![\"Four](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/timesofsandiego.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0.boys2_.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/a>L-R, returning Aztecs Miles Byrd, Reese Dixon-Waters and Magoon Gwath welcome newcomer Elzie Harrington for the 2025-26 season. (Photo courtesy of San Diego State Athletics)<\/p>\nWhen the San Diego State men\u2019s basketball team<\/a> launches its 2025-26 campaign on Tuesday, the Aztecs will be the overwhelming favorite to win the Mountain West<\/a> Conference.<\/p>\n At least to reporters who cover the MWC, that is. The Aztecs received all 26 of the possible first-place votes<\/a> among media members polled, conference officials said.<\/p>\n SDSU, which faces Long Beach State at Vieja Arena in the season opener, is now predicted to win the conference for the 11th time overall, including the fourth time in the last six seasons.<\/p>\n In nine of the 10 previous seasons the Aztecs were picked to win the league, the team enjoyed at least a taste of March Madness, with seven NCAA Tournament and two NIT appearances. SDSU has been expected to finish either first or second in preseason polls in 10 of the last 11 years. This also will be be the Aztecs\u2019 final go-round in the Mountain West, as they depart for the Pac-12 in 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n The projected first-place conference finish would be a serious rebound from SDSU\u2019s fourth place showing last year, when the team went 21-10, including 14-6 against conference opponents.<\/p>\n So why the optimism that SDSU will bounce back from a year that ended in a blowout loss in an NCAA Tournament First Four game?<\/p>\n First off, continuity. San Diego State returns four starters from last year\u2019s team, including two All-Mountain West selections: redshirt junior guard Miles Byrd and sophomore forward-center Magoon Gwath.<\/p>\n Byrd, a Stockton native, started all 30 of his appearances for the Aztecs last season and averaged 12.3 points and 4.4 rebounds in 30.1 minutes per game. A defensive standout, he ranked in the top 10 in steals and blocked shots, but also free-throw percentage and three-pointers in the Mountain West.<\/p>\n That @_degourville_<\/a> to @PharaohCompton<\/a> connection is in midseason form! #GoAztecs<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/yS4B3DssJe<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 San Diego State Men’s Basketball (@Aztec_MBB) October 30, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Meanwhile, Gwath, also a defensive specialist, averaged 8.5 points and 5.2 rebounds last season, and on Friday was named to the preseason Top 20 Watch List for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.<\/p>\n Last season, Gwath was the only seven-foot player in the nation who blocked at least 68 shots and shot at least 37.8% from the three-point line, according to SDSU data. However, he had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in late April and isn\u2019t expected to be fully cleared to play until later in November.<\/p>\n Byrd and Gwath both contemplated entering the NBA Draft, and Gwath entered the transfer portal, as well \u2014 but each ultimately elected to return to SDSU.<\/p>\n But the player who might be giving observers the most confidence in SDSU is senior guard Reese Dixon-Waters, who missed the 2024-25 season due to a broken foot. Dixon-Waters is a 6-foot-5 senior guard from Long Beach who averaged 9.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in 25.7 minutes per game as a junior. <\/p>\n He also had 43 assists, 21 steals and eight blocks during that season. He played in all 37 games, including 23 starts.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m happy that I am healthy, able to play and to help the team,\u201d he said following the team\u2019s Oct. 17 preseason defeat against UCLA, in which he led his team with 19 points.<\/p>\n Five newcomers are also joining the Aztecs this season, most notably Preseason Mountain West Freshman of the Year Elzie Harrington who, like Dixon-Waters, is a 6-foot-5 guard and Long Beach native.<\/p>\n After last season, Harrington was rated as the No. 7 recruit in California, No. 13 in the region and No. 17 in the nation at his position by ESPN. The freshman chose San Diego State over offers from UCLA and USC among other schools, according to SDSU Athletics officials.<\/p>\n In high school, he averaged 14.9-points per game, 5.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals. He shot 49.8% from the floor, 34.3% from beyond the three-point line and 78.1% from the free-throw line during four varsity seasons, according to SDSU Athletics data.<\/p>\n He\u2019s already acclimated to the college game, according to head coach Brian Dutcher.<\/p>\n \u201cElzie plays with such great pace \u2013 it\u2019s natural to him,\u201d Dutcher said following the Aztecs\u2019 second and final preseason game, a Wednesday win against the University of San Diego. \u201cHe probably has his whole career, so I don\u2019t have to teach him. He knows how to play. He\u2019s smart.\u201d<\/p>\n Tickets are limited, but remain available at Ticketmaster<\/a>. They start at $30. <\/p>\n READ NEXT\n\t<\/p>\n\n