Even if this team isn’t winning league titles and making national headlines every season, the work that Brian Dutcher has done at San Diego State across these recent years is impressive. There was significant fanfare about the Aztecs’ long undefeated run before the pandemic and few can forget their march to the national title game back in 2023. On the doorstep of joining the Pac-12, does this program have one more thrill in them?
Dutcher and company produced his eighth straight 20-win campaign since taking over as head coach back in 2017, but he’s done more than continue the momentum that he and Steve Fisher began. Even though last season ended unceremoniously in the First Four, San Diego State made their fifth straight NCAA Tournament with a roster full of new faces and other changes.
Changes come on a yearly basis and it’ll be no different this season, as the Aztecs notably lost Nick Boyd in the transfer portal. However, there’s certain optimism in San Diego with what’s returning this season. The Aztecs won’t have recent weapons like Jared Coleman-Jones either but there’s a lot of young talent coming back for what many speculate could be another special season for this program.
We’ll talk everything connected to these Aztecs, looking at the returning stars and new talent expected to play significant minutes. There will also be a brief look at the schedule and some overarching conclusions. Dutcher took the helm in 2017 and his program has been nationally elite every three years. Could they be due for a repeat performance and perhaps another notably postseason run?
Projected Starters
Guard – Sean Newman Jr. (Senior)
The Aztecs got quite the new weapon as their shiny lead point guard as Newman comes to town after stellar work at Louisiana Tech. The former JUCO guard averaged 9.9 points and 7.9 assists as a junior with the Bulldogs last season, earning Third All-CUSA honors while finishing 6th in the nation in assists. He’ll be depended on to elevate this entire offense while also boasting an impressive free throw percentage.
Guard – Miles Byrd (Junior)
Last year was an expected step forward for Byrd, the lanky wing who assumed a significant role after sitting behind recent legends in his first two seasons. Byrd’s breakout campaign saw him average 12.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, earning Second Team All-MWC and All-Defense honors in the league. Byrd brings a bit of everything and is an explosive player, with great defensive figures and shooting ability.
Guard – Reese Waters (Senior)
A major foot injury kept Waters out the entirety of last season but he’s excited to finally compete again with the Aztecs. He did solid work as a backup at USC early in his career before joining San Diego State in 2023. He put up 9.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in his last full season and brings size and reliability both on offense and defense now that he’s healthy again.
Forward – Jeremiah Oden (Senior)
Another notable transfer addition, Oden comes to town after previous work with Wyoming, DePaul, and Charlotte. While injury kept him off the court with the 49ers, he averaged 7.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in his most recent work with the Blue Demons. While the numbers haven’t jumped off the page, he brings experience and versatility and could grow into a major part of this program’s defensive attack.
Forward – Magoon Gwath (Sophomore)
Following a redshirt campaign, Gwath proved his value last season for the Aztecs and the 7-footer really shined at the back end of this defense. He averaged 8.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game and was named both MWC Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. After flirting with the transfer portal, he’s back for a second year with the Aztecs and has already become one of the best defensive players in the nation.
Key Reserves
Guard – Elzie Harrington (Freshman)
Harrington is a 6-5 wing from Bellflower, California and one of the new freshmen joining the show this season. He’s a 4-star recruit with positional versatility and someone who can be plugged in all over the court. While the outside shooting has been a work in progress, what makes Harrington valuable is that versatility, his ability to score inside the arc, and his potential to grow into a top-level defender.
Forward – Pharaoh Compton (Sophomore)
Compton was one of the notable recruits from last season and is someone that the Aztecs think can take a big step forward this year. He put up 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in a reserve role but definitely has a chance to earn significant minutes in this frontcourt, especially with his strength and ability to both defend and make big plays around the rim.
Guard – Latrell Davis (Junior)
An addition from an MWC rival, Davis comes to town and joins the Aztecs after spending a pair of season up north at San Jose State. He’s a combo guard originally from England who put up 11.1 points and 3.1 rebounds last season while making 38% of his 3-pointers. He likely won’t match that level of production but becomes a key bench piece for a team that likes using a deep rotation.
