aztecs maintain possession at a higher percentage of the game. Keeping the ball out of the Huskies’ hands as much as possible will build desperation, and provoke reach-in fouls and other fouls.

A combined effort in these areas could help the Aztecs stymie the dominant Huskies in ways that other teams simply did not.

The Aztec Nation wishes Brian Dutcher and the SDSU Aztecs the very best as they battle for a first-ever National Championship victory! Go Aztecs!

 

Previewing SDSU vs UCONN

The San Diego State Aztecs did it. They’re the first Mountain West team to make an Elite 8, then a Final Four, and now a chance for a national championship. Their reward? A game against the most dominant team in recent memory. The UCONN Huskies have …

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The San Diego State Aztecs did it. They’re the first Mountain West team to make an Elite 8, then a Final Four, and now a chance for a national championship.

Their reward? A game against the most dominant team in recent memory. The UCONN Huskies have been destroying their opponents. The closest any opponent has gotten to winning was Saturday night, when Miami lost by only (!!!) 13 points.

UCONN has size, skill, experience, depth, everything a team needs to be great. The Aztecs will have their hands full. The Aztecs have also shown that they’re never out of a fight. They beat number one overall seed Alabama after being down by 9 in the second half. They beat Creighton after being down 7 points in the second half. They beat FAU after being down by 14 in the second half. This Aztecs team believes they can beat anyone, and on Monday night they’ll get to put that to the ultimate test.

Keys to a Huskies Victory-

UCONN simply needs to keep doing what they’re doing. It sounds boring, but when you’re winning every game soundly why change anything? They’re a top-10 team both offensively and defensively. They’re the second best offensive rebounding team in the nation, and they have excellent ball movement.

Their team starts with Adams Sanogo, the bulky 6’9 center who is 9th in KenPom’s POY metric. He has been nearly averaging a double-double this tournament, as no one has been able to stop him.

When Sanogo comes off the floor he’s replaced by the even taller Donovan Clingan, who is a rim protecting and glass cleaning monster at 7’2.

UCONN has multiple guards that can shoot the ball, as Tristen Newton, Jordan Hawkins, and USD transfer Joey Calcaterra all shoot 36% or better from behind the arc. Newton and Hawkins each stand at 6’5, giving UCONN a serious size advantage over SDSU’s guards.

Rounding out UCONN’s rotation are the 6’6 Andre Jackson and the 6’8 Alex Karaban. Jackson’s job will be to create plays off the dribble, clean the glass, and maybe most importantly contain Matt Bradley. Karaban will be asked to spread out the Aztec defense and punish them when they help from one pass away.

UCONN has all the tools to win this game, which is why they’re heavily favored. As long as they continue to play great defense, keep the ball movement, and control the glass they’ll leave Houston as champions.

Keys to an Aztec’s victory-

The Aztecs have a steep hill to climb, but they’ve upset some really good teams this tournament, so why not do it one more time?

The Aztec’s offense starts with Matt Bradley. He’s coming off a 21 point, 6 rebound performance against FAU and seems to be in rhythm again after struggling against Alabama and Creighton. Any Aztec victory likely starts with him scoring efficiently despite the Huskies size.

Social Media Reaction To San Diego State Defeating Florida Atlantic

Two time Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Nathan Mensah will anchor the defense and be tasked with defending Sanogo. The other Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, and hero of the FAU game Lamont Butler, will be asked to guard UCONN’s most dangerous perimeter threat at any given moment.

The Aztecs defense will need to return to pre-FAU form, where they held opponents to around 20 points less than their season averages, and held tournament teams to 14% shooting from behind the arc. As an extension of the defense, the Aztecs will need to limit the Huskies on the offensive glass. Getting a stop doesn’t mean much if UCONN keeps the ball.

I’m terms of attacking UCONN there are a few keys. The first is forcing turnovers. UCONN can become turnover prone at times, and the Aztecs know how to crank up the defensive pressure to knock balls loose.

The other flaw UCONN has is they can be foul prone. They’ve gotten it more under control as the season has gone on, but if the Aztecs can be aggressive and draw contact to get east trips to the line it would help a lot. They’ll need to make the free throws, which they struggled doing against FAU, but without drawing a lot of fouls putting up enough points will be hard to do.

The Aztecs don’t have any stars. It’s a true team. Any one of Adam Seiko, Darrion Trammell, Micah Parrish, or Jaedon LeDee could end up leading the team in scoring any given game. Keshad Johnson and Aguek Arop can also score, but add size and defensive versatility to the team.

