What San Diego State’s Loss Means For NCAA Tournament
What San Diego State’s loss means for the NCAA Tournament is the subject of much debate on Sunday morning.
The Aztecs fell from the ranks of the undefeated on Saturday night after getting upset by UNLV.
Most people assumed San Diego State would fall at some point in time, but it was still jarring to see firsthand.
More importantly than that, however, it all triggered an important conversation regarding what this means for the NCAA Tournament as a whole.
Prior to this weekend, the Aztecs were viewed as a surefire No. 1 seed. ESPN college basketball insider had them listed as the top seed in the East bracket.
The defeat changed things.
Late Saturday, during an intermission in the outing between Gonzaga and BYE, Lunardi was asked what the Aztecs’ defeat meant for all involved.
“Ironically and strangely, San Diego State’s loss protects their [Gonzaga’s] spot as No. 1 in the West no matter what happens in this second half at BYU,” he said.
Gonzaga went on to lose to BYU 91-78.
As far as Lunardi concerns, no matter what, Gonzaga and San Diego State will find themselves atop the West Region when it is all said and done.
“I thought all along that they would end up as top-two in the West,” he said.
“Particularly during that stretch when Oregon began to falter in the Pac-12. I think at the end of the day, the No. 1 in the East at Madison Square Garden will be either Maryland or Duke.
“I’m not sure which at this point. But to your point, San Diego State, Gonzaga — it doesn’t really matter from a competitive standpoint if they are both West in a projected regional final. All they are determining by seed is who wears white.”
More likely than not, Gonzaga will end up the No. 1 seed in the West Region.
That is just the way it always seems to go. However, rather than coming in at No. 2 in the same region, it would be far more beneficial for San Diego State to end up as the No. 1 seed in the East Region.
Will that ultimately end up happening, though?
Time will tell.
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A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
