Nov. 15, 2008
LOGAN, Utah -
Complete Release in PDF Format 
GAME 2Utah State (1-0) vs. UC Santa Barbara (1-0)Monday, Nov. 17, 2008 • 8 p.m. (MT) • Santa Barbara, Calif.The Thunderdome (6,000) • Aggie Radio Network
GAME DAY HEADLINES
• Utah State is beginning its 104th season of basketball this year and has an overall record of 1,371-989 (.581). USU hasn't had a losing season since the 1992-93 campaign, a span of 15 years, when that team finished with a 10-17 record.
• Utah State spent 27 years in the Pacific Coast Athletic Association/Big West Conference and won six tournament championships and seven regular season titles. USU's overall league record while a member of the Big West was 283-177 (.615), while its record against current members of the conference is 215-115 (.652) as Utah State has a winning record against every team in the league.
• Utah State has won six straight regular season games dating back to the 2007-08 campaign, including two straight road games. USU finished the 2007-08 season with five straight wins, including two on the road, and began this year with a win.
• Utah State is 65-59 (.524) on the road under head coach Stew Morrill, which includes a 16-22 (.421) record against non-conference opponents. USU is also 6-4 (.600) in its first road game of the year under Morrill.
• Utah State is 94-24 (.797) against teams from the state of California during the last 10 years, which includes a 32-20 (.615) road record.
• Utah State returns three starters (Tyler Newbold, Tai Wesley, Gary Wilkinson) and six lettermen from the 2007-08 team that went 24-11, won a share of its first-ever Western Athletic Conference regular season championship with a 12-4 league mark, and participated in its ninth-straight postseason as it lost at Illinois State, 61-57, in the first round of the 2008 MasterCard NIT.
• Utah State returns one player from last season who was honored by the WAC in senior forward Gary Wilkinson (second-team all-WAC and all-newcomer team). Wilkinson averaged 13.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game as a junior, while ranking fourth in the league in overall shooting (.584) and fifth in free throw shooting (.815). He also ranked eighth in rebounding and 13th in scoring.
THIS WEEK
Utah State (1-0) will travel to California this weekend and play at UC Santa Barbara (1-0) on Monday, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. (MT).
ON THE AIR
Utah State basketball games are broadcast on KVNU (610 AM) and KLZX (95.9 FM) in Logan, Utah, KFAN (1320 AM) or ESPN Radio (1230 AM) in Salt Lake City and KLZX (105.3 FM) in Montpelier, Idaho, as well as on the internet at www.UtahStateAggies.com. Al Lewis serves as the play-by-play announcer while Rod Tueller serves as the analyst during home games.
ON THE INTERNET
All of Utah State's home games are available for fans to listen and watch live via the internet at www.UtahStateAggies.com. Aggie fans will also be able to follow Utah State home games through its web site via GameTracker, a program that documents each play and updates statistics. Fans can also listen to every road game live via USU's web site.
LOOKING AT UTAH STATE
Utah State is 1-0 this year after recording a 71-50 home win against Montana State-Northern Friday night. USU is led by senior forward Gary Wilkinson who is averaging 24.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, and is shooting 90.9 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from the free throw line. Sophomore forward Tai Wesley is also scoring in double-figures for USU as he is averaging 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, and shooting 57.1 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from the free throw line. As a team, Utah State is scoring 71.0 points per game and shooting 54.3 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three-point range and 61.3 percent from the free throw line. Defensively, USU is allowing 50.0 points and its opponents are shooting 38.5 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from three-point range, and 40.0 percent from the free throw line.
UTAH STATE PICKED SECOND IN THE WAC, TWO PLAYERS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-WAC
Utah State is picked to finish second in the Western Athletic Conference this year by both the coaches and media, behind Nevada, while senior forward Gary Wilkinson and sophomore forward Tai Wesley were both named to preseason teams. Wilkinson was named the preseason Player of the Year by the media, while Wesley was voted to the second-team by the coaches.
UTAH STATE TOP FIELD GOAL AND FREE THROW SHOOTING TEAM IN 2008
Utah State finished the 2007-08 season as the top shooting team in the nation as it ranked first in both field goal and free throw shooting. On the season, USU shot 51.4 percent from the field and 79.2 percent from the free throw line. The last time a Division I team finished the season leading the nation in two of the three statistical shooting categories was 1999 when Northern Arizona was first in both field goal shooting (.523) and three-point shooting (.445). The last time a team led the nation in field goal and free throw shooting was 1986 when Michigan State shot 56.1 percent from the field and 79.9 percent from the free throw line. Overall, there have been only four teams in the history of the NCAA (Auburn, 1960; Ohio State, 1970; Michigan State, 1986; and Utah State, 2008) to lead the nation in both field goal and free throw shooting and only one team to lead the nation in both field goal and three-point shooting (Northern Arizona, 1999). No team has ever led the nation in all three categories.
