Ayrton Oneill
San Diego is the largest American city not to have won a championship in a Big Four major professional league. The city has hosted several professional basketball teams, including the San Diego Rockets from 1967 to 1971, the San Diego Clippers from 1978 to 1984, and the now-defunct San Diego Conquistadors/Sails from 1972 to 1975. However, none of these teams won a championship while in San Diego. The city is currently home to several college basketball teams, including the San Diego State Aztecs, who reached the NCAA Division I Final Four for the first time in 2023, and the San Diego Toreros, who won the WCC title in 1983-84.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Has San Diego ever won a basketball championship? | No, San Diego has never won a championship in a "Big Four" major professional league. |
| San Diego's basketball teams | San Diego Toreros, San Diego State Aztecs, San Diego Rockets (1967-1971), San Diego Clippers (1978-1984), San Diego Conquistadors/Sails (1972-1975) |
| San Diego State Aztecs' achievements | Reached the Final Four and National Championship game in 2023, losing to UConn; reached Sweet Sixteen in 2011, 2014, 2023, and 2024; reached Elite Eight and Final Four for the first time in 2023; won seven Mountain West Conference tournaments and nine regular-season titles |
| San Diego Toreros' achievements | Won the WCC (formerly West Coast Athletic Conference) title in 1983-1984; played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2008 |
| Other sports achievements | San Diego Chargers won the 1963 American Football League (AFL) Championship; San Diego hosted the World Baseball Classic three times (2006, 2009, 2017); San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby are based in the city; San Diego Surfers have won the Women's Premier League (WPL) national title twice (2016, 2018) |
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What You'll Learn
San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team
The San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team represents San Diego State University. The Aztecs have experienced a remarkable transformation in the last 25 years, rising from a mediocre team to a national powerhouse.
Before 1999, the Aztecs were an ordinary college basketball team, having finished over .500 just once in the previous decade and with their last 20-win season being in 1985. That year, the team also had to split their home games between two venues: the San Diego Sports Arena, located 10 miles from campus, and the on-campus Peterson Gym, which had a seating capacity of under 4,000.
In 1999, Steve Fisher and his assistant, Brian Dutcher, arrived at San Diego State with the ambitious goal of competing for national championships. Fisher had previously won a national championship as the head coach of Michigan. Despite the challenge of building the Aztecs program from scratch, Fisher and Dutcher's vision began to pay off. By 2020, the Aztecs came close to winning a championship, and their success in recruiting top players continued into 2023.
The Aztecs' recent success has elevated their brand and put them on the national stage, solidifying their reputation as a force to be reckoned with in college basketball. While they have yet to win a national championship, their performance has gained them respect and established them as a legitimate contender.
The Aztecs' main rival is the University of San Diego Toreros, who they have historically dominated, leading the series 14-23 at the Division I level as of the 2022-23 season. The Toreros, who play their home games at the Jenny Craig Pavilion, won the WCC title in the 1983-84 season and made it to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2008.
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The Aztecs' NCAA Division I tournament appearances
The San Diego State Aztecs are the intercollegiate athletic teams representing San Diego State University (SDSU). The team colours are scarlet and black, and the Aztecs nickname was chosen by students in 1925.
The Aztecs have appeared in the NCAA Division I tournament 17 times, with a combined record of 13-17. They have reached the Sweet Sixteen four times, in 2011, 2014, 2023, and 2024. In the 2023 NCAA tournament, they reached the Elite Eight, the Final Four, and the National Championship game for the first time. Unfortunately, they lost to the University of Connecticut Huskies by a score of 59-76.
The Aztecs have a rich history in basketball, dating back to the 1921-22 season. They joined the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) in 1926 and competed in the NAIA until 1956, when they transitioned to the newly founded NCAA Division II. They then became an NCAA Division I school in 1969.
The Aztecs have experienced success in recent years, with a notable 30-2 record in the 2019-20 season, which was their best winning percentage in team history. They spent seven straight weeks in the top 5 of the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll, finishing the season ranked #6 in both polls. Unfortunately, the 2020 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to their NCAA Division I appearances, the Aztecs have also competed in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) six times and the NCAA Division II tournament three times. They have also appeared in the NAIA tournament five times, finishing as runners-up in 1939 and 1940 before winning the championship in 1941.
