Busting Brackets
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Pac-12 Basketball: 10 potential candidates for expansion after losing USC and UCLA

Mar 11, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; A general view of T-Mobile Arena before the start of a Pac-12 Conference Tournament semifinal between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Arizona Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; A general view of T-Mobile Arena before the start of a Pac-12 Conference Tournament semifinal between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Arizona Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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San Diego State Aztecs Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
San Diego State Aztecs Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports /

San Diego State

Much like how Boise State was an ideal addition long before the Los Angeles schools departed, San Diego State has long made sense as a potential add to the Pac-12. Owners of a great football and basketball program, San Diego State is in a uniquely fortunate position as well, with southern California suddenly theirs for the taking in a new-look Pac-12.

San Diego State has certainly had some impressive moments in basketball in recent years, finishing 30-2 just three seasons ago and making nine of the last twelve NCAA Tournaments. The Aztecs have sustained success in basketball and would continue that run of success at the power conference level. They’ve done fantastic work against their MWC rivals and would fit quite well competitively in with the remaining Pac-12 teams.

As mentioned, San Diego State slides right into that southern California market. This program cannot replace UCLA and USC and certainly wouldn’t get the attention or respect that those two programs got, but this is a fantastic way to ease the blow of losing those two schools. San Diego State is legitimately a great school and program and they would’ve been dynamic in this conference even with those two schools. Now, it’s more as if the Pac-12 needs them to maintain that foothold.