UTAH STATE LED THE WAC IN SEVERAL STATISTICAL CATEGORIES IN 2008
Utah State finished the 2007-08 season ranking first in the Western Athletic Conference in scoring defense (68.1), field goal percentage (.514), free throw percentage (.792), and three-point field goal percentage (.401), was second in assists (17.71), third in scoring margin (+5.7), third in field goal percentage defense (.438), third in rebound margin (+3.9), and fourth in scoring offense (73.9).
UTAH STATE LEADS THE WAC IN FREE THROW SHOOTING FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR
Utah State has now led the Western Athletic Conference in free throw shooting in each of its three years in the league after shooting 79.2 percent from the charity stripe last season. In 2006-07, USU shot 78.0 percent from the line and during the 2005-06 season it shot 72.2 percent. Utah State is the first team to lead the WAC in free throw shooting in three straight years since Air Force did it from 1990-92.
UTAH STATE LEADS THE WAC IN FIELD GOAL SHOOTING
For the second time in its three years in the WAC, Utah State has led the league in shooting after making 51.4 percent of its field goals last year. USU is the first WAC team to shoot over 50 percent since Colorado State shot 50.6 percent during the 1995-96 season and that 51.4 percentage is the highest since New Mexico shot 52.8 percent during the 1990-91 season.
DID YOU KNOW?
Utah State head coach Stew Morrill (238-86) is the winningest coach in school history and is second all-time in games coached (324) behind the legendary E. Lowell Romney (382). Morrill is also the longest tenured coach at Utah State (entering 11th season) since the H. Cecil Baker era (1951-61).
NEXT WEEK
Utah State will play two games next week as it hosts Weber State on Tuesday, Nov. 25 and Cal Poly on Saturday, Nov. 29. Both games begin at 7 p.m. in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
RECAPPING THE MONTANA STATE-NORTHERN GAME
Senior forward Gary Wilkinson scored a career-high 24 points and added 12 rebounds to lead Utah State past Montana State-Northern, 71-50, in its season opener Friday night. The Lights came into the game with a perfect 6-0 record. Wilkinson, who was 9-of-10 from the field, recorded his eight career double-double in the game as his 12 boards were just one shy of his career-high set last year. Sophomore forward Tai Wesley added 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the home team, while sophomore guard Tyler Newbold finished with nine points and three rebounds. Travis Noble had 18 points to lead Montana State-Northern. Wilkinson and Wesley scored the first four points of the game for Utah State on back-to-back layups, and USU extended its lead to 10 at 27-17 on two free throws by Wilkinson with 5:14 to play. Junior guard Jared Quayle made two free throws in the final minute of the first-half to make the score 35-25 at intermission. Utah State shot 52.2 percent from the field (12-23) in the first-half as compared to 40.9 percent shooting (9-22) for Montana State-Northern. Wilkinson led USU in the first 20 minutes as he had 14 points and eight rebounds. Utah State increased its lead to 16 points at 43-27 early in the second-half on a layup by Wesley before the Lights scored seven straight points to get back within single digits. USU responded with a 25-6 run over the next nine minutes to lead 68-40 with just over five minutes to play. Utah State finished the game by shooting 54.3 percent from the field (25-46), 33.3 percent from three-point range (2-6), and 61.3 percent from the free throw line (19-31). Montana State-Northern shot 38.5 percent overall (20-52), including 36.4 percent from behind the arc (8-22), and 40.0 percent from the free throw line (2-5). USU also out-rebounded MSUN, 39-23, and recorded 18 assists in the game while committing just eight turnovers.
NOTE-ABLES FROM THE MONTANA STATE-NORTHERN GAME
Gary Wilkinson has now scored in double-figures 29 times in his career, including five 20-point games... Tai Wesley scored in double-figures for the 19th time in his career.... Pooh Williams had a career-high three assists and played a career-high 27 minutes... Modou Niang had career-highs with four points and five rebounds.