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San Diego Toreros men's basketball team
The San Diego Toreros men's basketball team represents the University of San Diego (USD) in the NCAA Division I as part of the West Coast Conference (WCC). The Toreros play their home games at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
The Toreros won their first WCC title in 1983-84, when the conference was known as the West Coast Athletic Conference. Jim Brovelli, the coach at the time, was named the conference coach of the year. The team has had some success in recent years, appearing in four NCAA Division I Tournaments, five NCAA Division II Tournaments, and the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) twice. They also played in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 2019.
The Toreros' performance in the NCAA Division I Tournaments has been mixed, with a combined record of 1-4. They fared better in the Division II Tournaments, with a combined record of 4-6. The team's biggest rival is the cross-town San Diego State University Aztecs, against whom they have a losing record of 14-23. The Toreros have struggled against the Aztecs in recent years, going 3-15 since the 2001-02 season, although they did manage a win during the 2018-19 season.
One notable incident involving the team occurred in 2019 when former coach Lamont Smith, who led the team from 2015 to 2018, was accused of accepting a bribe as part of the college admissions bribery scandal. Smith was alleged to have illegally helped the children of a Beverly Hills real estate developer gain admission to the university.
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San Diego's history of hosting professional basketball
San Diego has a significant history of hosting professional basketball teams, although none currently play in the city. From 1967 to 1971, San Diego hosted the NBA's San Diego Rockets, who then moved to Houston. The city also hosted the San Diego Clippers from 1978 to 1984, after which they moved to Los Angeles.
In addition to these NBA teams, San Diego was home to the American Basketball Association's (ABA) San Diego Conquistadors (also known as the San Diego Sails) from 1972 to 1975. The 1975 season was the last of the ABA, which was struggling financially. The league was in discussions to merge with the NBA, but the San Diego Sails folded before this could happen due to dismal attendance figures and the perception that they would threaten the Southern California media market.
San Diego has also played host to other NBA teams for various "home" games, even though these teams were based in other cities. During the 1971-72 season, the Golden State Warriors played six home games in San Diego, as they were searching for a new home arena. The Warriors ultimately settled in Oakland, but considered making a play for the San Diego market.
The city has also hosted multiple minor league ice hockey teams, including the current American Hockey League (AHL) franchise, the San Diego Gulls. San Diego has never hosted a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise but is home to several minor league soccer teams. The most popular sports team in San Diego is the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB).
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San Diego's college basketball scene
The Aztecs play their home games at the Viejas Arena, located on the SDSU campus, while the Toreros' home games are held at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Historically, the Aztecs have been the more successful team, having reached the NCAA Division I tournament 17 times, including four appearances in the Sweet Sixteen and one in the Elite Eight. In 2023, they made history by advancing to the Final Four and the National Championship game for the first time, ultimately losing to the University of Connecticut Huskies. The Aztecs have also won multiple conference tournaments and regular-season titles, showcasing their dominance in their conference.
On the other hand, the Toreros have had less success in recent years, with their last recorded win against the Aztecs coming during the 2018-19 season. However, they did win the West Coast Conference (WCC) title in 1983-84 and played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2008. The rivalry between the two teams adds excitement to San Diego's college basketball scene, with the Aztecs currently holding a slight edge in head-to-head matchups.
San Diego's college basketball landscape has undergone a significant transformation over the years, with both the Aztecs and the Toreros experiencing highs and lows. The Aztecs, in particular, have risen from obscurity to become a nationally respected program, thanks to the efforts of coaches like Steve Fisher and Brian Dutcher, who envisioned a competitive future for the team.
In summary, San Diego's college basketball scene is vibrant and competitive, with the Aztecs and Toreros representing the city's top collegiate teams. The rivalry between these two programs and their pursuit of national recognition have contributed to the growth and popularity of college basketball in the region.
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Frequently asked questions
No, San Diego has never won an NCAA basketball championship. In 2023, the San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team reached the Final Four for the first time in program history but lost in the championship game to the University of Connecticut Huskies.
Yes, the San Diego Toreros men's basketball team won their first West Coast Athletic Conference (now known as WCC) championship in the 1983-84 season.
Yes, the San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team has won seven Mountain West Conference tournaments.
