NCAA Basketball: Preseason top 25 power rankings for 2022-23 season

The Aztecs were statistically a top-5 defense in all of NCAA Basketball last season and with the key pieces of that unit all coming back, they should be just as good there again. That includes returning leading scorer Matt Bradley, who averaged 16.9 ppg and 5.4 rpg last season and was the lone double-digit producer on the roster. The three-time all-league player came back for a 5th year and with David Roddy of Colorado State gone, should be the preseason favorite for Mountain West Player of the Year.

Also back in the backcourt are a pair of veteran guards in Adam Seiko and Lamont Butler, both of whom are solid role players. But all eyes will be on newcomer transfer point guard Darrion Trammell. In two years at Seattle, the 5’11 playmaker averaged around 18 ppg and 5.0 apg and had several 30+ point efforts. He’s also a former All-WAC defender and should be a plus on that end for San Diego State.

The backcourt is now in great shape and the frontcourt also will be fine, with the return of starting center Nathan Mensah. He averaged 7.0 ppg and 6.9 rpg, along with over two blocks a game. He’s a quality interior defender as well. Starting forward Keshad Johnson also returns and the Aztecs brought in 6’6 transfer forward Micah Parrish, who averaged 12.1 ppg and 6.0 rpg at Oakland while shooting 35% from deep. His versatility and scoring potential give the team another two-way option in the rotation.

Don’t be surprised if the Aztecs are a 27+ win team and spend a lot of time in the rankings, as the offensive deficiencies have been fixed with Trammell. Now they just need more frontcourt production to balance things.