X-Factor- 3 Point Shooting

The key to this Aztecs run has been its 3-point defense. FAU broke the trend, but the Aztecs still found a way to win due to breaking the other trend of Aztecs not shooting well in the tournament. The 3-point shot can be an equalizer. If, somehow, the Aztecs can maintain the 3-point shooting they showed against FAU, while regaining their 3-point defense, the Aztecs will have a chance.

Key trends for each team-

UCONN has started off every second half of the tournament with a run that essentially put the game away.

Meanwhile, SDSU is undefeated this season when playing teams that take 38% or more of their shots from behind the arc. UCONN fits that bill, as they take 41.9% of their shots from behind the arc.

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2023 NCAA Championship Game! No. 5 SDSU vs. No. 4 Connecticut: Game Preview & Prediction

2023 NCAA Championship Game! No. 5 SDSU vs. No. 4 Connecticut: Game Preview & Prediction A face-melting finish in SDSU’s Final Four match with FAU has basketball fans believing ANYTHING is possible for the Aztecs. Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & …

2023 NCAA Championship Game! No. 5 SDSU vs. No. 4 Connecticut: Game Preview & Prediction

A face-melting finish in SDSU’s Final Four match with FAU has basketball fans believing ANYTHING is possible for the Aztecs.

Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire

Most importantly, the Aztecs have THE HEART to win a national championship.

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WHO:  No. 5 San Diego State Aztecs  (32-6, 15-3 MW) vs. No. 4 University of Connecticut Huskies (30-8, 13-7 BIG EAST)

WHEN: Monday, April 3rd – 6:20 p.m. PST | 9:20 p.m. EST

WHERE: NRG Stadium- Houston, TX (Capacity 71,000)

WATCH: CBS

STREAM: Fubo — Get a free trial

RADIO: San Diego Sports 760 / SiriusXM App ch. 968

SERIES RECORD:  SDSU and UCONN meet for the 2nd time in the 2023 NCAA Championship Game. UCONN leads the series 1-0)

LAST MEETING:  March 24th, 2011, the Huskies won 74-67 during the 2011 NCAA Sweet Sixteen, in the match billed as “Kawhi vs. Kemba.”

WEBSITES:  GoAztecs.com, the official San Diego State athletics website; UCONNHuskies, the official Connecticut athletics website.

ODDS: SDSU +7.5

OVER/UNDER: 132.5

Houston, TX – On college basketball’s biggest stage the No. 5 Aztecs (32-6) face off against the No. 4 Huskies (30-8) in the NCAA National Championship Monday night. Tipoff from NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, is 9:20 p.m. EST. The Huskies are favored by 7.5 points.

The Aztecs clawed, fought and then did the unimaginable to earn their place in this year’s NCAA Championship. For the Aztec Nation, this Championship is an unprecedented historic university moment.

San Diego State beat Florida Atlantic 72-71 in stunning fashion during the Final Four, with a last second buzzer beating field goal, after trailing the Owls for most of the game. The Aztecs have won nine straight games.

Connecticut beat Miami 72-59 in the Final Four on Saturday night, leading from beginning to end. The 13-point win was UCONN’s narrowest margin of victory in the Tournament. The Huskies have won five straight games.

Who will take the NCAA Championship title? Let’s take a closer look.

Why The Huskies Will Win

The Huskies seek a fifth national title on Monday night against the Aztecs. They held Miami, the nation’s fifth-ranked offense to just 24 first-half points. Miami finished with a 32.3 percent on field goals and 35.0 percent behind the arc. Connecticut out-rebounded the Canes by a margin of 9, and 19 of 28 field goals were assisted. This offset their 15 turnovers committed.

UCONN’s scoring leader, junior forward Adama Sanogo (6’9″) averages 17.2 points on 60.7 percent shooting, and 7.6 boards per game. Other key Huskies to watch are sophomore guard Jordan Hawkins (6’5″) with 16.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, senior guard Tristen Newton (6’5″) with 9.8 points, 4.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game, freshman forward Alex Karaban (6’8″) with 9.4 points, and 4.5 rebounds per game, freshman center Donovan Clingan (7’2″) with 7.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, and junior guard Andre Jackson Jr. (6’6″) who averages 6.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. The Huskies lineup is tall, and generally the Aztecs have height to match. Clingan will be a handful, and the Aztecs will have to exhibit physicality to impact his effectiveness.

Connecticut averages 79.0 points per game which is 29th in the nation, and shoots 45.9 percent from the field and makes 35.6 percent from the beyond the arc- 105th in the nation for both of the latter stats. The Huskies make 75.8 percent of their free throws- 40th nationally- and they average 36.1 rebounds- 12th in the nation.  They average, a +9.6 rebounding margin on opponents.

