Aztecs vs. Cal
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: J Serra High School, San Juan Capistrano
Line: Aztecs by 14
Streaming/On the air: Mountain West Network/760-AM
Records: SDSU 4-1, Cal 2-4
Series history: SDSU leads 7-6 but Cal has won the last two, 63-62 in Viejas Arena in 2017 and 89-83 in Berkeley in 2018. The last Aztecs win was 77-65 in Sacramento in 2016.
Aztecs update: A win could return them to the top 25 of the major polls, given that many East Coast ballots were already submitted last Sunday night when they beat Washington in the final of the Continental Tire Main Event in Las Vegas and several teams ahead of them lost this week. “It’s so early in the year,” coach Brian Dutcher said of any perceived snub, “and that’s life as a non-power conference school. You have less room for error if you want to stay ranked. But we’re playing good basketball, which is the key — not where we’re ranked but how we’re playing.” The Aztecs are up to No. 18 in Kenpom and 24th in offensive efficiency, their highest since the 2019-20 team finished 11th in that category. Jaedon LeDee still leads the nation in scoring average at 26.8 points, ahead of Hofstra guard Tyler Thomas (25.0) and Denver guard Tommy Bruner (24.7). LeDee is the first player in the 25-year history of the Dutcher/Steve Fisher era to open the season with five straight games of 20-plus points.
Cal update: The Golden Bears are better than their record and 187 Kenpom ranking suggests under new coach Mark Madsen, losing three one-possession games and another that was tied in the final minute. “They have three starters who could play anywhere in the country, and play for us,” SDSU coach Brian Dutcher said. “We know they’re dangerous. We have to hope it’s not against us.” He’s referring to 6-11, 246-pound center Fardaws Aimaq (17.2 points, 9.7 rebounds), who is on his fourth school after previously playing for Mercer, Utah Valley and Texas Tech; 6-7 Jaylon Tyson (19.8 points, 8.8 rebounds), who previously played for Utah and Texas Tech; and 5-11 Jalen Cone (16.0 points), who previously played for Virginia Tech and Northern Arizona. The problem has been defense, where the Bears are allowing 73 points and rank 262nd in defensive efficiency in Kenpom. They play multiple man and zone defenses, just none very well right now. Injuries have been an issue as well. Jalen Celestine (10.7 points) and Devin Askew (10.0 points) have missed the last three games. The Bears were picked to finish 11th in the Pac-12 preseason media poll, ahead of only Oregon State. They host UCSD on Dec. 20.
Next up: vs. Point Loma Nazarene on Monday (7 p.m., YurView and Mountain West Network)
