San Diego State men’s basketball kicked off their final Mountain West season with a bang, cruising past Long Beach State 77-45 in their opener. It was a strong start, but the season’s just getting started and there are some real challenges ahead. The Aztecs will face tough matchups against ranked teams like No. 7 Michigan, Oregon, and No. 13 Arizona, so they’ll need to stay sharp.
When it comes to the Mountain West, SDSU is definitely the team to beat. They’ve been dominating the conference for a while now, and with most of their key players back, plus some exciting new faces, it’s hard to see anyone taking the crown from them this year. Boise State, Utah State, and UNLV will push them, though those teams aren’t going to make it easy.
The rest of the conference looks decent but doesn’t quite stack up to SDSU’s level. Teams like Grand Canyon, Colorado State, New Mexico, and Nevada have potential, but Wyoming, San Jose State, Fresno State, and Air Force might struggle this season.
A big part of SDSU’s chances lies with players like Miles Byrd and Magoon Gwath. Byrd was named preseason Player of the Year, while Gwath snagged the Defensive Player of the Year nod. Plus, guard Reese Dixon-Waters is back after missing last season due to injury. Add in new guys Sean Newman Jr., Latrell Davis, and freshmen Tae Simmons and Elzie Harrington, and the roster feels pretty stacked.
Nationally, SDSU is being talked about as one of the best teams outside the power conferences. Early NCAA Tournament projections have them as a solid mid-tier seed — maybe around a No. 5, if they keep things consistent. One area to watch is Miles Heide, who’ll need to improve his free throws and overall offense to really help the team shine.
They’ll get tested early with tough non-conference games at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas against Michigan and Oregon, plus a trip to Phoenix to face Arizona. This season is a big moment for the Aztecs. Their last in the Mountain West before heading to the Pac-12. Expect them to make a statement with a run into March.
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