SAN DIEGO - Owners of the nation's fourth-best winning percentage since the start of the 2005- 06 campaign (74.4 percent; 467-161) and reigning Mountain West regular-season and tournament title holder, San Diego State opens defense of its 2022-23 Mountain West crown on Wednesday evening with a 7:30 p.m. tip.
OFF THE BOUNCE
The Aztecs and Bulldogs are meeting for the 127th time, with tonight's home team owning a 70-56 (.556) advantage in the all-time series.
Since the start of the 2019-20 season, SDSU has a 33-4 record in Mountain West home games and enters this season with a six-game win streak against conference opponents at Steve Fisher Court.
Once again San Diego State's metrics rank among the best in the nation. Through the games of December 30, the Aztecs were ranked No. 23 in the NET, No. 29 in T-Rank, No. 26 in Kenpom, No. 16 in KPI and No. 49 in BPI. San Diego State RPI strength of schedule is No. 5 and its strength of record is No. 11.
The Aztecs are among the elite programs when it comes to winning, including on their home floor. Since the start of the 2019-20 season, SDSU's 62-5 (.925) home record is the fifth best in the nation and is 33-4 (.892) in conference home games in that time frame, the best in the Mountain West. In addition, since the start of the 2009-10 campaign, the Aztecs are 205-25 (.891) in home contests, No. 5 nationally, and 107-15 in league games, tops among Mountain West programs.
The Aztecs are among the elite programs in the country and that includes winning on their opponent's floor. Since the beginning of the 2009-10 campaign, SDSU has the fifth best road record in the nation, 103-61 (62.8 percent). Since the start of the 2019-20 campaign, SDSU has lost just 11 times in 43 road games (32-11, 74.4 percent), which is tied for the second fewest in the nation trailing only Gonzaga (5 losses) and tied with Baylor (11 losses) in that time frame.
The last time out, San Diego State defeated No. 13/16 Gonzaga 84-74 at McCarthey Athletic Center. The victory snapped Gonzaga's 59-game home winning streak against non-conference opponents. The last loss came on Dec. 12, 2015, and was just the second win for a visitor in "The Kennel" since Jan. 27, 2018; a total of 90 games (88-2).
In shooting 50 percent from the floor at Gonzaga, SDSU improved, under Brian Dutcher, to 55-1 and has won 43 straight when it is successful on at least half its field goal attempts.
Junior wing Reese Waters has been named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week for his 22 point, 5 rebound, 2 assist , 2 steal effort without a turnover in the Aztecs' 84-74 victory at No. 13/16 Gonzaga.
SDSU is 134-9 the last 143 times it has shot better than its opponent and the Aztecs have won 30 straight games when scoring between 80-89 points.
San Diego State, which won both the 2022-23 Mountain West regular season and tournament titles and reached the league tournament championship game for the sixth time in head coach Brian Dutcher's six seasons, looks for its unprecedented 17th Mountain West men's basketball title. Entering the 2023-24 season, San Diego State has won nine regular season and seven Mountain West tournament titles.
San Diego State owns a 119-25 record (82.6 percent) since the start of the 2019-20 campaign. That is the third best record in the nation trailing only Gonzaga (130-17, 88.4 percent) and Houston (129-22, 85.4 percent).
Against Gonzaga (12/29), junior wing Reese Waters had his best game of the 2023-24 season. He finished with a game-high 22 points on 8-of-11 (.727) shooting from the field, including knocking down 3-of-5 treys with five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Became just the second Aztec under Brian Dutcher to record at least 20 points, 2 assists, 2 steals and 0 turnovers in a game (also Malichi Flynn at UNLV on Jan. 26, 2020).
Senior forward Jaedon LeDee finished the Gonzaga game with 20 points and led the team with 7 rebounds and three assists. He scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half and his three assists match his career high. He reached double figure scoring for the 12th time in 12 appearances this year.
Senior guard Darrion Trammell totaled 17 points at Gonzaga with 15 of them coming in the opening 20 minutes. It was his fourth 10-plus point effort in five games this season. Knocked down a season-best three 3-pointers and is 13-0 as an Aztecs when he makes multiple shots from the bonus distance.
Sophomore guard Miles Byrd scored a career-high nine points, including seven in the second half. All four rebounds came in the second half where he played the final 10:48 of the game.
Brian Dutcher is in his seventh season as San Diego State's head coach and his 25th season on the Aztec sidelines. In his six-plus seasons as head coach, he has led the Aztecs to five conference titles, six Mountain West championship game appearances, a 162-49 (.768) overall record, the 2023 NCAA national championship game, has been named the national coach of the year, and twice the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year.
Men's Hoops Open League Play Wednesday Night
