No. 1 Zags: Gonzaga begins season atop Top 25 for first time
FILE - Gonzaga players celebrate after defeating Saint Mary's in an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the West Coast Conference men's tournament in Las Vegas, in this Tuesday, March 10, 2020, file photo. Gonzaga will begin the college basketball season No. 1 for the first time after coach Mark Few's bunch earned 28 first-place votes in the preseason AP Top 25 poll released Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
No. 1 Zags: Gonzaga begins season atop Top 25 for first time
Iowa was picked fifth behind national player of the year front-runner Luka Garza, its highest preseason ranking in school history. The Bears, who also have their highest preseason ranking, spent five weeks at No. THE REST OF THE POLLCreighton lost Ty-Shon Alexander to the NBA and Davion Mintz to Kentucky but still landed the highest preseason ranking in school history at No. 17, its highest preseason ranking since the final Phi Slama Jama team of Hakeem Olajuwon began the 1983-84 season at No. 6 in the final poll last season but losing Mountain West player of the year Malachi Flynn and two other elite producers.
UNLV hands No. 4 San Diego State its first loss, 66-63
UNLV guard Amauri Hardy (3) shoots over San Diego State forward Nolan Narain (12) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in San Diego. Elijah Mitrou-Long scored 19 points, including two free throws with 11.5 seconds left for UNLV. SDSU erased almost all of a 14-point deficit when it pulled to 64-63 on Flynn's 3-pointer with 14.5 seconds left. Flynn missed a contested 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds left and the ball went to the Runnin' Rebels. But Hardy then made a jumper from the free-throw line and a layup to put the Runnin' Rebels back up by double digits.
No. 4 SDSU beats Wyoming 72-55 to match Leonard's 20-0 start
4 San Diego State improved to 20-0 to match Kawhi Leonard's 2010-11 team for the best start in school history. Flynn scored 18 points and Wetzell dominated inside with 14 points for San Diego State, which opened with a suffocating defense to beat Wyoming 72-55 Tuesday night. The Aztecs (20-0, 9-0 Mountain West) remained the nation's only unbeaten team. San Diego State: The Aztecs remain without center Nathan Mensah, who missed his seventh straight game with a respiratory ailment. San Diego State is at UNLV on Sunday.
No. 4 SDSU chasing 20-0 start of Leonard's 2010-11 team
San Diego State forward Yanni Wetzell (5) slaps hands with guard Malachi Flynn (22) after scoring during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Nevada, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in San Diego. They prided themselves on the defensive end and it often just translated to the offense.”This SDSU team prides itself on defense, too. Because Wetzell and fellow grad transfer KJ Feagin have seen clips of Leonard’s team, they were asked how a theoretical matchup between that team and the current team would go. “So that’s kind of a fun little motivator, to catch a team in Aztecs history that’s been so good. We’ll have our challenges tomorrow.”Dutcher raves about the maturity and experience Wetzell, Feagin and junior transfer Malachi Flynn have brought to the Aztecs.
No. 7 Aztecs own 'The Map' as nation's last undefeated team
San Diego State's Yanni Wetzell drives past Fresno State's Nate Grimes during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fresno, Calif., Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020. 7 San Diego State Aztecs have “The Map” of the United States all to themselves. “When Auburn went down, we started getting the pictures of ‘The Map.’ San Diego State was the entire map, so it was pretty cool.”San Diego State fans have been enamored with the “The Map” on social media as their team has gotten off to the second-hottest start in school history. Since late December, San Diego State and Auburn split the map. “We cover the moon and Mercury and Mars and Jupiter, San Diego State on all of them.
Flynn, Wetzell lead No. 7 San Diego State past Fresno State
(AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)FRESNO, CA – San Diego State won’t make any scoring highlight reels with games like their one against Fresno State, yet the Aztecs might make it deep into the NCAA Tournament. 7 the Aztecs relied on a suffocating defense to shut down Fresno State 64-55 on Tuesday night. San Diego State (18-0, 7-0 Mountain West Conference) remains one of two unbeaten teams in Division 1, along with Auburn. “I was leaving the hotel (earlier) and saw Clemson beat Duke on the road,” Aztecs coach Brian Dutcher said. The victory gave San Diego State the series sweep and extended its conference lead to two games over New Mexico and UNLV.
Feagin, No. 7 SDSU beat Boise State 83-65 to stay undefeated
Boise State forward RJ Williams dunks as San Diego State forward Yanni Wetzell, right, and guard Jordan Schakel, left, watch during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Feagin, No. 7 SDSU beat Boise State 83-65 to stay undefeated
(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)SAN DIEGO, CA – With Viejas Arena rocking like it did during Kawhi Leonard's short stay at San Diego State, KJ Feagin and the No. San Diego State and Auburn remain the nation's only undefeated teams. “Give credit to San Diego State," Rice added. San Diego State: The Aztecs remain without Nathan Mensah, who missed his fourth straight game with a respiratory ailment. San Diego State: Plays at Fresno State on Tuesday night.
Dutcher's No. 7 Aztecs once again San Diego's hottest ticket
FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2019 file photo, San Diego State guard KJ Feagin during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against San Diego Christian in San Diego. San Diego State basketball is the hottest ticket in town again. The undefeated Aztecs, who have climbed to No. This time it's a trio of transfers powering the Aztecs (15-0, 4-0 Mountain West Conference), who along with Auburn remain the nation's only undefeated teams. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
Dutcher's No. 7 Aztecs once again San Diego's hottest ticket
FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2019 file photo, San Diego State guard KJ Feagin during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against San Diego Christian in San Diego. San Diego State basketball is the hottest ticket in town again. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)SAN DIEGO, CA – San Diego State basketball is back to being the hottest ticket in town. “For San Diego, we are the pro basketball team, San Diego State. “They were a Sweet 16 team, and people talk about Sweet 16, but we’re trying to go further than that.