Kristian Ferrell
San Diego State University (SDSU) has a strong basketball program, with the men's team reaching the NCAA playoffs in 2023 and coming close to winning the championship. The Aztecs, as they are known, had a successful season, posting a 32-7 record and reaching the national championship game, where they ultimately lost to the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies. The 2023-24 season is already underway, with SDSU returning key players and a challenging schedule ahead, including several postseason contenders. With a strong start, the Aztecs are looking to build on their recent success and make another deep playoff run this season.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| SDSU Men's Basketball Team Name | Aztecs |
| SDSU's 2023-24 Record | 34-7 |
| 2023 Postseason Opponents | 5 |
| 2023 NCAA Tournament Opponents | 3 |
| 2023 NIT Opponent | 1 |
| Possible Additional NCAA Tournament Opponent | 1 |
| 2023-24 Non-Conference Games Scheduled | 13 |
| 2023-24 Exhibition Games Scheduled | 1 |
| 2023 National Championship Opponent | University of Connecticut |
| 2023 National Championship Score | 76-59 |
| 2023-24 Non-Conference Opponents | CAL STATE SAN MARCOS, CAL STATE FULLERTON, Brigham Young, LONG BEACH STATE, Saint Mary's, Washington/Xavier, California, UC San Diego, Grand Canyon, UC IRVINE, SAINT KATHERINE, Stanford, Gonzaga |
| SDSU's 2023-24 Ranking | 5th Seed |
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What You'll Learn
SDSU's 2025 NCAA Tournament Appearance
In 2023, the San Diego State University (SDSU) men's basketball team had a historic season, making it to the NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship game for the first time in the program's history. Despite a strong performance, the Aztecs fell short, losing 76-59 to the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies.
The following year, the SDSU men's team continued their momentum, announcing a challenging non-conference schedule for the 2023-24 season, including several postseason and NCAA tournament teams from the previous year.
Now, in 2025, SDSU is once again making waves in college basketball. Both the men's and women's basketball teams have earned spots in the NCAA Tournament, marking the fifth consecutive appearance for the men's team and the first since 2012 for the women's team.
The men's team, under the leadership of head coach Brian Dutcher, has earned an at-large bid as one of the Mountain West teams in the tournament. They will face a tough opponent in the Tar Heels in Dayton, Ohio, in the NCAA First Four match.
Meanwhile, the women's team has punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament in thrilling fashion, defeating Wyoming 72-68 in triple overtime to claim the Mountain West tournament title. The Aztecs, led by head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson, will be the 14th seed and will face the third-seeded LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the first round.
With both teams in the NCAA Tournament, SDSU is poised to make a strong showing in 2025, building on the success of their recent basketball programs.
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SDSU's 2023 NCAA Tournament Run
The San Diego State Aztecs had a historic run in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, making their first trip to the Elite 8, Final Four, and title game. They were seeking to win the first NCAA national championship in men's basketball history and the second in the university's Division 1 athletic history.
Led by seventh-year head coach Brian Dutcher, the Aztecs entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed in the South Region, their third straight trip to the Big Dance. They began their march to the championship game with a win over the College of Charleston. They then defeated Furman University to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2014.
The Aztecs continued their impressive run with victories over the University of Alabama and Creighton University, punching their ticket to the Final Four. In the national semifinals, they faced Florida Atlantic University and emerged victorious, setting up a title matchup with the University of Connecticut (UConn).
In the championship game, the Aztecs started strong, connecting on 4 of their first 6 shots to take an early lead. However, their offense cooled off, and they struggled to find their rhythm for the remainder of the game. UConn, meanwhile, found their stride and went on runs that extended their lead. Despite a late rally by SDSU, they ultimately fell short, losing to UConn by a final score of 76-59.
While the Aztecs were disappointed with the loss, they could hold their heads high, having achieved a series of firsts for the program and coming just short of winning the national championship. The 2023 NCAA Tournament run by the San Diego State Aztecs will be remembered as a thrilling and historic journey that fell just short of the ultimate prize.
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SDSU's 2023 NCAA Championship Loss
The San Diego State Aztecs' 2023 NCAA Championship run ended in a loss to the UConn Huskies, 76-59. The game, played on April 3, 2023, in Houston, Texas, marked the conclusion of a historic season for SDSU.
SDSU entered the game seeking to win its first NCAA national championship in men's basketball and the second in the university's Division 1 athletic history. The Aztecs had advanced to the championship game by defeating notable opponents such as the University of Alabama and Creighton University.
