San Diego State’s basketball team faced a brutal wake-up call in their preseason exhibition against No. 12 UCLA, and it wasn’t pretty. Imagine starting a game down 0-17 in just 7½ minutes—that’s exactly what happened to the Aztecs in their own Viejas Arena. But here’s where it gets controversial: was this a disastrous collapse or a necessary reality check for a team with sky-high expectations? Let’s dive in.
The last time we saw the Aztecs, they were getting dismantled by North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament’s First Four, trailing by a staggering 40 points before losing by 27. Fast forward to Friday night, and it felt like déjà vu. The Aztecs missed their first nine shots, committed 10 turnovers, and watched UCLA race to a 17-0 lead before Louisiana Tech transfer Sean Newman Jr. finally broke the drought with a 3-pointer. And this is the part most people miss: despite the disastrous start, the Aztecs showed resilience, outscoring UCLA 60-50 over the final 32 minutes and 37-28 in the second half.
Coach Brian Dutcher framed the game as a mid-October test to expose the team’s strengths and weaknesses, and it delivered. ‘We found some deficiencies, we found some strengths, and we found some things to work on,’ Dutcher said. ‘That’s what you want out of these things.’ But the question remains: can this team fix their turnover issues and inconsistent shooting before the regular season begins?
The Aztecs’ inexperience was on full display, with only one returning starter in the lineup. Sophomore guard Taj DeGourville admitted, ‘It was just kind of a wake-up for us.’ Yet, their second-half surge, fueled by quicker ball movement and smoother offense, hinted at untapped potential. Here’s the bold take: If the Aztecs can clean up their mistakes and integrate 7-foot sophomore Magoon Gwath (still sidelined with a knee injury) and junior wing Miles Byrd (returning from an abdominal strain), they could be a force to reckon with.
UCLA’s Donovan Dent (18 points, 10-for-10 from the line) and Skyy Clark (13 points on eight shots) were unstoppable, but the Aztecs’ Reese Dixon-Waters (19 points) showed promise in his return from a season-long foot injury. UCLA coach Mick Cronin praised the Aztecs’ physicality, saying, ‘It’s not for the faint of heart coming in here.’
So, what’s the takeaway? The Aztecs have work to do, but their second-half performance suggests they’re not as far off as their slow start indicated. Here’s the thought-provoking question: Can a team that starts this poorly turn things around and meet their lofty expectations? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this debate is far from over.
