SAN DIEGO – The No. 4 San Diego State men's basketball, which this week equaled the 2010-11 team for the highest ranking in program history, looks to equal that teams 20-0 start to the season when it hosts the Wyoming Cowboys on Tuesday evening in Viejas Arena.
NEWS AND NOTES (through games of Jan. 19)
-Having tied a school-record for highest national ranking in the Division I era with a both the Associated Press and coaches polls, the No. 4/4 Aztecs conclude the regular-season series against Wyoming on Tuesday night at Viejas Arena.
-With a win, San Diego State can match two school records - best start in the program's 99 seasons (currently 20-0 by the 2010-11 team) and most consecutive victories in school history (20 set by the 2010-11 team and matched by the 2013-14 squad). Both, the 2010-11 team led by Kawhi Leoanrd and the 2013-14 team led by Xavier Thames advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
-San Diego State and Wyoming are meeting for the 85th time, with the Aztecs looking to complete a sweep of the season series. SDSU, which has won six of the last seven meetings, defeated Wyoming in Laramie, 72-52, on Jan. 8 (13 days ago on game night).
-The Aztecs lead the series in San Diego by a count of 27-11. SDSU has owned the last 11 encounters at Viejas Arena, dating back to Jan. 3, 2007 (66-65 Wyoming win).
-Win streaks on the line Tuesday: 19-game win streak overall (longest in the nation, 3rd longest in school history), 10-game homecourt winning streak (tied for the 9th longest win streak in school history), 8-game conference win streak (5th longest win streak in the nation, tied for the 3rd longest win streak in school history).
-San Diego State is the 11th team to open a season 19-0 since the start of the 2010-11 campaign (the Aztecs also did it in 2010-11). Of the previous 10 teams, all 10 reached the NCAA tournament and won at least one game and four of those squads made it to at least the Elite Eight.
-SDSU's 19-game unbeaten streak to open the season is the longest by an NCAA team since Gonzaga opened the 2016-17 campaign 29-0 (advanced to the national championship game). Of the last eight remaining unbeaten teams since 2009-10 (excluding the 2015-16 SMU team that was ineligible for postseason and the 2017-18 Arizona State squad that opened 12-0, far and away the shortest win streak during this stretch), 1 won the national championship, 3 advanced to national championship games and 5 advanced to the Sweet 16.
-San Diego State jumped three spots in the AP Poll this week from No. 7 to No. 4. Now nationally ranked for a seventh consecutive week, this is the Aztecs highest ranking in the poll since SDSU was ranked No. 4 on Jan. 24, 2011.
-San Diego State is enjoying its 73rd appearance in the AP Top-25 Poll this week (all have occurred since the start of the 2010-11 campaign). Since the start of the '10-11 season, SDSU's 73 weeks in the top 25 are the 23rd most nationally.
-San Diego State is looking for just its third 9-0 conference start of the Mountain West era on Tuesday. The Aztecs last two outright regular-season titles have come following an 9-0 start to league play.
-San Diego State's metrics continue to pace at an elite level. The Aztecs are currently 2nd in NET (San Diego State has been in the top four every day since the daily chart debuted Dec. 16), 1st in strength of record, 8th in KenPom, 9th in Sagarin, 9th in BPI and 13th in RPI.
-With the fast start, San Diego State finds itself ranked among the nation's elite in several statistical categories, including 3rd in scoring margin (+18.1), 4th in scoring defense (56.8), 6th in three-point field goal percentage differential (+10.1), 6th in three-point field goal defense (27.3), 6th in field goal percentage differential (+10.0), 7th in field goal percentage defense (36.5), 14th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.38) and 30th in three-point field goal percentage (37.4).
-San Diego State has four players averaging 9.6 points or more and six players averaging 6.9 points or more. Five Aztec players have scored 19 or more points in a game this season.
-San Diego State leads the Mountain West Conference in many team stats, including scoring margin (+18.1), scoring defense (56.8), field goal percentage defense (36.5), turnover margin (+4.1) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.38).
PLAYER TIDBITS
Junior guard Malachi Flynn - 16.5 points, 5.0 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 40.4 3FG pct., 3.00 A/TO
-Only player in the nation averaging 16.5 points, 5 assists and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of at least 3:1.
-Nine straight double-figure scoring games and 10+ points in 18-of-19 contests this season.
-Last 5 games: 19.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.6 apg, 48.4 (30-62) FG pct., 96.3 (26-27) FT pct.
-Leads the Mountain West Conference in assists per game and assist-to-turnover ratio.
-The Sporting News midseason second-team All-American.
-Made 30 consecutive free throw attempts, streak was broken last game, currently made 32 of last 33).
-15 straight games with a trey.
-5th in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (min. 95 assists), 3.03.
-Has 1,104 career points.
Senior forward Yanni Wetzell - 12.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 59.9 FG pct.
-Has 17 or more points in each of the last four games; Last 4 games: 17.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 65.2 FG pct.
-Last 16 games: 13.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 62.7 FG pct.
-Double-figures in five straight games (this ties career long streak set earlier this season).
-13-of-22 double-digit scoring games have come this season.
-Was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and produced 17 points, four rebounds and two assists (became the fourth Aztec player during the Brian Dutcher/Steve Fisher era to make at least seven field goals in a game without a miss - joining Nathan Mensah, Aerick Sanders and Billy White).
-2-time Mountain West Player of the Week (1 of only 2 players this season; also: New Mexico's Joquan Lyle).
Junior forward Matt Mitchell - 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 36.1 3FG pct., 83.3 FT pct.
-Despite coming off the bench in 13-of-19 games this season, Mitchell is third on the team in scoring and is third on the team in rebounding.
-He is averaging career-bests points, rebounds, three-point field goal percentage, steals and blocked shots.
-Scored 10+ points in three straight games and five of the last six contests.
-Has 33 rebounds in his last five games (6.6 rpg).
-In five games as a starter: 11.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 45.7 FG pct.
Junior guard Jordan Schakel - 9.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 45.0 FG pct.,44.3 3FG pct., 89.7 FT pct.
-Has eight or more points in nine of his last 12 games (double figure in seven of those contests).
-Not only is reaching double figures good for Schakel, it's good for the Aztecs. When Schakel scores 10 or more points in his career, SDSU is 19-2 with 12 straight victories.
-The Aztecs are 13-0 at Viejas when the he reaches double figures.
-The sharpshooter has made 39-of-88 attempts from bonus distance (44.3 percent). He is 25th nationally in three-point field goal percentage (min. 35 3FG made).