The San Diego State Aztecs, the fifth seed in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament’s Midwest Region, pulled off a historic upset over the top-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sweet 16 round on March 24, 2023, at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
Alabama, which had only lost two games all season, was considered one of the strongest teams in the tournament. The Tide were led by freshman phenom Brandon Miller, a 6-foot-8-inch forward who was projected to be a top-three pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.
However, the Aztecs had a game plan to contain Miller, and it paid off. They played tight defense, blocking eight of Alabama’s shots and preventing Miller from finding his rhythm on offense. Miller, who had been averaging 17 points per game, made just three out of 19 shots and missed nine of his ten three-point attempts.
San Diego State, on the other hand, had an outstanding performance from their guards, Darrion Trammel and Lamont Butler. Trammel led the Aztecs with 21 points, while Butler added 19 points, six rebounds, and four assists. The Aztecs shot 50% from the field and made 11 of their 22 three-point attempts.
Despite trailing by nine points in the second half, San Diego State never lost their composure. They went on a 23-5 run to retake the lead and held on for the win, becoming the first team in school history to advance to the Elite Eight.
This victory is a significant achievement for the Aztecs, who have been a consistent presence in the NCAA Tournament in recent years but had never made it past the Sweet 16. Head coach Brian Dutcher praised his team’s resilience and credited their defense for the win.
San Diego State will now face the winner of the game between the No. 6 seed Creighton Bluejays and the No. 15 seed Princeton Tigers in the Elite Eight round. The Aztecs will look to continue their impressive run and advance to the Final Four for the first time in school history.
