With Selection Sunday quickly approaching, it is time to start taking a look at the teams that are going to make noise outside the power structure. Every Monday, I’ll spotlight a team and player making significant noise the week prior. This week, we will take a look at the San Diego State Aztecs. A team looking to prove last years team was not all Malachi Flynn.
Team of the Week: The SDSU Aztecs
Record: 19-4
KenPom Rank: 20
Projected Tournament Seed: 8
The Aztecs put themselves in position for the MWC regular season title last weekend with a sweep of Boise State. SDSU now has a 10 game win streak in conference play making them one of the nations hottest teams. Two victories over the Broncos, one a thrilling Overtime game and the other a four point victory, cemented their top 25 status. That result also made them a NCAA Tournament lock. Brian Dutcher’s program has become one of the most consistent on the West Coast as they are constantly in the mix for the Dance.
Dutcher’s group has a rotation that goes eight deep when healthy. All of these players are junior’s or older giving the team an extremely mature feel. Leading scorers Matt Mitchell and Jordan Schakel are Southern California natives who capture the identity of the team. Both are tough, grizzled veterans who many pundits would say are undersized. Schakel’s shooting ability(45% from 3) and Mitchell’s two way stardom gives this team a dynamic duo capable of matching up with anybody.
Player of the Week: Colbey Ross, Pepperdine
Colbey Ross has every record there is to have for a guard at Pepperdine. The four year starter is the Waves all time leading scorer and leading table setter in school history. This week, he took his game to another level with two standout performances. Thursday night in a loss to Loyola Marymound, the senior had 25 points and 8 assists eclipsing his season average in both. Saturday, the Waves got the job done in a road game against USD. Ross led the way again with 27 and 8 with a ridiculous offensive rating of 136. With their star guard leading the way, Pepperdine is looking to make noise in the WCC Tournament next week.
Mid Major Top 10, 3/1
- Gonzaga: Completed their undefeated regular season by beating Santa Clara and LMU. With Baylor’s lost Saturday, the Bulldogs are the last team to not have suffered a loss.
- San Diego State: Aztecs are the best team in the MWC at the moment. Will look to improve on their projected seed during championship week.
- Loyola Chicago: The Ramblers have looked shaky of late but continue to win. No bad losses in Arch Madness will keep them safely in the field of 68.
- BYU: Cougars are the benefactors of teams above them losing. Good victories over USF and Saint Mary’s will give them a double bye in the WCC Tournament.
- Boise State: Cannot penalize Broncos very much for getting swept at SDSU. Leon Rice’s team performed well over both games and can play with anyone.
- Colorado State: The Rams finally got back on the court after a three week lay-off. They did not miss a beat blowing out an over match Air Force team.
- VCU: The Rams split two tough games winning against SLU and losing to Davidson. Those are pretty impressive results given they were without Bones Hyland.
- Toledo: Time to give the Rockets some love in these rankings. Senior guard Marreon Jackson is one of the most fun players to watch in the country.
- Winthrop: The Golden Eagles have still only lost once. They will enter the Big South Tournament as the prohibitive favorite to make it to the dance.
- Drake: You have to feel for the Bulldogs who are getting torn apart by injuries. First, it was Tank Hemphill and now do-it-all guard Roman Penn has suffered a foot injury. Drake might need to win Arch Madness to make the tournament.
Also Considered: Wright State, Utah State, Saint Bonaventure, SLU, Western Kentucky