San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher reacts to missing NCAA Tournament

Aztecs miss tournament for first time in six seasons despite strong resume

Mar. 18, 2026 at 3:53am

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San Diego State Aztecs head coach Brian Dutcher discussed his team missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time in six seasons, despite having what he felt was a strong enough resume to earn a bid. Dutcher cited the Mountain West Conference being undervalued by the selection committee as a key factor, and said his team will now focus on preparing for the move to the Pac-12 conference.

Why it matters

San Diego State has been a consistent NCAA Tournament team in recent years, making the field six straight times before this season. Missing out on the Big Dance is a disappointment for the program and its fans, who have high expectations for the Aztecs. Dutcher's comments provide insight into the challenges mid-major programs face in earning at-large bids.

The details

Dutcher said the Aztecs put together a strong resume, finishing alone in second place in the Mountain West and reaching the conference championship game. However, he felt the Mountain West was undervalued by the selection committee, with only four at-large bids going to the rest of the country outside the power conferences. Dutcher cited the success of other mid-major programs like Saint Mary's, Santa Clara, and Saint Louis as further evidence the Aztecs deserved a spot in the tournament.

  • On Selection Sunday, San Diego State's resume was not deemed strong enough to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The players

Brian Dutcher

The head coach of the San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team.

Miles Byrd

A San Diego State player who will have an interesting decision to make about his future, whether to turn pro or return to college.

Magoon Gwath

A San Diego State player who overcame injuries during the season to put together a strong conference tournament performance, and will need to continue improving his game and staying healthy to reach his potential.

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What they’re saying

“Any other year, this resume was enough. We finished alone in second place and made it to the conference championship game, which you would think would be enough to get us in. The Mountain West was undervalued this year, and if you look at the metrics, they were pretty good.”

— Brian Dutcher, Head Coach (si.com)

“I think Miles will have an interesting decision to make. You know, it's no different than Lamont or Keshad. He's going to graduate from San Diego State and financially does he want to be a pro next year at another college? Is the money that drastically different?”

— Brian Dutcher, Head Coach (si.com)

“It was interesting with Magoon, because you would sit there and watch during the year, whether it was coming back from the knee and then the hip, and wonder if he would ever get back. Then, he put a big conference tournament together. He played three pretty good games in three days. You're encouraged to think, if he can stay on this path and stay healthy, he's going to have an opportunity to be special.”

— Brian Dutcher, Head Coach (si.com)

What’s next

Dutcher will meet with his returning players to gauge their intentions for next season, whether that's staying at San Diego State or entering the transfer portal. He will then work to assemble a competitive roster for the Aztecs' move to the Pac-12 conference.

The takeaway

San Diego State's exclusion from the NCAA Tournament despite a strong resume highlights the challenges mid-major programs face in earning at-large bids, as the selection committee appears to undervalue their performance. Dutcher and the Aztecs will now shift their focus to the future, including potential roster changes and the transition to a new conference.