UCONN is 3rd in schedule-adjusted offensive efficiency, 30th in effective field goal percentage (54.1%), and 214th in adjusted tempo, according to KenPom.

UCONN surrenders 64.8 points defensively (43rd), and its opponents shoot 40.8 percent (32nd), including 29.7 percent from deep (14th). The Huskies are 8th in adjusted defensive efficiency and 28th in assist-per-turnover ratio.

The Huskies play a controlled game with solid offense and defense and they make their opponents pay when they’re not guarded behind the arc.  They don’t miss much at the free throw line, and every player plays his part efficiently. They’re well coached.

Statistically, the Huskies are serious and formidable opponents who have cascaded through the 2023 NCAA Tournament to the finals. They have confidently disassembled many talented tournament foes, however . . .

Why The Aztecs Will Win

Right now, SDSU is playing at a level we’ll just call miracle mode.

The Aztecs made history after stunningly defeating the Owls with the first-ever Final Four buzzer beater. Down one point, with less than ten seconds left, San Diego State guard Lamont Butler was passed the ball after Aguek Arop and Nathan Mensah blocked and rebounded a critical shot attempt.

Butler was in the corner with two seconds left, when he cooly stepped left, squared up and with a long mid-range jumper he iced a miraculous finish that sent San Diego State to its first-ever national title game.  Everybody, in attendance was in utter and complete disbelief.  

Charles Barkley had to stand up and walk off the play. Matt Bradley was rendered speechless when interviewed. FAU’s beloved mascot Owlsley reportedly punched a baby. Dedicated Aztecs in attendance at NRG Stadium were in absolute ecstatic delirium, as reality sank in that SDSU had just waged victory.

At one point, the Aztecs had trailed by 14 points. SDSU displayed the persistence needed for a double-digit comeback against a foe firing on all cylinders. Florida Atlantic cooled, and SDSU pulled it together in a big way. The Aztecs shot 43.9 percent overall from the field, and made 9-for-18 from three-point range, and won rebounding with 12 offensive grabs.

Senior guard Bradley is San Diego State’s top scorer, averaging 12.7 points on 40.1 percent shooting and 3.8 rebounds per game. A few other Aztecs to watch on Monday night are senior guard Darrion Trammell who has been averaging 9.7 points and 3 assists per game, senior forward (and Houston native) Jaedon LeDee who averages 7.9 points and 5.3 boards per game.  Junior guard Micah Parrish averages 7.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, senior forward Keshad Johnson averages 7.5 points and 5.0 boards per game, and senior forward Nathan Mensah manages 6.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and a whole lot of blocks per game.

The Aztecs score 72.9 points per game (148th) and shoot 45.2 percent from the floor (155th), including 36.3 percent from long range (71st). They convert 73.1 percent of their free throws (125th) and average 32.4 rebounds (143rd) with a +5.0 rebounding margin. SDSU is 68th in schedule-adjusted offensive efficiency, 218th in effective field goal percentage (49.6%), and 270th in adjusted tempo, per KenPom.

The Aztecs surrender 64.4 points per game defensively (37th), and their opponents shoot 42.1 percent from the floor (82nd) with a 29.8 shooting percentage from long distance (15th). They’re 4th in adjusted defensive efficiency and 112th in assist-per-turnover ratio.

The Aztecs didn’t do a great job defending the three against FAU as they had with Creighton and Alabama.  It will be vital that they do a better job against the Huskies, period.  The Aztecs will have to disrupt the Huskies as they try to produce assists by generating turnovers and converting those into points.  They will have to go for fast break points- better than they did against FAU.  If they do this, they might get an upper hand against Connecticut.

There won’t be a great advantage to slowing down the tempo because this is not how the Huskies play.  They are calculated, controlled and they wait for a good open look and then they strike precisely. The Aztecs will need to agitate them, and rattle them by taking the ball away and making good looks at three point shooting harder. Sanogo’s low-post defense is suspect, which the Aztecs will look to exploit, as they did down the stretch against the Owls. Clingan, UCONN’s big, must be contested by Mensah, Arop and LeDee.

The Aztecs need to exploit every weakness and opportunity between physical low-post defense, turnovers, and three-point disruption. If they do so, they will achieve victory.

What Will Happen

The Aztecs have proven they can beat the best teams in the nation. They have defied the odds again and again in the NCAA Tournament, and when most teams would let despair set in: the Aztecs can find another gear.  At the most critical moments Brian Dutcher can sideline his top athletes and put total faith in strategies that come together, even when seemingly impractical.

This is a very tough call.  Everybody in the nation has picked Connecticut to win by a solid margin.  In some respects a 7.5 point margin might be considered by some to be a complement to SDSU.

