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San Diego State and South Dakota are both locations with basketball teams that have participated in playoffs. San Diego State University's basketball team, the Aztecs, have made it to the NCAA tournament several times, including in 2025. Meanwhile, South Dakota has high school basketball playoff brackets for boys, with MaxPreps covering the SD High School Activities Assn. (SDHSAA) playoffs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | San Diego State Aztecs |
| Team Conference | Mountain West Conference (MWC) |
| Home Arena | Viejas Arena |
| Player Rivalries | UNLV Rebels, USD Toreros, BYU Cougars |
| Number of Former Players Drafted to NBA | 25 |
| Number of NCAA Division I Tournament Appearances | 17 |
| NCAA Division I Tournament Appearances Years | 1969, 2023, 2025 |
| NCAA Division I Tournament Results | Reached Final Four in 2023, lost to UConn |
| Number of Mountain West Conference Tournament Wins | 7 |
| Number of Regular Season Title Wins | 9 |
| Notable Alumni | Kawhi Leonard, Tony Gwynn |
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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 is the men's college basketball program that represents San Diego State University (SDSU). The Aztecs first began play during the 1921-22 basketball season. The team played that season and the next three seasons as part of the Southern California Junior College Conference. This was despite the fact that SDSU, then known as San Diego Normal School, was not a junior college itself.
The Aztecs compete in NCAA Division I. Their home games are played at Viejas Arena (officially Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl), a multi-purpose arena located on the campus of San Diego State University. The arena, which opened in 1997, seats 12,414 for basketball and up to 12,845 for concerts. Prior to the opening of the Viejas Arena, the team played its home games primarily at Peterson Gymnasium, which is located across the street from the arena and is now the home of the Aztec women's volleyball team.
In 2015, the San Diego State Athletics Department opened an on-campus state-of-the-art practice facility, The Jeff Jacobs JAM Center, for the Aztec men's and women's basketball teams.
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San Diego State Aztecs in the NCAA Division I tournaments
The San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team has a rich history in the NCAA Division I tournaments, with 17 appearances since joining NCAA Division I in 1969. They have reached the Sweet Sixteen four times (2011, 2014, 2023, and 2024), the Elite Eight and Final Four in 2023, and the National Championship game in 2023, where they lost to UConn. The Aztecs have also won seven Mountain West Conference tournaments and nine regular-season titles.
The team first began play during the 1921-22 basketball season and competed in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) in 1926 after a season as an independent. They transitioned to the NAIA, finishing as runners-up in 1939 and 1940 before winning the NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament in 1941. From 1956 to 1969, they competed in NCAA Division II before becoming an NCAA Division I school.
The Aztecs have had notable alumni, including 2-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Tony Gwynn, who played both basketball and baseball for the team.
In recent years, the Aztecs have continued their success, reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2025 and achieving their best winning percentage in team history during the 2019-20 season with a 30-2 record. They spent seven straight weeks in the top 5 of major polls that year. Unfortunately, the 2020 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2022-2023 season saw the Aztecs reach new heights, making it to their third Sweet Sixteen, first Elite Eight, and first Final Four. They also won the Mountain West Conference tournament that season.
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San Diego State University's Viejas Arena
The arena's naming rights were originally owned by Cox Communications, and it was known as the Cox Arena until July 1, 2009. On March 17, 2009, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians announced a 10-year naming rights agreement, and the arena was renamed Viejas Arena. The basketball court was named the Steve Fisher Court in 2015, after the men's basketball head coach, Steve Fisher.
Viejas Arena has hosted several NCAA basketball championship rounds, including the men's basketball first and second rounds in 2001, 2006, 2014, 2018, and 2022, and the women's basketball first and second rounds in 2009. It also served as the venue for the NCAA women's volleyball national championship in 2001 and the NCAA men's volleyball national championship in 2006. Additionally, the arena has hosted television events such as WCW's Bash at the Beach and episodes of WCW Monday Nitro. It has also been the venue for various concerts, featuring artists such as Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and The Black Eyed Peas.
The arena has a clear bag policy and is a cashless venue, offering no-fee cash-to-card kiosks for visitor convenience. Outside food in soft containers is generally allowed, but outside drinks are not permitted, except for sealed water bottles up to 20 ounces. The concession stands at Viejas Arena are operated through Aztec Shops, providing food and beverage options for visitors.
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San Diego State Aztecs' rivals
The San Diego State Aztecs, the intercollegiate athletic teams of San Diego State University (SDSU), have several notable rivalries. One of the most well-known is with the Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars, dating back to at least the 1980s when both universities were part of the Western Athletic Conference. Although the rivalry has been described as lopsided by BYU fans, with the Cougars holding a 28-9-1 lead in the series as of 2022, it is still considered the biggest and most hated rivalry by Aztecs fans. The rivalry intensified when both schools became charter members of the Mountain West Conference in 1999, as they routinely competed for conference championships across various sports.
Another rival of the San Diego State Aztecs is California State University, Fresno, with the rivalry primarily stemming from American football and dating back to the 1920s. Known as the "Battle for the Oil Can", the rivalry between the Aztecs and the Fresno State Bulldogs has resulted in a series record of 30-27-4 as of February 2023, with San Diego State holding a slight edge. The matchup between the two California state schools is named after the historic 600-mile Camino Real that connects the 21 Spanish missions in the state, stretching from San Diego Bay in the south to San Francisco Bay in the north.
The Aztecs also have a rivalry with the University of San Diego's San Diego Toreros, particularly in college men's basketball. Additionally, the University of California, San Diego, known as the UC San Diego Tritons, represent another local rival, although the rivalry has historically been more prominent outside of sports. The SDSU student section often refers to the UC San Diego Tritons as the "little brothers" or "little sisters", similar to their reference to the San Diego Toreros.
In terms of basketball playoffs, while I couldn't find specific information regarding the San Diego State Aztecs, it appears that there are basketball playoffs in South Dakota, particularly at the high school level for boys' basketball.
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San Diego State Aztecs players in the NBA
The San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team is the men's college basketball program that represents San Diego State University (SDSU). The team has had several notable alumni go on to play in the NBA, including two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Leonard is one of the most successful NBA players to have come through the Aztecs program, having won the NBA championship in 2014 and 2019, as well as earning the NBA Finals MVP award in both those years.
Another notable Aztec alum is Tony Gwynn, who played both basketball and baseball for SDSU. Gwynn was drafted by the San Diego Padres and the then-San Diego Clippers on the same day in 1981, going on to a successful career in Major League Baseball. While he did not play in the NBA, his talent in both sports earned him a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Other notable former Aztecs include J.J. O'Brien, who played for the team during his college years, and Richie Guerin, who played in the NBA but it is unclear for which team(s) he played for while in college.
The Aztecs have appeared in the NCAA Division I tournament 17 times, most recently in 2025. In 2023, they reached the Final Four for the first time, ultimately losing to UConn in the championship game. The team plays its home games at Viejas Arena, which has a capacity of 12,414 for basketball.
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Frequently asked questions
SD, or South Dakota, does have basketball playoffs for high school boys.
The SD high school boys' basketball playoffs are called the SDHSAA High School Boys Basketball Playoff Brackets.
Some of the regions in the SD high school boys' basketball playoffs include Region 1A, Region 1B, Region 2A, and Region 2B.
Yes, San Diego State has been in the NCAA Tournament for basketball.
