Two and a half years ago, San Diego State had a 30-2 record and was in prime position for a top seed in the 2020 NCAA Tournament. It never happened because the event was canceled due to COVID-19.
Thirty months later, hopes are high again for the Aztecs heading into the 2022-23 season, and head coach Brian Dutcher is not deterred.
question of the week College Hoops Today Podcast If this current San Diego State team could eventually reach the same level as the team that took 30 wins in 32 attempts during the 2019-20 season, Dutcher wouldn’t hesitate.
“I think you can say that,” said Dutcher. “You have to get out on the floor and prove it. and until we see how well they want to win on defense, we’ll know how well we’re going to do. You get it right away on your schedule.”
That early schedule puts the veteran Aztecs, who return six players in the third, fourth, or fifth grades of college basketball, to the test. Part of last year’s team that reached the NCAA Tournament. Bradley, who is 6-4 (16.9 points, 5.4 rebounds), is a frontrunner for Mountain West Player of the Year, and is a 6-10 Mensah (7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.4 rebounds). 2.2 Block) is a contender for Mountain West’s Defensive Player of the Year. Dutcher is also bullish on Jadon Ready (TCU), Darrion Trammell (Seattle) and Micah Parrish (Oakland), with Trammell and Butler being considered candidates to replace point guard Trey Pulliam.
Prior to Thanksgiving, San Diego hosted BYU, traveled to Stamford, and faced Ohio in the first round of the Maui Invitational, an event that also included Arizona, Cincinnati, Clayton, Texas Tech, Arkansas and Louisville. play against
“That field is great,” Dutcher said of the Maui Invitational. “We’re on the same side as Arizona and Cincinnati, and on the other side we have Clayton, Texas Tech, Arkansas, and Louisville.
Getting a major win early in the schedule is important to the program’s hopes of earning a high seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Mountain West had four teams in his NCAA Tournament a year ago, but currently only one team in this league (Wyoming) is ranked in his NCAA Tournament. increase. Rothstein 45.
Nevertheless, Dutcher has a strong sense of confidence in the group he intends to coach, and for good reason. There’s a potential breakout star for LeDee, 6-9, 240 pounds, whom Dutcher said “can hit a double-double on average”. becomes very difficult to grasp.
“I think this goes back to the team of Kawhi Leonard, Malcolm Thomas and Billy White (2010-11),” said Dutcher. “We rebound the ball at a really elite level, like that team. I think this team can rebound the ball at an elite level.”
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