San Diego State Basketball Ranked Low in Preseason

The Aztecs face their lowest preseason metrics in seven years as injuries impact the roster.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Basketball

San Diego State Basketball Ranked Low in Preseason

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Three major analytics services have ranked San Diego State basketball between 69th and 77th nationally for the upcoming season. This placement marks the program's lowest preseason ranking in seven years.

Why it matters

The lower rankings result from metrics models that struggle to account for the professional basketball experience of incoming transfers. Consequently, the team faces scrutiny as it prepares for the inaugural season of the new Pac-12.

Bart Torvik T-rank places the team at 58th, while Kenpom ranks them 74th and Evan Miyakawa analytics lists them at 77th. These projections are currently calculated with only nine healthy scholarship players available.

The players

Brian Dutcher

Brian Dutcher serves as the head coach for the San Diego State men's basketball program.

Precious Sam

Precious Sam is a 6-foot-11 high school basketball prospect considering offers from San Diego State, Washington, and Central Florida.

The details

Coach Brian Dutcher confirmed multiple health setbacks for his squad, including Latrell Davis with a separated left shoulder and Luka Skoric with a groin injury. Additionally, Nick Anderson is recovering from offseason knee surgery, and Samson Mashebinu is sidelined with a quadriceps injury.

The team saw its previous low preseason ranking in the 2019-20 season.
SDSU media day occurred in October 2026.
The Aztecs play an exhibition game against Arizona on Friday, October 16, 2026.
High school prospect Precious Sam is expected to announce his college commitment later this week.

Season Trajectory

The current preseason outlook contrasts sharply with the team's performance in the 2019-20 season, when they maintained a 30-2 record and secured a 6th-place final ranking. This shift complicates the program's transition into the new Pac-12 conference as they navigate significant early-season roster absences.

With only nine healthy scholarship players currently available, the team faces immediate depth concerns heading into the exhibition against Arizona. The final roster composition remains fluid as coaching staff adjust for the injuries to Davis, Skoric, Anderson, and Mashebinu.

The takeaway

Analytics models may not fully capture the impact of experienced transfers, making the team's early-season performance a key metric to watch. Fans should monitor the injury report closely to see how the limited scholarship depth affects on-court rotation patterns.

What happens next

Precious Sam is expected to announce his college commitment later this week, which will finalize his recruitment process between San Diego State, Washington, and Central Florida.