San Diego State Basketball: 5 reasons why Aztecs can win 2019-20 title

San Diego State Basketball: 5 reasons why Aztecs can win 2019-20 national title

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 21: The San Diego State Aztecs team remains undefeated after defeating the Utah Utes in the Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Classic at Staples Center on December 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 26: KJ Feagin #10 and Malachi Flynn #22 of the San Diego State Aztecs (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

3. Lots of power conference talent on this team

For teams outside of the power conferences, transfers can have a huge impact on how good they can be. Gonzaga is the obvious example, with many over the years. This year they are No. 2 thanks to backcourt transfers Ryan Woolridge (North Texas) and Admon Gilder (Texas A&M). Another top-10 mid-major team in Dayton has a couple of transfers to add some needed depth alongside Obi Toppin. It can also end in disaster, with fellow Mountain West foe New Mexico and their recent fall from grace showing what happens when players don’t mesh well in their new home.

It’s gone the opposite way for San Diego State this season, with a pair of graduate transfers along with another in Malachi Flynn who sat out a season per NCAA rules. He was one of the top guards in the Pac-12 a couple of years ago at Washington State, averaging 15.8 ppg and 4.3 apg. When he left the Cougars, just about every quality program offered him a scholarship and recruited him hard.

A player who didn’t get recruited quite as hard was KJ Feagin. The former Santa Clara Bronco played just two games last year after multiple injuries but averaged a team-leading 17.5 ppg and 4.0 apg the season prior. His offense hasn’t returned to form overall (8.3 ppg) but Feagin has become one of the best individual defenders in all of college basketball and is a favorite for Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. The duo has meshed better than anyone could’ve asked for both on and off the court.

Yanni Wetzell has become one of the best impact transfers this offseason, coming all the way from Vanderbilt. He produced just 5.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg in less than 20 mpg but has become one of the top big men in the conference. Now averaging 12.0 ppg and 6.5 rp on 60% shooting overall, the former SEC forward will have no fear banging down low in March against some of the better big men in the country.

These players already have a history of performing well against the top teams in the country and everyone else in the rotation could’ve joined P-5 schools out of high school as well if they wanted to. Whatever you do, don’t look at this team as inferior to most of the teams in the power conferences. They match up just fine.