Way-Too-Early ESPN Bracketology: San Diego State atop the mountain

ESPN's Joe Lunardi released a bracketology update for the upcoming 2017 college basketball season Wednesday. We are still nine months away from serious bracketology talks, but why wait?

After a dismal 2016 season, the Mountain West is looking for a rebound in 2017. San Diego State is the only Mountain West team in the bracket, listed as a No. 11 seed in the West region. Trey Kell, Jeremy Hemsley, Zylan Cheatham, Dakari Allen and Malik Pope all return from a 28-win squad in 2015. Look for the Aztecs to play with a chip on their shoulder this upcoming season, as the SDSU fell just short of an NCAA Tournament bid in March.

As for the 2017 Tournament, the first weekend sites that are the closest (geographically) to SDSU are Sacramento (504 miles), Salt Lake City (750 miles) and Tulsa (1,416 miles). Whichever Mountain West team(s) that reach the 2017 NCAA Tournament will most likely be placed into any of the aforementioned cities.

The potential is there for a quiet but decent season from the Mountain West. However, due to consecutive disappointing seasons, the MW will have to earn its respect in 2017.