LOOKING BACK AT UTAH STATE'S DAYS IN THE BIG WEST CONFERENCE
Utah State spent 27 years in the Pacific Coast Athletic Association/Big West Conference before moving all of its sports programs into the Western Athletic Conference prior to the 2005-06 academic year. USU's first win in basketball in the PCAA was at home against Fresno State, 56-49, on Jan. 9, 1979 and its first tournament win was that same year against San Jose State, 85-78, on March 1. Utah State won its first regular season championship during the 1979-80 season under then head coach Rod Tueller with an 11-2 record and won its first tournament championship during the 1987-88 season under Tueller with wins against San Jose State (80-72), UC Santa Barbara (73-66) and UC Irvine (86-79). Aggie fans would not see another regular season championship until Larry Eustachy's second year as head coach as he led USU to a 14-4 conference record during the 1994-95 season. Three years later, Eustachy guided Utah State to its second-ever tournament championship in 1998 with wins against Long Beach State (69-61), Cal State Fullerton (65-56) and Pacific (78-63). Current Aggie head coach Stew Morrill took over the program prior to the 1998-99 season and promptly turned Utah State into the conference's premier team. USU began its domination in the league during the 1999-2000 season as it finished with a perfect 16-0 record and then won the tournament championship by defeating Pacific (64-41), Nevada (69-64) and New Mexico State (71-66). Utah State would repeat as tournament champions the next year with wins against CS Fullerton (74-43), Boise State (67-48) and Pacific (50-38). The Aggies would go on to finish tied for first in the conference in 2002 before losing to UC Santa Barbara (60-56) in the tournament championship game. After placing third in the Big West during the 2003 season, Utah State won its third tournament championship in four years by defeating CS Fullerton (89-83 ot), UC Irvine (62-55) and Cal Poly (57-54). Utah State had an outstanding season during the 2003-04 campaign, as it went 17-1 in league play and tied with Pacific for first-place, before losing to Cal State Northridge (63-62) in the semifinals of the tournament. USU's final year in the Big West was the 2004-05 season, as Utah State ended its association with the conference by winning the 2005 tournament championship with wins against CS Fullerton (84-77) and 16th-ranked Pacific (65-52). Overall, Utah State won six tournament championships (1988, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005) and seven regular season titles (1980, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 20002, 2004) as a member of the Big West Conference. In its last six years in the league, USU won four tournament championships, three regular season titles, recorded an 84-20 (.808) league record and had a 13-2 (.867) record in tournament action. USU also had 12 first-team all-Big West selections, 20 all-conference selections and 23 Player of Week honorees, not to mention Coach Morrill being named the Big West Coach of the Year twice (2000, 2002) in its last six years in the league.
YOUTH WILL BE SERVED
Utah State has 10 underclassmen on its 2008-09 roster with five freshmen and five sophomores, which is the most-ever on a USU team. The 2001-02 squad had nine underclassmen.
WILKINSON ONLY SENIOR ON AGGIE ROSTER
Utah State has just one senior on its roster in forward Gary Wilkinson. The last time a USU team had just one senior on its roster was during the 1999-2000 campaign in guard Troy Rolle. That team finished the season with a 28-6 record, including a perfect 16-0 mark in the Big West Conference.
DID YOU KNOW?
Utah State is one of just three teams in the nation to win at least 23 games in each of the last nine seasons along with Gonzaga and Kansas.
SCOUTING UC SANTA BARBARA
UC Santa Barbara is 1-0 on the season after defeating CS Los Angeles, 64-55, at home Friday night. The Gauchos are led by senior forward Chris Devine who is averaging 17.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, while junior guard James Powell is averaging 16.0 points and 7.0 rebounds. As a team, UC Santa Barbara is scoring 64.0 points per game and shooting 42.6 percent from the field, 30.0 percent from three-point range and 69.2 percent from three-point range, while its opponents are scoring 55.0 points and shooting 36.8 percent from the field, 13.3 percent from three-point range and 64.7 percent from three-point range. The Gauchos are picked to finish in second-place in the Big West Conference this year, while senior forward Chris Devine has been selected to the CollegeInsider.com Preseason Mid-Major All-American Team, as well as preseason all-Big West. Devine averaged 12.3 points and 5.4 rebounds as a junior. UCSB returns three starters and eight letterwinners from last year's team that went 23-9 and finished in a tie for first-place in the Big West with a 12-4 league record. Bob Williams is 164-131 in his 10th year as the Gauchos head coach and 353-231 in 21 years as a collegiate head coach.
