March Madness on the Mesa

Updated 1:42, March 28

Kawhi Leonard Named AP Second-Team All-American

San Diego State sophomore forward Kawhi Leonard has been named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press. Leonard is the first Aztec to earn AP accolades since Brandon Heath was an honorable mention choice in 2006.

Hailing from Riverside, Calif., Leonard averaged 15.5 points and 10.6 rebounds, while adding 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals, in 36 games, all of which he earned the starting nod. The Mountain West Conference first-team selection registered 23 double-doubles, which matched Michael Cage’s single-season school record and ranks him fourth in Division I. His 10.6 rebounding average, meanwhile, is the ninth-best clip in America.

Joining Leonard on the second-team is Marcus Morris of Kansas, Derrick Williams of Arizona, Ben Hansbrough of Notre Dame and Jordan Taylor of Wisconsin. The first team consisted of Jimmer Fredette (BYU), JaJuan Johnson (Purdue), Nolan Smith (Duke), Jared Sullinger (Ohio State) and Kemba Walker (Connecticut).

Leonard is the ninth different Aztec to earn All-America honors in school history and his second-team appointment marks the 13th time a San Diego State student-athlete has been named an All-American. The sophomore is the second player (Heath) to be selected to the All-America squad during Steve Fisher’s time at SDSU.

UCONN 74-SDSU 67

SDSU's magical season has come to an end after the 74-67 loss to Connecticut in the Sweet 16.

Ready to Roll

It’s a 94-mile bus ride they won’t soon forget – the men’s basketball team departed campus Tuesday afternoon and headed to Anaheim for the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

“I’m happy that we’re close to home,” said senior point guard DJ Gay. This year’s trip is a far cry from the cross-country flight the team took during last year’s tournament.

Leonard Named Sporting News Second-Team All-American

San Diego State sophomore forward Kawhi Leonard has been named a second-team All-American by Sporting News. The honor is the second of the season for the Riverside, Calif., native as he was named a FOXSports.com second-team All-American at the beginning of the month.

Leonard, a first-team all-Mountain West Conference pick and MWC all-defensive team honoree, enters the West Regional semifinal game vs. Connecticut averaging 15.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals.

A double-double machine, Leonard has 23 double-doubles this season, which matches Michael Cage’s single-year total set in 1984. He ranks fourth in the country in double-doubles and his 10.6 rebounding average is the ninth-best in the nation.

Sweet 16: SDSU-Connecticut, 4:15 p.m., Thursday, March 24

San Diego State will face Connecticut in the first West Regional semifinal game at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 24.

At approximately 6:45 p.m. PT, Duke will face Arizona in the second regional semifinal game.

The winning teams will play on Saturday (time to be determined) for a trip to the Final Four. All three games will be played at the Honda Center in Anaheim.  

Sweet 16 Here We Come!

Behind 16 points from Billy White and Kawhi Leonard, the Aztecs beat Temple, 71-64 in a double-overtime thriller.

The Aztecs advance to the Sweet 16 and will play Connecticut.

SDSU 68 - No. Col. 50

Kawhi Leonard had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and second-seeded San Diego State won its first NCAA tournament game, 68-50 over Northern Colorado on Thursday.

The Aztecs (33-2) pulled away behind its defense in the second half, holding Northern Colorado (21-11) scoreless for nearly seven minutes.

Billy White had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Aztecs, who will face Temple in the West regional at 3:10 p.m. PT, Saturday, March 19.

Fans at Watch Party Celebrate Victory

The SDSU men’s basketball team played its opening NCAA Tournament game in Tucson, Ariz., but that did not stop Viejas Arena from opening its doors Thursday afternoon.

More than 2,100 watched the game at the on-campus venue. Fans dressed in red, black and green watched the St. Patrick’s Day second-round game on the high-definition jumbo-tron.

“It was a really great showing of Aztec pride and the community there,” said Sean Kashanchi, Associated Students executive vice president, after the event.

During halftime, Kashanchi led an AS-sponsored raffle, which featured two iPod Shuffles, two $50 Aztec Shops gift cards and a red and black beach cruiser bicycle.

SDSU plays seven-seeded Temple in the West subregional third round Saturday.

