COACH: Steve Fisher, 12 years at San Diego State, four years in NCAA tournament.
HOW THEY GOT IN: Mountain West tournament champions.
GO-TO GUYS: Kawhi Leonard is only a sophomore, but NBA scouts rate the first-team All-Mountain West performer as a first-round draft pick if he decides to enter the NBA draft after this season. Leonard leads the Aztecs in scoring at more than 15 points per game and rebounding (10.8) and is developing an intense will to win. Center Malcolm Thomas is highly athletic and complements Leonard nicely. Thomas is a solid shot-blocker who had multiple rejections in 18 regular-season games. Forward Billy White isn't a prolific scorer but can hit open shots and guard D.J. Gay has a sweet 3-point stroke.
X FACTOR: Fisher repeatedly refers to Gay as the team's most important player and it's easy to see why. The first-team All-Conference player committed just 37 turnovers in 31 regular-season games despite averaging nearly 35 minutes per game. Gay runs the team and is adept at getting the ball inside to Leonard and Thomas at places on the floor where it's easy for the two big men to operate. His shooting suffers at times (39.3 percent in the regular season) and the Aztecs need him to avoid cold-shooting games in the tournament.
STRENGTHS: The Aztecs rebound and play defense at a high level with the formidable frontcourt of Leonard, Thomas and White rating as one of the nation's best. San Diego State held teams to an average of 59 points during the regular season with opponents shooting less than 40 percent from the field. San Diego State has the athletes to run the floor but also the poise to play a half-court game. Bench player James Rahon knocks down timely 3-point baskets. Another boon: It'll be awhile before the Aztecs see BYU again. In the regular season, the Cougars were the only team to beat the Aztecs (twice).
WEAKNESSES: There will be a lot of nervous time in late-game situations when the outcome revolves around free-throw shooting. The Aztecs aren't good when the pressure is on with both Thomas and Gay shooting below 68 percent. San Diego State is a streaky 3-point shooting squad and prone to poor performances from behind the arc.
