San Diego State coach feels Aztecs are far better suited for realignment than USC, UCLA

San Diego State men’s basketball head coach Brian Dutcher shared his interesting thoughts on realignment and what it could mean for USC and UCLA leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten.

San Diego State men’s basketball head coach Brian Dutcher is well aware over how attractive his Group of Five university is in this wave of realignment sweeping across major college athletics.

Dutcher’s Aztecs are playing the Big East power Creighton Bluejays in the Elite Eight with a chance at the Final Four. Although the Aztecs are best known on the hardwood for being Kawhi Leonard’s alma mater, this is the late, great Tony Gwynn’s school after all, as well as one of the Mountain West’s best and most consistent football programs. They are a prime candidate to join the Pac-12.

In Pete Thamel’s latest post for ESPN.com, Dutcher made several great points about where San Diego State stands in realignment, as well as what could be coming for USC and UCLA when they do leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten in 2024.

"“Realignment is here. So everybody is just waiting for the next shoe to drop. Whether that’s the Big Ten or the Pac-12 or the Big 12 or ACC. There’s going to be more realignment.”"

San Diego State, along with SMU of The American, are widely seen as the two likeliest candidates to replace USC and UCLA after they bolt for the Big Ten.

Where Dutcher makes an interesting case is when it comes to travel, especially on the hardwood.

This could be huge in SDSU becoming a regional power, while USC and UCLA may regret the move.

San Diego State HC Brian Dutcher reflects on realignment, Pac-12, USC and UCLA

Since SDSU had to travel across the entire country to take part in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight over in Louisville, in a way, it kind of showed Dutcher and his team what will become the new normal for USC and UCLA once they switch conferences.

"“Even though [our flight] was a charter, I thought, my goodness, those guys have to do this every other week to play a basketball game? It would be exhausting. It’s going to be a real challenge to be at their best with that kind of travel. I’m wishing them all the best, but that’s more travel than I would ever wish on anybody.”"

Flying across multiple time zones is not going to ruin the Bruins and Trojans in football, but it might be incredibly exhausting for their basketball programs and other teams who play games more than once a week. If you think this is small potatoes, look at West Virginia. The Mountaineers have been killed by travel since joining the Big 12. Why do you think the league added Cincinnati?

Dutcher would then touch on the fact that San Diego State was never going to get the time of day with the Pac-12 because the Aztecs are in the same relative geographical footprint as USC and UCLA. Even if the Aztecs can definitely compete on the hardwood and baseball diamond, as well as more than hold their own on the gridiron, we were never going to have all three in the Pac-12.

For real, though. Definitely read Thamel’s latest for ESPN.com if you love all things realignment because Dutcher’s commentary on the matter is utterly fascinating. While much was made about the four schools moving up to join the Big 12 in July (BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, UCF), we definitely slept on San Diego State being just as ready for the challenge as those Group of Five programs.

I think the job that Dutcher has done following up an incredible run by Steve Fisher has the Aztecs ready to absolutely dominate in the new era of West Coast basketball. He is right though that the football team may not be ready for the low-key gauntlet that is Pac-12 football. They will be what Utah was when the Utes joined in 2012. Now look at them. SDSU has a blueprint for success here!

For what lies ahead with USC and UCLA, I hate to say it, but the move to the Big Ten is not going to work out for both. One will have an easier time assimilating than the other, which is usually the case when two schools join a new conference together. Honestly, I think UCLA may assimilate faster into the Big Ten for basketball reasons and not having to overcompensate with football.

Overall, San Diego State is strategically located and well-diversified from a college athletics standpoint to make the leap up to Power Five competition as seamless as possible. I don’t know if it will be as smooth as I forecast it to be with Houston and BYU, but the Aztecs may have an easier time with it as compared to the likes of Cincinnati, SMU and UCF. They should have what it takes.

Ultimately, you never really know with these things. There are no guarantees in college athletics. Scott Frost was a home-run hire at his alma mater of Nebraska … until he wasn’t. While San Diego State checks most of the boxes leagues like the Pac-12 and maybe the Big 12, could be interested in, nothing is official until it is. I do like San Diego State as a long-term fit for the revamped Pac-12.

The best thing San Diego State needs to do is know what it is and most importantly, what it isn’t.