San Diego State Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Aztecs
Non-conference schedule for 2018-19
Nov. 6 (H) – Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Nov. 14 (H) – Texas Southern
Nov. 19 (N) –Duke (Maui Invitational)
Nov. 20 (N) – Auburn/Xavier (Maui Invitational)
Nov. 21 (N) – Arizona/Iowa State/Gonzaga/Illinois (Maui Invitational)
Nov. 27 (H) – Jackson State
Dec. 1 (A) – Illinois State
Dec. 5 (H) – San Diego
Dec. 8 (A) – California
Dec. 12 (H) – Cal State Dominguez Hills
Dec. 22 (H) – BYU
Dec. 29 (H) – Brown
Jan. 1 (H) – Cal State Northridge
The San Diego State Aztecs went 8-3 in their non-conference slate in 2017-18. A two-point victory over the then 12th-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs was one big highlight on last year’s schedule. San Diego State opens the season with two home games, first against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions and the Texas Southern Tigers, last year’s SWAC Tournament champions. After those two games, the Aztecs are part of the 2018 Maui Invitational, a field that features five teams that made last year’s NCAA Tournament.
They open the tournament against the Duke Blue Devils on Nov. 19 looking to play spoiler opening round of things. Jalen McDaniels and company will have their hands full with Duke and their top-ranked freshmen. The Aztecs will also have the opportunity of facing Auburn/Xavier and Arizona/Iowa State/Gonzaga/Illinois depending on the results across the next two days, a good finish there could go a long way come March.
San Diego State returns home on Nov. 27 to face the Jackson State Tigers, another SWAC opponent. Then two of their next three games come on the road. Dec. 1 they face the Illinois State Redbirds before hosting the San Diego Toreros on Dec. 5. The last road game on the schedule against the California Golden Bears serves as a rematch of last year’s meeting when the Aztecs fell 63-62 at home.
The final four games on the non-conference schedule are at home for the Aztecs setting up a potential winning streak if things go well. Their biggest challenge will be the BYU Cougars on Dec. 22, a team that features Yoeli Childs and the return of guard Nick Emery. The San Diego State Aztecs schedule favors another positive result though it has its challenges.