The last half decade has seen San Diego State cement their place as one of the best mid-major programs in the nation and Brian Dutcher’s squad is far from done making waves. The Aztecs head to the Pac-12 next season fresh off a fifth straight trip to the Big Dance. Despite taking a step back last season, San Diego State was still very impressive, even winning a game over eventual national finalist Houston, and could be even better this coming season.
In this era of the transfer portal almost no time is unaffected and unfortunately the Aztecs lose leading scorer and veteran presence Nick Boyd. However, San Diego State got sensational news with the return of three starting sophomores who will all be major assets again as juniors. BJ Davis continues to grow in that backcourt, Miles Byrd emerged as a go-to option, while Magoon Gwath has quickly blossomed into an elite defender and shot blocker for this team.
We mentioned the negatives of the transfer portal, but San Diego State has recently reaped the benefits as much as any mid-major program. This year’s class doesn’t jump off the page, but Dutcher and company did add a few notable names into the mix. Former Charlotte forward Jeremiah Oden will hope to remain healthy in his final collegiate season while Latrell Davis comes over from San Jose State and could see notable minutes after scoring 11 points a game last season in the MWC.
Los Angeles native Sean Newman Jr. is the new piece we’re keeping an eye on and could be another underrated steal for the Aztecs. A 6-1 point guard, Newman is coming off incredible work in his second season at Louisiana Tech, averaging 9.9 points and 7.9 assists per game. He led Conference USA in assists in each of the last two seasons and notched Third Team All-CUSA honors for his sensational work all over the court.
Newman now slides into a major role as a facilitator for San Diego State moving forward. We mentioned those returning juniors, but adding a veteran point guard with that type of assist numbers is an incredible boon for this offense. We also have to consider what Newman could bring on the defensive end in Dutcher’s system, as the Aztecs have been known for their elite defense for years.
Major victories came this offseason when those big names announced their returns, especially when Gwath entered the transfer portal only to decide to say in San Diego. However, we cannot understate how successful this team could be this season with a bona fide point guard like Newman leading the charge. There’s no telling what kind of season he has as a shooter or scorer, but if his defense gets even better than he’s going to be a menace in a rotation full of talent.