But SDSU keeps finding a way to overcome the odds, and to escape ahead. They’ve done it over and over and over.

Will the Aztecs come out ahead on Monday night? The mind says an Aztec win is improbable. Yet going with the gut: the Aztecs have enough belief in themselves and each other- and more importantly, they have the heart to win a national championship.  If the Huskies find them menacing enough, and if they capitalize on turnovers, Connecticut will start to believe they’ve met a true match, and their confidence will be shaken.

The Aztecs do not relent, even if it appears they’re too far behind to get ahead, and their power-of-will is likely greater than any team in the nation- including UCONN.

San Diego State’s on-ball defense, rebounding and turnover capabilities will open up the chance for Aztec victory.

Here’s the call: in a closely contested, physical battle . . . San Diego State will rattle the the once indomitable Huskies just enough to wage victory.

In the end, the Aztecs are going to win this game.

Final Score: SDSU 73, UCONN 70

The winner will be crowned 2023 NCAA Tournament Champions.

NCAA Title Game Odds: San Diego State Is An Underdog vs. UConn

NCAA Title Game Odds: San Diego State Is An Underdog vs. UConn Early lines have Aztecs in plus territory Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire UConn expected to top SDSU San Diego State is in the national title game again UConn with the hopes to …

NCAA Title Game Odds: San Diego State Is An Underdog vs. UConn

Early lines have Aztecs in plus territory

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

UConn expected to top SDSU

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San Diego State is in the national title game again UConn with the hopes to win a men’s basketball title. This Aztecs team has bounced around as an underdog and being a favorite in the NCAA Tournament.

This national title game has San Diego State as an underdog, with most sportsbooks having them at a 6.5-point underdog.

Social Media Reaction To San Diego State Defeating Florida Atlantic

That was the opening line now it is moved +7.5 over at DraftKings Sportsbook and that line is now the largest line of any game in the NCAA tournament for San Diego State.

Even when the Aztecs played No. 1 overall-seeded Alabama they were a 6.5-point underdog. A game that San Diego State won.

If you are looking to bet, San Diego State is not a great value against the spread with a record of 13-14-2.

When the Aztecs are underdogs they have a straight-up record at 3-1 this season, so they do a good job when not the favorite.

As for UConn, they are a much better team against the spread with a 20-10-1 record. The Huskies are one of the best teams in the country and have only been an underdog three times all season, both games they were victorious against the spread and outright as well.


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Social Media Reaction To San Diego State Defeating Florida Atlantic

Social Media Reaction To San Diego State Defeating Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Aztecs moving on Wow! That was an exciting game. San Diego State defeated Florida Atlantic on a buzzer beater by Lamont Butler. Let’s start with the game …

Social Media Reaction To San Diego State Defeating

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Aztecs moving on

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Wow!

That was an exciting game. San Diego State defeated Florida Atlantic on a buzzer beater by Lamont Butler.

Let’s start with the game winner and the variety of angles with the win.

Coach and player reaction

Our own GIF Reactions

Lamont Butler’s Dad

Fan Reaction

Petco Park Explodes

WHOOPS!


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Final Four: What Are The Odds San Diego State Wins It All?

Final Four: What Are The Odds San Diego State Wins It All? Aztecs are a small favorite over the Owls Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Four left to cut down the nets Did you hear that San Diego State is in the Final Four? The Aztecs are taking …

Final Four: What Are The Odds San Diego State Wins It All?

Aztecs are a small favorite over the Owls

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Four left to cut down the nets

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Did you hear that San Diego State is in the Final Four? The Aztecs are taking on Florida Atlantic in the first national semifinal on Saturday night in Houston. The game tips at 6:09 p.m. ET/3:09 p.m. PT

San Diego State is a small three-point favorite of the 35-3 Florida Atlantic Owls out of Conference USA.

It’s The 2023 NCAA FINAL FOUR! No. 9 FAU vs. No. 5 SDSU: Game Preview & Prediction

Anything can happen in these games on a big stage, literally. The game is being played at the home of the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Shooting can take a hit in these games as it can take some time to get adjusted to this type of court.

That could favor the Aztecs who play a great brand of defense behind head coach Brian Dutcher.

Winning against the Owls will be a tough go as they have just three losses all year.

However, the fine folks at 538 give San Diego State a 62% chance to make it to the national title game and a one-in-four chance to take home the school’s first national title.

Florida Atlantic is, obviously, given a 38% chance to beat San Diego State and they are given the longest odds at 12%, according to 538.

The way this NCAA Tournament has gone, any of those four teams have a great chance to cut down the net. One more number, there is a 75% chance that there will be a first-time men’s national champion.


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