Don't read too much into one ugly exhibition. Mark Ziegler of the San Diego Union Tribune joined us Tuesday and put the USC loss in context: SDSU trailed 51-31 at the half, but these preseason games now come with paying fans, refs, and real intensity, so they look like the real thing when they aren't. What matters more, he says, is the bigger picture. The Aztecs played for a national title in 2023, but college basketball has changed. Schools with deep pockets pay players, and SDSU can't compete with that, so this is a new roster most fans don't know yet. Ziegler's bar for this team is the upper half of the conference and a shot at squeaking into the NCAA tournament, and he says there's no shame in that. The defense will be the thing to watch. It was strong early against Arizona, then slipped against USC, and this group doesn't have the size or rim protection of past teams. Harrington should be better in year two, and the new European players need time to adjust. Next Tuesday against Cal State Fullerton, the games count.
