The season hasn’t tipped off, but Brian Dutcher is already giving Aztec fans reasons to think about the next one. With Davey Harris, Precious Sam and Mahamadou Diop committed, SDSU has a perimeter addition and two incoming centers to build around. As of October 19, the Aztecs sit fifth nationally in the 247Sports Composite high school team rankings, ahead of sixth-ranked Utah State and No. 28 Oregon State. That is an early snapshot from one ranking system, not a prediction o

Landing Mahamadou Diop and Precious Sam is more than a recruiting win. In today’s NIL market, it gives San Diego State a chance to address an expensive position before desperation enters the equation. Proven big men command serious money. CBS Sports reported in April that elite portal center Flory Bidunga was seeking $5 million for the following season. That was a reported asking price at the top of the market, but it illustrates the financial competition programs face when s

San Diego State gave us reasons to be excited Friday night. It also gave Brian Dutcher plenty to put on the practice agenda. In an 82–67 exhibition loss at Arizona, the Aztecs got an encouraging introduction from Isaiah Sy, productive nights from Chance Gladden and Bear Cherry, and an efficient scoring performance from Tae Simmons. The pieces were there. Putting them together consistently—and finishing defensive possessions—remains the assignment. Sy led SDSU with 17 points o

I owe Bear Cherry some airtime. I’ve spent the offseason talking about SDSU’s guards, wings and all the different ways this lineup could look, while somehow giving less attention to the 270-pound big man standing in the middle of it. That needs to change. The more I look at Cherry’s résumé, the more excited I get about what he can bring to the Mesa. There is a lot to like about adding a veteran who can score inside, block shots and make opponents work for space around the bas