No. 20 San Diego State Aztecs

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Last Season: 25-9, 11-5 (t-3rd MWC), lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Tennessee

Head Coach: Steve Fisher

Key Losses: Kelvin Davis, Tyrone Shelley

Newcomers: Jamaal Franklin, LaBradford Franklin, James Rahon

Projected Lineup:

• G: DJ Gay, Sr.
  
• G: Chase Tapley, So.
  
• F: Kawhi Leonard, So.
  
• F: Malcolm Thomas, Sr.
  
• F: Billy White, Sr.
  
• Bench: Brian Carlwell, Sr.; LaBradford Franklin, Fr.; Jamaal Franklin, Fr.; Tim Shelton, Jr.; James Rahon, So.
  

Outlook: Last year, the Mountain West sent four teams to the NCAA Tournament, and you would be hard-pressed to find someone that doesn't believe the same is, at the very least, a good possibility this year. How good is this league? I'm far from the only one that would argue it is the best conference out west. The Aztecs finished tied for third in the MWC last season, but they won the conference tournament. With only two of their rotational players gone from last season, San Diego State looks to be not only the favorite to win a very good MWC, but quite possibly the best team on the left coast.

It starts up front with SDSU, where the Aztecs have quite possibly the most underrated group of bigs in the country. The star is sophomore Kawhi Leonard who, for lack of a better term, is a basketball specimen, the kind of talent that rarely lands in the lap of an MWC coach. He's 6'7" with length and athleticism that makes NBA scouts drool. Last season he averaged an impressive 12.7 ppg to lead the team, while also grabbing 9.9 rpg, which led the conference. Leonard did most of his damage as a result of his tools last year -- offensive rebounds and putbacks, easy baskets in transition, short jumper where he simply elevated over his defender. Leonard projects as more of a combo-forward (and he plays the three quite a bit for SDSU), so it will be interesting to see how he develops this season. If he spent the summer working on his skills -- his handle, his offensive repertoire, his jump shot -- Leonard is talented enough that he could end up a first round pick next March.

Joining Leonard in the front court will be Malcolm Thomas and Billy White. Thomas is solid low-post scoring threat and has also become a good passer out of the post. If he can improve his free throw shooting (52.6% last year), he'll be a serious threat inside. He's also the Aztecs best shot blocker and is an above-average rebounder. White, at 6'8", 235 lb, is quite the talent. He's got excellent moves with his back to the basket and is an impressive athlete for someone his size. His issue has always been whether or not he can stay healthy for an entire season. Last year, he battled hand and knee injuries, but when he is on his game he is as good as anyone in the MWC.


The rest of the front court rotation will be rounded out by Brian Carlwell and Tim Shelton. Carlwell is big -- 6'11", 300 lb -- and has a soft touch out to about 15 feet. The Illinois transfer is a great piece to have coming off the bench. Shelton is a talented player, but he has had serious knee problems throughout his career.

The back court is more of a question mark for Steve Fisher than the front court is, but there are still some good players available. DJ Gay is the perfect point guard for this team. He's a leader and a capable scorer, but he's not the kind of player that is going to demand shots. He also is a knockdown three-point shooter, a role which is incredibly important for the Aztecs to fill to ensure that they are able to keep the floor spread for their big guys. Joining him will be sophomore Chase Tapley, a quality all-around guard. As a freshman, he was able to do a lot of different things on the court (7.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.2 apg, 50% FG) and showed some toughness, scoring 15 points in a game just a few days after breaking his hand. Tapley should start and will be counted on for a scoring bump this season.

The rest of Fisher's back court rotation will be manned by newcomers. LaBraford Franklin is a 6'2" point guard that can score and create and was talented enough to have scholarships offered from Gonzaga and Washington State. Jamaal Franklin is an athletic, 6'5" wing player who should see some time early. James Rahon could be the x-factor. Rahon, a sophomore, transferred into SDSU from Santa Clara, where he averaged 11.3 ppg and shot 41% from three.

Expect more of the same this season from SDSU. They don't play a pretty brand of basketball, but they defend and they crash the glass very hard. If Leonard continues to develop and guys like Tapley and Rohan prove to be consistent perimeter threats, there is no reason this team can't win their first ever NCAA Tournament game.