AAC Basketball: Examining 8 potential candidates for expansion
By Joey Loose
San Diego State
If westward expansion is a thing for the AAC, you can bet they’re going to try as hard as they can to get San Diego State into the conference. The Aztecs have really stood out in basketball in recent years, but they’d make a fantastic upgrade for a number of reasons, from their fanbase to their location to the recent growth in the football program.
Basketball coach Brian Dutcher has helped build the Aztecs into one of the Mountain West’s very best programs and San Diego State would find no difficulty competing in this newly rebooted AAC. They’ve got great facilities and their location in San Diego opens the AAC to a brand new market as well. The football program recently welcomed back former coach Brady Hoke and has made bowl games in ten of the last eleven seasons.
San Diego State is a program on the rise. Maybe one of the biggest issues stopping them from joining the AAC is that a better offer could come along. With the recent Big 12 expansion rumors, it seems less likely that the Aztecs would join that conference, but you never know the Pac-12’s plans long term. There’s plenty of talent left in the Mountain West, even if Boise State or someone else departs. Would San Diego State jump at the AAC or wait for a better offer if their programs keep winning?