The 5 Best Defensive Teams in the NCAA Tournament
San Diego State Aztecs
| Def. Percentile (Rk) | Adj D (Rk) | Opp. Points/Game (Rk) |
|---|---|---|
| 99.6 (3rd) | 88.3 (4th) | 53.1 (2nd) |
The Aztecs play at a very slow pace, but nonetheless, they have been very efficient on defense this season. They allow their opponents to shoot just 37.7% from the field -- which is fifth in the nation -- while blocking 171 shots on the year (19th in the country). Much like Virginia, San Diego State defends without fouling. The Aztecs rank 328th in personal fouls and still find a way to suffocate their opponents.
The Aztecs will face St. John's in the first round in what should be the most unpredictable 8/9 matchup this year. St. John's has a lot of offensively gifted players, so this should be an interesting contest to watch.
Highlighted Player: J.J. O'Brien
There are a lot of good Aztec defenders, but senior forward J.J. O'Brien is the best of them. He's averaging 1.4 steals per game and has a Defensive Rating of 89.2 on the season. With such a great defensive effort, O'Brien has 2.8 Defensive Win Shares -- first on his team and eighth in the nation.