Forward – Tae Simmons (Freshman)
Another notable freshman addition from the offseason, Simmons is a 6-6 forward out of Northridge, California who just might develop into future stud for the Aztecs. What the 4-star athlete lacks in size he makes up for with his athleticism on the court, projecting as a fantastic defender with solid rebounding and shot blocking figures at the high school level.
Guard – BJ Davis (Junior)
We’re not so sure about the role Davis will play in his third year with the Aztecs after starting all of last season. The 6-1 combo guard played great defense from the starting backcourt, averaging 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game with decent metrics on offense as well. Davis is one of those players who’s going to play hard when he’s on the court and bring a lot on both ends.
Guard – Taj DeGourville (Sophomore)
Whatever was expected from DeGourville as a true freshman last season, the Aztecs are hoping for even more for the young wing. He came off the bench and played significant minutes, putting up 5.1 points and 2.9 rebounds last season in his first collegiate campaign. He’s another weapon whose numbers don’t jump off the page but he projects as a strong playmaker and facilitator who we’ll see take a step forward as a sophomore.
Forward – Miles Heide (Junior)
Heide is a 6-9 forward out of Washington who’s served in a reserve role for each of his first two seasons at San Diego State. Last year was definitely a step forward in production with 4.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, but the Aztecs are hoping for even more in the year ahead. With his size, Heide can alter the game defensively and made 77% of his 2-point field goals last season.
Schedule Outlook
We’ll see a taste of what these Aztecs can do in their exhibitions, including against UCLA in mid-October, but the real action begins November 4th against Long Beach State at home. It’s somewhat of a soft landing with home games before the Aztecs head to Las Vegas for an intense Players Era Festival. They’ll face off against Michigan, Oregon, and then a third opponent in a week of major tests.
Fortunately, there’s another soft landing after that challenge in Las Vegas, as the Aztecs kick off December with three more games at home at Viejas Arena. The last nonconference action that jumps off the page comes on December 20, as San Diego State heads to Phoenix, facing Arizona in the Hall of Fame Series. One last home tuneup remains before MWC play begins right before New Year’s.
Their final year of MWC play kicks off with a slew of winnable games. With a few exceptions, the Aztecs get a pair of games against each of their league rivals and even get two looks at newcomer Grand Canyon. Many eyes will be on those games as well as tough challenges against rivals like Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico, and Utah State, each appearing twice on the schedule. The regular season ends at home against UNLV on March 6th.
Season Outlook
When the Aztecs made national noise both in 2020 and 2023 they did it with balance and hard-nosed defense. Those teams were led by stars like Malachi Flynn and Matt Bradley but they involved rotations full of unselfish play and impressive defensive efforts. As a result, we highlighted a great number of players who could legitimately see important action this season.
If we’re identifying the star, a lot of signs point towards Byrd being the one to lead the charge. He was a bench piece and a redshirt during that run to the title game three years and he has both the talent and leadership to helm these Aztecs to making their own history. Let’s not act like he’s the only captain of this ship, as the return of Gwath was also a major breakthrough this offseason, giving the frontcourt someone widely considered one of the best young bigs in the nation.
A lineup full of versatility gives Dutcher plenty of options and he found some valuable pieces this offseason to add into the mix. With Boyd gone, they grabbed one of the best facilitators in the nation in Newman to run point, but while also grabbing young talent to back him up. We don’t know exactly what role either Davis will play this season but you can guarantee they’ll play significant minutes even if not in the starting lineup.
There are some questions in the frontcourt behind Gwath and it’s fair to wonder who steps up behind him. San Diego State is also hoping to lean heavily on both Waters and Oden, two players who did not play competitive basketball last season. Will either of them miss a beat in their returns to action and can they remain reliable starters in this lineup?
The bottom line is that San Diego State has the playmakers to be a formidable team beyond even the MWC race. A lot boils down to how the offense produces, since we know that Dutcher and company will put together another elite defensive effort, especially with Gwath roaming under the basket. We could certainly see the Aztecs nationally ranked again this year, especially if they make a good impression in Las Vegas in November, but does this new group have the talent to be as nationally relevant as those previous Aztecs crews? If Byrd and Gwath stay healthy, this team looks like a top-25 contender and a lock for a sixth straight NCAA berth.”