UNLV vs San Diego State: 2019-20 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
By Joey Loose
UNLV and San Diego State meet in another exciting MWC matchup; do the Rebels have a major upset brewing or will the Aztecs stay perfect?
TV schedule: Saturday, February 22, 7:30 pm ET. CBSSN
Arena: Viejas Arena in San Diego, California
In his first season at UNLV (14-14), head coach TJ Otzelberger is off to an acceptable start, though turning around this program is clearly going to take some time. The Rebels have won three of their last four and are well-positioned at 9-6 in the MWC. In fact, they challenged the Aztecs back in January, losing the game by just four points. Otzelberger hopes his Rebels become as potent as this San Diego State squad one day, but how do they fare for now?
The main cog in the machine is sophomore guard Bryce Hamilton (15.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg), who had 25 points and 10 rebounds in UNLV’s most recent win against Colorado State. While junior forward Donnie Tillman (10.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg) may be injured, senior guard Elijah Mitrou-Long (11.6 ppg, 3.5 apg) has played solidly since returning from his own injury issues, totaling 17 in a recent win over New Mexico.
UNLV sits at 114th in KenPom and 124th in the NET rankings. Clearly, this team isn’t expected to make the NCAA Tournament in Otzelberger’s first season, but he does have them trending upwards. The Rebels rank in the top 25 in the nation in rebounding and have made some positive strides on the offensive side of the basketball; though the defense shined brighter in their most recent outing.
But no matter how bright UNLV has shined, San Diego State (26-0) will be ready for them. The Aztecs seek to extend their perfect start and have certainly looked like an unstoppable force these past few months. They’ve won five straight games by double digits and return home eager to extend their program-record winning streak to 27.
Garnering national attention, junior guard Malachi Flynn (16.7 ppg, 5.1 apg) remains the player to watch for the Aztecs. The favorite for MWC Player of the Year had 22 points in their last game, a big win at Boise State. Junior forward Matt Mitchell (12.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg) has really excelled in recent weeks since the injury to regular starter Nathan Mensah. Additionally, senior forward Yanni Wetzell (12.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and junior guard Jordan Schakel (10.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg) play a major role on both sides of the ball.
A top team by all standards, San Diego State is 4th in the AP Top 25, 4th in KenPom and 1st in the NET rankings. A top seed is the prize if the Aztecs keep winning, and with a fierce defense and lethal offense, it certainly looks primed to happen. The Aztecs have made 62 3-pointers in their last five games, while the defense has really stepped up this past week. They are a total package and an absolute power.
For the Rebels, that offense needs to avoid sloppy play. Hamilton had 29 points in their first matchup and they might need even more to pull off the upset on the road. For the Aztecs, extending and tightening their defense is the key to victory. If they contain Hamilton and hit their shots early, they will win their 27th straight game.
Next. Mountain West power rankings. dark
The recent craziness of this college basketball season cannot be ignored. On paper, San Diego State should win this game, especially if their defense shows up for a third straight game. However, UNLV absolutely has a shot to stay in this game if they get things going in transition and from deep. The Aztecs hit 86% of their free throws in that 4-point win in January; don’t expect this one to be that close if all else repeats itself.