3 Thoughts: San Diego State 75, Furman 52...On Aztecs' Expansion Argument, Bully Ball, and Rest in March
The San Diego State Aztecs continued their
impressive run with a dominant 75-52 victory over the Furman Paladins in the
second round of the NCAA Tournament. Here are three thoughts on the game and
what it means for the Aztecs moving forward.
San Diego State has been one of the top teams
in the country all season long, but their success has been somewhat
overshadowed by the fact that they play in the Mountain West Conference, which
is considered a mid-major conference. However, with their convincing win over
Furman, the Aztecs' argument for expansion of the NCAA Tournament continues to
gain steam.
The Aztecs have proven that they can compete
with anyone, and they've done it against tough non-conference opponents like
Iowa, Creighton, and BYU. They've also dominated in their conference, winning
both the regular season and conference tournament titles.
With the NCAA Tournament expanding to 68 teams
in 2011, there's been talk of expanding it even further to give more mid-major
teams like San Diego State a chance to compete for a national championship. And
the Aztecs' performance in this year's tournament is only adding to that
conversation.
San Diego State's success this season has
largely been due to their physical, hard-nosed style of play, which has been
dubbed "Bully Ball." And that style was on full display against
Furman, as the Aztecs dominated the Paladins on the glass and in the paint.
San Diego State outrebounded Furman 42-27, and
they held the Paladins to just 32.8% shooting from the field. The Aztecs'
defense was suffocating, and they made it clear that they weren't going to be
pushed around.
Bully Ball may not be the most glamorous style
of play, but it's been effective for the Aztecs all season long. And if they
continue to play with that physicality and toughness, they'll be a tough out
for anyone in the NCAA Tournament.
San Diego State head coach Brian Dutcher made
the decision to rest some of his starters in the second half against Furman, as
the game was well in hand. And that decision could pay dividends down the road.
With the NCAA Tournament being played in a
condensed schedule this year, rest and recovery time is more important than
ever. And by giving some of his starters a breather in the second half, Dutcher
was able to keep them fresh for the rest of the tournament.
The Aztecs have a tough road ahead of them,
with a matchup against the Syracuse Orange in the Sweet 16. But with a
well-rested and motivated squad, they'll be ready for the challenge.
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