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One of the biggest benefits of the Aztecs 70-63 win over the Washington Huskies on Sunday meant that they wouldn't get booted off of the Top 25 list with nary a way back this year. The Aztecs finished up an important nonconference run of five games in 11 days. This included wins over two ranked Big East opponents in the Wooden Legacy tournament and ended with victories over tough teams with low RPI rankings.
The crosstown rival game at San Diego (194 RPI) was a hard-fought road game against an improving Toreros team. Washington (229 RPI) was picked to be a middle of the pack Pac-12 team but has a winning history and C.J. Wilcox, who is a top 10 player in the conference and holds the UW record for three pointers made.
The three remaining games in December should all be easy double-digit wins at home for the Aztecs. They face Southern Utah (337 RPI), McNeese State (305 RPI) and NAIA St. Katherine College. Winning all of these games wouldn't give an unranked Aztecs team an opportunity to get back into the polls and a loss by a ranked Aztecs team would likely drop them out of the polls.
San Diego State dropped one spot to No. 25 in the AP Top 25 and was added to the USA Today Coaches Poll at No. 24.
Mountain West counterparts New Mexico and Boise State are among others receiving votes in both polls.
