Close calls prompt question — is San Diego State an NCAA Tournament team? – elcajon newson Elcajon News only

Is San Diego State an NCAA Tournament team? One day, yes. Another day, no.

These are the living-on-the-edge Aztecs.

Nothing is simple or clear-cut about this team, which housed then-Top 25 Creighton and beat No. 6 Houston. They’re also the group that trailed struggling San Jose State by 21 points, nearly lost to Air Force — a team they beat by 29 points two weeks earlier — and fell to now-.500 UNLV.

Then came Saturday against Wyoming at Viejas Arena.

San Diego State, a two-touchdown favorite, nearly blew an 11-point lead with 11 seconds to play against a team ranked 180th in the NET rankings before winning 63-61.

Sometimes the young talent with three freshmen and three sophomores in the rotation shows its sky-high potential. Sometimes, the same group flashes its inexperience.

“We’ve got a team full of winners, for sure,” said freshman Taj DeGourville. “We all want to win, no matter ugly or nice.”

The NCAA-or-not question was posed to CBS Sports Network analyst Dan Dickau after the game ended.

There was a little bit of fence-riding there, too.

“Defensively, they absolutely have a chance to be an NCAA Tournament team,” Dickau said. “I think when you’ve seen them play really well on the offensive end, that Colorado State game I had a few weeks ago, they were good enough to be an NCAA Tournament team. And you saw what they did against Creighton, against Houston.

“Boise State and San Diego State have kind of underperformed based on recent years and projections this year. But this team is finding ways to win.”

For each pro with this group, there’s a nagging con to counter it.

The Aztecs hit just five of 22 3-point attempts against Wyoming, but fueled a 20-0 run late with free throws that included an 8-0 burst from the line.

They piled up eight blocked shots, four by Magoon Gwath and three from Pharaoh Compton, but gave up an 8-0 run in two seconds by fouling on two 3-point shots and allowing two more free throws after a technical foul on Nick Boyd.

San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher chose to bear hug the bottom line.

“We made enough plays to win the game when it was in doubt,” he said.

Not enough plays, however, to limit the metrics damage.

The Aztecs entered the game at No. 44 in the NET rankings, but the close call against the Cowboys dropped them five spots. The margin for error the rest of the way is beyond slim.

“We’re going to take it day by day,” DeGourville said.

One difference down the stretch could be Gwath.

The 7-foot redshirt freshman has grown into his body more and more. The experience has ramped up, along with the confidence spike that has come with it.

Against Wyoming, Gwath scored 14 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked four shots. In the last three games, he’s averaged 17.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.

“I remember watching him at shootarounds last year and them talking about how high they were on his potential, but it was going to take time,” Dickau said. “He had to get healthy, he had to get used to the physicality of the game. I think you’re starting to see him getting used to that. But you can’t teach his length, contesting shots.

“You saw that floater he had in the second half (Saturday). That’s not a normal shot for a 7-footer to make with the ease that he did. And they give him the freedom to shoot at the 3-point line.”

If the Aztecs have taught us anything 20 games into the season, it’s this: They can beat almost anyone, but also can find themselves on the ropes against almost anyone.

Each tipoff is a mystery.

“The only thing I’m responsible for is my team’s performance,” Dutcher said of the precarious metrics. “If we’re playing good basketball and winning games, then I love it.”

Faced with some pushback on the playing-good part, Dutcher pointed toward an 18-0 run against San Jose State and a 20-0 uprising to turn the tables on Wyoming.

Evaluating the Aztecs is more about snapshots than a complete picture. They’re head-scratchers at times and head-turners later in the same game.

“I imagine we’re the only team in the country that’s done that this year, that can go on those types of runs (while behind),” Dutcher said.

That’s the reality, living on the edge.