What Utah State’s Win Over San Diego State Means For NCAA Tournament
What does Utah State’s win over San Diego State mean for the NCAA Tournament? It means that some seedings will look very different than people expected.
Heading into Saturday afternoon, most had the Aztecs winning their outing comfortably and then using the momentum to go on a massive March Madness run.
That did not end up happening.
Instead, the Aggies upset San Diego State 59-56 and in the process won the Mountain West Tournament and clinched a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
With the game knotted at 56 and just seconds left on the clock, Sam Merrill hit a deep three-pointer to put his team ahead. Despite having a San Diego State defender locking him down, the 23-year-old guard showed pro-level poise in securing the big victory for his side.
Beyond just hitting the game-winner, Merrill also recorded 27 points on 10-of-22 shooting and pulled down six rebounds.
Coming into this weekend, Utah State was very much in the bubble. Now, less than 24 hours later, the team is the first to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Super Sam Merrill! pic.twitter.com/YjjpjWtOeH
— Billy Heyen (@BillyHeyen) March 8, 2020
Fortunes change quickly during March Madness.
So what does this loss mean for San Diego State? Well, it means that the presumed No. 1 ranked team heading into the NCAA Tournament may now have to settle for a No. 2 seed. After originally going undefeated, the Aztecs now have two losses on the year.
There is now a very clear path for a sneaky team like Dayton to swoop in and steal a No. 1 seed from either San Diego State or Baylor, who also lost today.
Related: What Duke’s Win Over North Carolina Means For The Tournament
Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
