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Stats don’t lie: Louisville basketball one of five teams capable of winning it all

By Presley Meyer

David Johnson #13 of the Louisville Cardinals (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
David Johnson #13 of the Louisville Cardinals (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 26: KJ Feagin #10 and Malachi Flynn #22 of the San Diego State Aztecs talk during a stop in play in their game against the UNLV Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center on January 26, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aztecs defeated the Rebels 71-67. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 26: KJ Feagin #10 and Malachi Flynn #22 of the San Diego State Aztecs talk during a stop in play in their game against the UNLV Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center on January 26, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aztecs defeated the Rebels 71-67. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

San Diego State

Adjusted offensive efficiency: 11

Adjusted defensive efficiency: 6

There’s no denying that San Diego State has been the most underrated team and story across all of college basketball in 2019-20. With just a few weeks left to go in the season, San Diego State currently sits at 23-0 overall and 12-0 in conference play and ranked fourth in the country and projected as a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.

It’s easy to see why people may overlook a team who plays their games after the majority of the country has gone to bed and doesn’t have an NBA-caliber player on the roster or a name that anyone knows. It’s also easy to see why people may doubt a team that plays in the Mountain West Conference and has a strength of schedule that ranks right outside of the top 70.

However, San Diego State is for real. They hold wins this season over three other power five programs, including two thrashings of Creighton and Iowa back in November.

The only remaining undefeated team in the country, the Aztecs have looked impressive even on bad nights, pushing their average margin of victory out to nearly 18 points. They allow only 57 points per game, and BYU and Iowa are the only two opponents to put up more than 70 on SDSU all year.

The Aztecs are led by Washington State transfer Malachi Flynn. A Wooden Award finalist, the junior guard is averaging 16.5 points and 5 assists per game and shoots 39 percent from deep.

San Diego State also features a duo of seniors in Vanderbilt transfer Yanni Wetzel and Santa Clara grad transfer KJ Feagin and three other juniors who play regularly. The Aztecs are heavy on experience, have tremendous guard play, and are tough on both ends of the floor.

They may be a darkhorse contender by name and schedule alone, but San Diego State is legit and should be considered to have just as good of a chance as anyone to cut down the nets in April.

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