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Bracketology 2023: 5 key matchups to watch on opening week

By Jason Burgess

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 02: Exterior picture of the JW Marriott Hotel which has the entire bracket of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament hanging on its building on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 02: Exterior picture of the JW Marriott Hotel which has the entire bracket of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament hanging on its building on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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San Diego State Aztecs guard Matt Bradley Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
San Diego State Aztecs guard Matt Bradley Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 19 San Diego State vs. BYU, Nov 11, 10:30 pm ET, Viejas Arena, San Diego, CA

The first Friday of the season sees a game that could end up being pivotal for both teams by season’s end when former Mountain West foes BYU and  No. 19 San Diego State do battle at Viejas Arena. Both the Cougars and the Aztecs have NCAA Tournament aspirations and even though this game is during the first week of the season, it could end up being a very important win for whoever comes out on top.

Mark Pope’s BYU team was struck by two early-season injuries that derailed their season, but they still managed to go 24-11 last year. They had some key departures in the offseason including Alex Barcello and Te’Jon Lucas, so this year’s team is going to have a different look. Forward Gideon George is the senior leader, but sophomore forward Fousseyni Traore should be the Cougars’ most dominant force up front. Look for fellow sophomore Atiki Ally Atiki to make a big jump, while a couple of transfers Rudi Williams from Coastal Carolina and Jaxson Robinson from Arkansas likely start right away.

This game will be a good warm-up as BYU is part of the loaded field at the Battle 4 Atlantis that includes Tennessee, Kansas, Dayton, and Butler. BYU has new faces but should still be battling St. Mary’s to be the second-best team in the WCC behind Gonzaga.

The offensively-challenged Aztecs relied heavily on senior Matt Bradley who netted 17 points per game, head coach Brian Dutcher hopes that won’t be the case this season. Not only did Bradley announce he was returning for an extra year, as did backcourt mate Adam Seiko and big man Nathan Mensah. San Diego State will once again be one of the best defensive teams in the country, but shooting the ball has always been a question. Enter transfers Micah Parrish from Oakland and Darrion Trammell from Seattle who is a good creator with the ball and should fit in well with Bradley. The two transfers averaged nearly 30 points per game last season and with a defense as good as the Aztecs’, any improvement offensively for the team that finished last in the MWC in two-point shot percentage could make a huge difference.

San Diego State has been very successful in conference but has yet to break through with a deep run in March. Last Year they led Creighton with less than four minutes to play but fell in overtime, so success in the NCAA Tournament is the next step and a win over BYU could be a key piece to the Aztecs’ resume.

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