November 25, 2024

Men’s Hoops: Aztecs face UAB in NCAA first round

The Aztecs are the 5-seed for the second time in program history after reaching the National Championship game last year on that seed line.

The San Diego State University men’s basketball team is the fifth seed in the East Region and will face the 12-seed University of Alabama-Birmingham in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the NCAA announced Sunday afternoon.

The Aztecs will meet the Blazers, who won the American Athletic Conference Tournament title on Friday, March 22, Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Wash. Game time and broadcast channel will be confirmed later this evening.

Men's Hoops: Aztecs face UAB in NCAA first round | News | SDSU

The Aztecs were 30-2 in 2019–20, but the NCAA Tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. This is SDSU’s 19th overall NCAA Tournament appearance, 16th at the Division I level, 11th in the previous 15 years, and 5th in the seven seasons since head coach Brian Dutcher took over the program.

The Aztecs will play in the East Region for the first time in program history and are the 5-seed for the second time in the history of the program. Last year, they made it to the National Championship game on that seed line.

The other thing I noticed about the bracket is three of the teams from last year’s Final Four are all in there — UConn, Florida Atlantic and San Diego State — all in the same bracket. So that’s a little ironic but it’s fun to look at,” Dutcher told reporters during a Selection Sunday watch party.
Men's Hoops: Aztecs face UAB in NCAA first round | News | SDSU

UAB (23-11) earned the American Athletic Conference’s automatic bid for the NCAA tournament by beating Temple, 85-69, on Sunday. The Blazers have won their last five games on the way to the conference tournament title.

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