Matt Bradley opens up on his turnaround in Final Four, balance of being a student athlete

San Diego State guard Matt Bradley has had some below-par performances in the NCAA Tournament compared to his normal standard. But the All-Mountain West first team member stepped up big time in the Final Four win over Florida Atlantic.

Bradley went off for team-high 21 points on 5-for-12 shooting, including 4 of 8 from beyond the 3-point line. He also grabbed six rebounds and dished out two assists.

But it was his shooting that drew attention after he struggled last weekend in Louisville during the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. He was a combined 3-for-17 over the two wins, combining for just eight points.

“I just felt good,” Bradley said Saturday night after the 72-71 victory. “I had two bad shooting performances these last couple of games. And I just got back in the gym. My teammates were encouraging me, my coaches. Spent some time praying, doing what I need to get right. I trust myself, most importantly. I’m thankful I was in the position to come through.”

The Aztecs now face UConn in the national championship on Monday night in Houston.

Matt Bradley is San Diego State’s leading scorer

San Diego State has a very even group of scorers with Matt Bradley leading the charge. Six players average at least 7.5 points per game but Bradley is the only one in double figures.

He leads the team with 12.7 points per game on 40.1% from the field and 36.5% from the 3-point line.

The numbers are down from last season when he carried a much bigger offensive load. He averaged 16.9 points per game on 43.8% shooting. He also averaged about five more minutes played per game during the season.

Despite that decrease, Bradley is still second on the team this year in minutes played per game.

Bradley, who transferred to San Diego State from California after his junior season in 2021, was also asked about dealing with academics while on the road and living the March Madness dream.

“It’s been the longest month I’ve ever been a part of,” Bradley said. “Every day I’m dedicated to being better as a player, as a teammate. But off the court, definitely, we have the resources to get us better, in the classroom. We have tutors here. We’ve got free time to do whatever I have to do…It’s hard, but it’s manageable.”