San Diego State will host Arizona State next season

San Diego State has added a Power Five conference foe to their list of opponents for the 2016-17 regular season and beyond starting a home-and-home series with Arizona State. This is according to Jon Rothstein CBS Sports college basketball insider.

The first date between these two clubs is scheduled to be played on December 10, 2016 at Viejas Arena. The return matchup will be held at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe the following season with a set date yet to be determined.

The Sun Devils might not be the sexiest of names in the college basketball world at the moment as they just wrapped up a disappointing season (15-17, 5-13 P12) under first year (third overall) coach and Duke legend Bobby Hurley but do not let the record deceive you.

Despite the sub .500 mark as it often the case with power five squads, Arizona State sports an RPI under 100 (98) which only two teams in the entire Mountain West Conference achieved (San Diego State and Fresno State).

This game will benefit SDSU greatly win or lose time Selection Sunday rolls around next year especially if Arizona State improves (very likely). With the quality of the Mountain West diminishing greatly, the Aztecs have been forced to add as many quality opponents as they can out of conference. So do not be surprised if San Diego State continues to make moves in the scheduling front in order to beef up a future resume.

Historically this series has been one sided in Arizona State favor holding a 12-3 overall edge, including a 3-1 record during the Steve Fisher era that began in 1999.  The Sun Devils also won the last meeting 55-52 in 2009. We will need to go back all the way to 2000 to find the last SDSU win over the Sun Devils 64-62.