Steve Fisher named Coach-of-the-Year finalist

San Diego State men's basketball head coach Steve Fisher has been named a finalist for the Naismith Coach-of-the-Year Award, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Wednesday.

Fisher is one of four finalists for the award, joining Ohio State University's Thad Matta, University of Notre Dame's Mike Brey and Brigham Young University's Dave Rose. For more information on Fisher's honor, read the full story.

NCAA Men's Basketball Watch Party

Fans will be able to watch the Aztecs first game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament on the jumbo-tron at Viejas Arena this Thursday, March 17. The game begins at 1:40 p.m. PDT in Tucson, Ariz.

The event is free and open to all Aztec fans and friends; no reservations are needed.

Gates open at 12:30 p.m. Parking is available in PS 5 (located on 55th Street and Montezuma Road) for $1 per hour; event organizers suggest taking the trolley.

Concessions will be open during the event, serving food, sodas and green beer in honor of St. Patrick's Day. There will also be prizes and giveaways.

NCAA Tournament Selection Show Viewing Party, Sunday, March 13

Approximately 2,500 Aztec fans showed up to Viejas Arena to congratulate the men's basketball team on winning its second straight Mountain West Conference Tournament Championship, and to watch the NCAA Tournament Selection Show. SDSU was given a 2 seed, playing in Tucson, against 15 seed Northern Colorado on Thursday, March 17.

Game 3 (Championship) of the Mountain West Conference Tournament:

Billy White put on an offensive display and bedeviled national scoring leader Jimmer Fredette in leading No. 7 San Diego State past No. 8 BYU 72-54 Saturday night for the Mountain West Conference title.

White had 21 points, 12 rebounds and five steals and Kawhi Leonard pitched in 20 points and eight boards. 

The Aztecs return to Viejas Arena Sunday at 3 pm to watch the NCAA Tournament Selection Show with their fans. 

Game 2 of the Mountain West Conference Tournament:

DJ Gay hit a jumper with 4.9 seconds left on the clock and the game tied to give the Aztecs a 74-72 win over UNLV. Four Aztecs scored in double figures, led by Kawhi Leonard's 18 points.

With the game tied and UNLV driving to the basket, Chase Tapley stole the ball and got it to Gay, who took it to the top of the key, dribbled through the Rebel defense, and hit a floating jumper to seal SDSU's 31st victory of the season. The Aztecs play BYU in the MWC Tournament Championship Game Saturday night at 4 pm PST on Versus.

Game 1 of the Mountain West Conference Tournament:

Kawhi Leonard and Malcolm Thomas each had a double-double to help No. 6/7 San Diego State beat Utah 64-50 Thursday night, giving the Aztecs the first 30-win season in their 90-year history. The Aztecs next play in the semi final round Friday night at 8:30 pm PST.

Originally published March 8, 2011

This past weekend, the San Diego State men's basketball team achieved the first of several goals for the season. With a win over Colorado State, the Aztec claimed a share of the Mountain West Conference regular season championship.

They celebrated and cut down the nets at Viejas Arena.

Now they prepare for the Mountain West Conference Tournament, followed by the NCAA Tournament.

Key Dates:

• MWC Tournament, March 9–12 in Las Vegas
• SDSU's first game in the MWC Tournament, 6 p.m. PST, Thursday, March 10
• Viewing Party for the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, Sunday, March 13, 3 pm, Viejas Arena
• NCAA Tournament, March 15–April 4

MWC's ultimate fan

Also, SDSU journalism student Josh Hoffman won the MWC Ultimate Fan Reporter challenge.

He will report from the tournament this week, and blog about his experience. 

Aztecs head to Vegas

The Aztecs earned a No. 2 seed in this week's Conoco Mountain West Conference Championship in Las Vegas. The Aztecs will face the seventh-seeded Utah Utes at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 10, inside Thomas & Mack Center. The game will be carried live on The Mtn.

SDSU swept Utah this year for just the third time in the history of the series and have won four straight over the Utes for the first time in program history. In Salt Lake City, the Aztecs posted a 71-62 victory and followed it with a 85-53 rout inside Viejas Arena during the second half of league action.

The winner of the Utah-SDSU game will face the winner of the (3)UNLV–(6)Air Force game at 8:30 p.m. PT, Friday, March 11.