The San Diego State Basketball program has become one of the best basketball programs on the west coast. San Diego State Basketball is the hottest ticket in town just like the 34-3 season. For the first time in SDSU program history, SDSU has sold out all tickets for the up coming season. The Aztecs have beaten the likes of Arizona, California, Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s, and Southern California (USC).

San Diego State has played and beaten every school known for basketball on the west coast except for University California Los Angles or UCLA for short. This game will be one of many the Aztecs will play this season against national basketball powerhouses such as UCLA, Syracuse, and possibly Arizona should the teams meet in the Aloha Classic in December.

The San Diego State Aztecs have risen to basketball greatness along with the Mountain West Conference. San Diego State will have fierce competition for the Mountain West Conference Championship this season with the likes of UNLV and New Mexico. Looking back on past Mountain West Conference (MWC) basketball seasons including last year which produced five 20 win teams. The MWC sent a record four teams to March Madness. This upcoming season for San Diego State and its fellow MWC counterparts is going to be extremely competitive. Two teams have joined the MWC for basketball along with football these two teams are, Nevada and Fresno State.

This is going to be the best MWC season in history with tough competition around every corner. No team has ever finished the season undefeated in MWC play in the history of the conference. There are many reasons leading to being defeated, Attitude ranges is the hardest conference in the nation and the fact some teams have immense talent.  My prediction for the upcoming season is as follows.

Preseason Prediction Mountain West Conference Champion

1) San Diego State
2) Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV)
3) New Mexico (UNM)
4) Nevada
5) Colorado State (CSU)
6) Fresno State
7) Wyoming (Wyo)
8) Boise State
9) Air Force

This season in the MWC I can easily see a minimum of five teams winning 20 or more games this season, SDSU, UNLV, UNM, Nevada and CSU. The maximum amount of teams I believe can win 20 or more games would be seven teams, SDSU, UNLV, UNM, Nevada, CSU, Wyo and Fresno State.  As stated above this will be one heck of a conference and will be one of the best conferences nationally.

San Diego State Roster

The Aztecs will be led by the Mountain West Conference player of the year from 2012 Jamaal Franklin. Other Aztecs that are returning are Chase Tapley, James Rohan, Xavier Thames, LaBradford Franklin and DeShawn Stephens. Jamaal Franklin has been named a preseason third-team All-American by Sporting News and is the only representative from the  Mountain West.

The Aztecs managed to land some high quality transfers last season JJ O’Brien, James Johnson, and Dawyne Polee II. JJ O’Brien and Dawyne Polee II will start the 2013 season as eligible players. James Johnson who transferred midway through the season will be forced to sit out until the start of conference play.

The Aztecs managed to land the best recruiting class in program history. The Aztecs recruited Winston Shepard (Findley Prep), Skylar Spencer (Price), and Matt Shrigley (La Costa Canyon). Winston Shepard is the highest ranked recruit to every commit to San Diego State.

The Aztecs Captain Jamaal Franklin has gotten some national media coverage. The Story is titled “Problem Child Franklin has matured into an NBA talent at San Diego State.” The following two paragraphs were taking from the aforementioned article:

Franklin entered last season as a virtual unknown on a team that was expected to struggle. No one knew about Tapley, who was the fifth wheel on the team that spent much of the year in the top 10 the previous season — and no one knew about Franklin outside of San Diego. Leonard’s work ethic was legendary around these parts. He’d always be the first one in the gym and the last to leave. Franklin was a close second, often spending late hours in the gym working on his jump shot and the rest of his game.

It paid off as he and the Aztecs shocked the country. The 6-foot-5 Franklin, a natural wing forced to play out of position at power forward, averaged 17.4 points and 7.9 rebounds while earning Mountain West Player of the Year honors. More importantly, Franklin was key in leading the Aztecs to a third consecutive NCAA tournament bid and a 26-win season. CBSSports.com

Preseason Top 25 Predictions

The Aztecs have been kicked by many to start the season ranked. Those sports journalists include:

• Jeff Goodman and Gary Parrish CBSSports.com (8th).
• Jon Wilner Associated Press Voter (9th).
• USA Today Marlen Garcia (10th).
• Athlon Sports (15th).
• Andy Katz and Dick Vitale ESPN (16th).
• Josh Rothstein CBS Sports Network (18th).

National Prediction for San Diego State Post Season Birth

No. 4 seed, NCAA Tournament East Region, reaching Sweet 16 – Athlon Sports
No. 4 seed, NCAA Tournament West Region – ESPN.com Bracketology

San Diego State Full Basketball Schedule 

Date	Opponent	Location	TV
Nov 1th	CS San Marcos	Home	None
Nov 5th	UCSD	Home	None
Nov 9th	Syracuse	USS Midway	FSN – FSSD
Nov 11th	San Diego Christian	Home	None
Nov 17th	Missouri State	Missouri Valley Challange	None
Nov 21st	Ark- Pine Bluff	Home	None
Nov 25th	USC	Road	FSN
Dec 1st	UCLA	Wooden Classic	TBD
Dec 3rd	Texas Southern	Home	TWC SportsNet
Dec 6th	UCSB	Home	TWC SportsNet
Dec 15th	USD	Home	TWC SportsNet
Dec 18th	PLNU	Home	None
Dec 22nd	USF	ESPN Diamond Head Classic*	ESPN
Dec 23rd	TBD	ESPN Diamond Head Classic*	ESPN
Dec 25th	TBD	ESPN Diamond Head Classic*	ESPN
Jan 2nd	CSU Bakersfield	Home	TWC SportsNet
Jan 9th	Fresno State	Road	TWC SportsNet
Jan 12th	Colorado State	Home	NBC Sports Network
Jan 16th	UNLV	Home	CBS Sports Network
Jan 19th	Wyoming	Road	TWC SportsNet
Jan 23rd	Nevada	Road	CBS Sports Network
Jan 26th	New Mexico	Home	NBC Sports Network
Feb 2nd	Air Force	Road	TWC SportsNet
Feb 6th	Boise State	Home	TWC SportsNet
Feb 9th	Fresno State	Home	CBS Sports Network
Feb 13th	Colorado State	Road	CBS Sports Network
Feb 16th	UNLV	Road	NBC Sports Network
Feb 19th	Wyoming	Home	TWC SportsNet
Feb 23rd	Nevada	Home	NBC Sports Network
Feb 27th	New Mexico	Road	CBS Sports Network
March 6th	Air Force	Home	TWC SportsNet
March 9th	Boise State	Road	NBC Sports Network