The championship game began with both teams shooting well, but the Aztecs' offence soon cooled off, missing 11 straight field goals over a 10-minute span. The Huskies capitalized on this opportunity, going on an 8-0 run to take a 14-10 lead. Despite a strong defensive effort from SDSU, forcing four early turnovers, they trailed 36-24 at halftime.
In the second half, the Aztecs showed resilience and fought back. Trailing 56-41 with under 10 minutes remaining, they went on a 14-4 run to cut the deficit to just five points with 5:19 left in the game. However, the Huskies responded with a 9-0 run, capped off by a three-pointer from star sophomore Jordan Hawkins, to pull away and secure their fifth national title.
Despite the loss, the 2023 season was the most successful in the history of the SDSU men's basketball program, finishing with a 32-7 record and reaching the Elite 8, Final Four, and title game for the first time. The team's success and brotherhood were highlighted by coach Brian Dutcher, who acknowledged the disappointment of the loss while praising the team's achievements and unity.
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SDSU's 2025 NCAA Tournament Opponents
In 2023, San Diego State University (SDSU) made it to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game, where they faced the University of Connecticut (UConn). Unfortunately for SDSU, the UConn Huskies proved too strong, and the Aztecs fell to a 76-59 defeat. This was SDSU's first appearance in the Elite 8, Final Four, and title game, and they were seeking to win the first NCAA national championship in men's basketball history.
Fast forward to 2025, and SDSU has earned its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, with both the men's and women's teams qualifying. The men's team, the Aztecs, will face the Tar Heels in Dayton, Ohio, in the NCAA First Four match. This will be the third meeting between the two teams, with the Tar Heels winning the previous two matchups. The Aztecs will be hoping to avenge those losses and advance further in the tournament.
The SDSU women's team has been awarded the 14th seed in the Spokane Regional 1 and will play third-seeded LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the first round. This will be the second meeting between SDSU and LSU, with the first taking place in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, where LSU came out on top.
Both the SDSU men's and women's teams face tough opponents in their respective regions, and they will need to bring their best to advance further in the tournament. The Aztecs, in particular, will be seeking to replicate their successful run in 2023 and bring home the NCAA championship title.
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SDSU's Basketball History
The San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team represents San Diego State University (SDSU). The Aztecs first began play during the 1921–22 basketball season. During the 1921-22 season and the subsequent three seasons, the team played as part of the Southern California Junior College Conference due to the proximity to other schools, despite SDSU (then known as San Diego Normal School) not being a junior college.
In 1926, the Aztecs joined the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) and competed in the NAIA until 1956, when they transitioned to the newly founded NCAA Division II. They competed in six NAIA Men's Basketball Championships, finishing as runners-up in 1939 and 1940, and winning the 1941 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament.
The Aztecs became an NCAA Division I school in 1969. They moved from the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA), now known as the Big West Conference, to the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 1978. In 1999, they left the WAC and became a charter member of the Mountain West Conference (MWC). Prior to entering the MWC, the team had been to three NCAA Division I men's basketball tournaments. During their time in the MWC, the Aztecs have won several conference championships and have been to nine NCAA tournaments and four NIT tournaments.
In the 2019–20 season, the Aztecs finished with a 30–2 record for their best winning percentage in team history. The 2020 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2022–2023 season, the Aztecs reached their third Sweet Sixteen, first Elite Eight, and first Final Four. In the 2023 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship game, the Aztecs were defeated by the University of Connecticut Huskies by a score of 59–76.
Notable alumni of the SDSU men's basketball program include 2-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Tony Gwynn, who played both basketball and baseball for the Aztecs.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, SDSU, short for San Diego State University, has a men's basketball team that competes in the NCAA Division I. The team has made it to the NCAA Division I tournaments several times, including in 2025.
The San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team earned an at-large bid to the 2025 NCAA Tournament. In the First Four round, they lost to North Carolina (UNC) by a score of 95-68, ending their season with a 21-10 record.
Yes, the San Diego State University women's basketball team also earned a spot in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. They were seeded 14th in the Spokane Regional 1 and faced third-seeded LSU in the first round.
No, the San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team has not won an NCAA national championship. However, they came close in 2023 when they reached the Final Four for the first time and advanced to the championship game, where they lost to UConn.
Yes, the Aztecs men's basketball team has won several conference championships. They have won the Mountain West Conference (MWC) tournament seven times and have claimed nine regular-season MWC titles.
