Notes on three teams who had great 2022-23 seasons.
- After never making it past the Round of 64 as San Diego State’s head coach, Brian Dutcher got it done in a big way last year, reaching the national title game vs. UConn (lost 76-59). Despite Matt Bradley, Nathan Mensah, and Adam Seiko graduating plus Keshad Johnson transferring to Arizona, the Aztecs bring back key pieces like Darrion Trammell, Lamont Butler, Jaedon LeDee, and Micah Parrish to go along with USC transfer Reese Dixon-Waters.
- The Florida Atlantic Owls return their entire starting lineup (Johnell Davis, Alijah Martin, Vladislav Goldin, Nick Boyd, and Bryan Greenlee) that lost 4 total games and made it all the way to the 2023 Final Four. Head coach Dusty May’s squad will switch over from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference, which FAU is still favored to win, but should face a few tough challenges this season with a new league and high national ranking.
- Let’s hope that head coach Rodney Terry’s Texas group will be motivated to complete some unfinished business in 2024 after a couple unfortunate turnouts during the Elite Eight vs. the Miami Hurricanes (starting forward Dylan Disu missed game/Longhorns blew an 8 point halftime lead while getting outscored 51-36 in the second half). The depth will be there again with trusted returners like Disu, Tyrese Hunter, Dillon Mitchell, and Brock Cunningham, versatile transfers Max Abmas (Oral Roberts) Kadin Shedrick (Virginia), Ithiel Horton (UCF), Chendall Weaver (UT Arlington), and Ze’Rik Onyema (UTEP), and 4-star recruit Chris Johnson.
