If you’re anything like me, you are often checking your brackets this time of the year to see how your favorite team and/or pick to win it all is doing.
Yes, March Madness is here for both the men’s and the women’s teams.
With the play-in games having started last Tuesday, on St. Patrick’s Day of all days, you likely are hoping your team has a wee bit of luck as the next few weeks unfold.
For me, I am equally invested in the women’s March Madness as I am in the men’s.
The women’s game has grown leaps and bounds in recent years. Some of them could easily play on a men’s team if given the opportunity.
That said, one men’s team that many of us like to root for is not in the Big Dance this season. That would be the San Diego State Aztecs.
After dropping the Mountain West Conference title game to Utah State, the Aztecs were left out of the March Madness euphoria.
Ironically, it was the final season in the MWC for San Diego State University before heading to the realigned Pac-12 next season.
The Aztecs officially become members on July 1.
NIT available to San Diego State
Despite being left out of the big tourney this March, SDSU (22-11) could have played in the National Invitational Tournament, or NIT.
Sure, the NIT (first played in 1938) is not on the same level as the big tournament, but it is still an opportunity to win and hang a banner in your arena.
According to reports, SDSU Head Men’s Basketball Coach Brian Dutcher said his squad was too banged up to play in the NIT.
SDSU also would not have received an early-round home game, as numerous teams do as a result of Viejas Arena hosting rounds one and two of March Madness on March 20 and 22. So the Aztecs decided to call it quits for the season and focus on the 2026-27 campaign, including the planned departure from the Mountain West Conference.
Much like some college football teams are forgoing playing in “secondary bowl games” when they don’t make the playoffs, more basketball teams are giving a second look as to whether it is worth playing in other tournaments not known as Division I March Madness.
For my two cents, Dutcher did his team and the program in general a disservice.
The extra time to practice, get a game (hopefully several) on national television, etc., to me far outweighs the negatives.
SDSU women’s basketball takes advantage of post-season play
Meantime, the San Diego State women’s basketball team was entered in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.
The Lady Aztecs won their first two games over UC Irvine and McNeese State, respectively. They are slated to play at Kansas on March 26.
Each team must decide what it feels is best for every member of the squad. That said, having the chance to play one or more extra games once your conference tournament is over should not be viewed as a loss if it doesn’t mean playing in the Big Dance.
In this case, the SDSU men’s team handed its diehard fans and a national audience a loss by choosing to take their ball and go home early.
Hence then, the article about opinion march madness is not quite the same without the sdsu men s basketball team was published today ( ) and is available on Times of San Diego ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Opinion: March Madness is not quite the same without the SDSU men’s basketball team )
Also on site :