{"id":212241,"date":"2026-03-09T22:49:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T22:49:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/212241\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T22:49:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T22:49:07","slug":"sdsu-aims-to-shake-off-regular-season-doldrums-heading-into-march-madness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/212241\/","title":{"rendered":"SDSU aims to shake off regular-season doldrums heading into March Madness"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BJ<\/a>Aztec BJ Davis, who had a career high 30 points in SDSU\u2019s final game of the 2025-26 regular season. (File photo by Chris Stone\/Times of San Diego)<\/p>\n

San Diego State<\/a> entered the 2025-26 basketball season as heavy favorites to win the Mountain West Conference and make its sixth straight trip to the NCAA men\u2019s
basketball tournament.<\/p>\n

The team ended the regular season with a 20-10 record (14-6, MWC), which is not exactly
shabby, but far from elite. Two other MWC teams, Utah State (25-6) and New Mexico (22-9) had more wins than San Diego State. The Aztecs split the season series with each team. <\/p>\n

But after an up-and-down regular season, SDSU finds itself looking up in the standings at another team, Utah State. They lost three of their last five and five of their last 10. What went wrong?<\/p>\n

The Aztecs\u2019 struggles can be attributed mainly to two things: rebounding and defense. Or to
be more precise, a lack thereof.<\/p>\n

Although they have two seven-footers on the squad, sophomore Magoon Gwath and redshirt
freshman Thokbor Majak, it\u2019s six-foot-nine junior Miles Heide and six-foot-six junior guard Miles Byrd who lead the team in rebounds per game with 4.5. Gwath is third at 4.1 per contest, while Majak, who\u2019s listed at seven-foot-one, averaged 1.6 rebounds in 29 minutes total spread over eight regular season games.<\/p>\n

Rebounds are very much on head coach Brian Dutcher\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to continue to work on rebounding, because it is going to be the key to our season
as we go into the Mountain West conference tournament,\u201d Dutcher remarked following the
team\u2019s last regular season game, a Friday 89-86 home win against UNLV.<\/p>\n

And after his team lost to Boise State on March 3, Dutcher said, \u201cDefense and rebounding win championships, so that\u2019s why we\u2019re not going to win a title this year in the regular season.\u201d <\/p>\n

The road to the title is set.<\/p>\n

We’ll see you in Vegas for the Credit Union 1 MW Men’s Basketball Championship \ud83d\udc40 pic.twitter.com\/YhyDjfBMHK<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mountain West (@MountainWest) March 8, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

He spread the blame though.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes it\u2019s easy to blame the bigs, but it\u2019s all five guys that have to hit someone and rebound,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

The team\u2019s issues aren\u2019t all defensive in nature, however.<\/p>\n

Regarding the team\u2019s offense, one big concern is a lack of playmaking. San Diego State\u2019s
leader in assists is sophomore guard Taj DeGourville, with just three per game, followed by Byrd with 2.7.<\/p>\n

Although the team has three players averaging double digits in points \u2013 senior guard Reese
Dixon-Waters at 13.2, junior guard BJ Davis at 10.9 and Byrd at 10.6 \u2013 the team lacks a player
who\u2019s a guaranteed bucket and can take over down the stretch.<\/p>\n

An encouraging sign, however, was Davis\u2019 career high of 30 points against UNLV, including two clutch 3-point shots in the closing minutes as well as a steal that sealed the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cBJ was incredible,\u201d Dutcher said. \u201cHe made big, important shots, he attacked the basket and
he made important plays. He is a player who, when they go any place like that, he makes us all
look good. March is for players, and he stepped up in March basketball. If he plays that way in
March, we will have a chance to continue to win something.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, despite their issues, the Aztecs have reason for optimism. Friday\u2019s victory established
some positive energy that might carry over once the Mountain West tournament begins Wednesday in Las Vegas. And, with Utah State\u2019s win over New Mexico Saturday, they secured the No. 2 seed<\/a>. New Mexico fell to No. 3.<\/p>\n

SDSU is set to play at 6 p.m. Thursday, taking on the victor in Wednesday\u2019s matchup of No. 7 seed Colorado State and No. 10 seed Fresno State.<\/p>\n

If they\u2019re able to take the tournament by winning three games in three days, an NCAA
tourney berth is automatic. If they don\u2019t secure an automatic berth, the consensus among analysts is that they\u2019re on the bubble to be selected for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. <\/p>\n

They suffered blowout losses to two Top 5 teams, Arizona and Michigan, during the season, but also scored quality wins against tough conference opponents \u2013 Utah State and New Mexico. As of now, winning the MWC championship is the only guaranteed path they have to move on in March Madness.<\/p>\n