Led by head coach Steve Fisher,the maestro of the famed Fab Five, the San Diego Aztecs are back in the NCAA Tournament. This is their fourth consecutive tournament bid and the sixth of Fisher’s tenure.
So what should you know about this squad?
1. Jamaal Franklin is a monster and a half. He leads the Aztecs in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals. Franklin is the type of player that shines come March Madness.
2. During the course of the season, San Diego defeated New Mexico, UCLA, and Colorado State. With that being said, they’ve gone 8-8 during their final 16 games. Their past six losses have come by 10 points or less, including two by one possession.
3. In 2010, the Aztecs made a run to the Sweet Sixteen as a No. 2 seed. The following season, however, the Aztecs lost in the first round against N.C. State. They’ve been one-and-done in four of their five appearances under Steve Fisher.
4. The key to San Diego State’s potential success is defense. They’re holding opponents to 38.8 percent shooting from the floor and rarely get into foul trouble. The question is, can their defense play the same way now as they did during the first half of the season?
5. There is no denying how phenomenal Jamaal Franklin has been. With that being said, the Aztecs must be concerned with their depth. Only one other player is scoring in double figures.
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