UTAH STATE-UC SANTA BARBARA SERIES
Utah State and UC Santa Barbara will be meeting for the 60th time Monday night with the Aggies owning a 37-22 all-time advantage, which includes a 14-12 road record. The first game played in the series was on Dec. 7, 1970 in Logan with USU recording a 66-64 win. USU won the last meeting between the two teams in Logan on Feb. 22, 2008 by the final score of 72-59. The last time the two teams played in Santa Barbara was on Feb. 5, 2005 with Utah State notching an 80-50 win. Overall, Utah State has won 11 of the last 13 games played, including each of the last five. The last time UCSB defeated Utah State was on Feb. 6, 2003 in Santa Barbara, 62-50.
UTAH STATE IN NOVEMBER AND ON THE 17TH
Utah State is 37-11 (.771) in games played in November under Coach Morrill. USU is also 4-1 (.800) all-time in games played on November 17, and 8-5 (.615) in games played on Monday under Morrill.
LAST MEETING AGAINST THE GAUCHOS
Tai Wesley and Gary Wilkinson combined for 38 points and 21 rebounds to lead Utah State past UC Santa Barbara, 72-59, in an ESPNU BracketBuster men's basketball game on Feb. 22, 2008 at a soldout Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Wesley, a freshman forward, tallied a game-high 24 points to go along with nine rebounds, while junior forward Wilkinson posted 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. It was Wilkinson's team-leading fourth double-double of the season. Senior All-American guard Jaycee Carroll was held to just six points in the first half but netted nine in the second half to finish with 15. Alex Harris and James Powell were the only two Gauchos in double-digits, netting 20 points apiece, as Powell hit a game-high six three-pointers to tie a career-high. USU out-rebounded UCSB, 41-28, including 34 on the defensive end as the Gauchos shot just 21-of-62 (33.9 percent) from the field, including 39.1 percent (9-23) from behind the arc. The Aggies hit 54.2 percent (26-48) of their shots, making four of their 10 three-pointers (40.0 percent). USU also made more free throws than UCSB attempted, hitting 16-of-21 (76.2 percent), while UCSB was 8-of-11 (72.7 percent). The first half was back-and-forth, as Powell hit a three-pointer at the 4:12 mark to knot the score at 21-all, the seventh tie of the half. The Aggies pulled away to lead 28-24 at intermission. Senior guard Kris Clark hit a three-pointer from the left wing at 13:34 for a 39-29 USU lead but UCSB countered with six unanswered points to pull within 39-35 on a Harris layup. Wesley sparked and capped a 12-0 run to give USU its largest lead of the night at 63-48 with 2:54 left and the Aggies coasted to the victory.
WILKINSON NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
Utah State's Gary Wilkinson has been named a preseason high-major All-American by CollegeHoops.net it was announced on Oct. 23. Wilkinson, who was named to the honorable-mention team, is one of 33 players recognized. Wilkinson, a 6-9 senior forward from South Jordan, Utah (Bingham HS/Salt Lake CC), is one of just two players from the Western Athletic Conference to be named preseason All-American by CollegeHoops.net along with Nevada's Armon Johnson. Wilkinson is also one of four players from the state of Utah to be honored joining BYU's Lee Cummard and Jonathan Tavernari, and Utah's Luke Nevill. Wilkinson, who was named the WAC's Preseason Player of the Year by the media this fall, earned second-team all-conference honors as a junior and was also named to the WAC's all-newcomer team as he averaged 13.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 58.4 percent from the field and 81.5 percent from the free throw line. He finished the year ranking fourth in the WAC in field goal shooting, fifth in three throw shooting, eighth in rebounding and 13th in scoring.
WILKINSON RANKS AMONG TOP 10 ALL-TIME AT UTAH STATE IN FG AND FT SHOOTING
Senior forward Gary Wilkinson is shooting 59.5 percent from the field (184-309) during his USU career, which ranks fourth all-time in school history. He is also shooting 80.9 percent from the free throw line (114-141), which ranks eighth all-time in school history.
WESLEY & WILKINSON BOTH SHOOT FOR HIGH PERCENTAGE DURING 2008 SEASON
Sophomore forward Tai Wesley and senior forward Gary Wilkinson both recorded high shooting percentages during the 2007-08 season. Wesley shot 63.5 percent from the field (132-208) which ranks sixth all-time at Utah State for a single-season, while Wilkinson shot 58.4 percent (174-298), which ranks 16th all-time at USU for a single-season.
UTAH STATE IN THE DEE GLEN SMITH SPECTRUM
Utah State is 143-12 (.923) in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum under Coach Morrill, which includes a 67-4 (.944) record against non-league opponents, a 76-8 (.905) record against conference opponents and a 21-3 (.875) record against WAC teams. Overall, USU is 437-105 (.806) in 38 years in the building. Utah State finished its 2007-08 regular season with a 17-0 home record, which is a school record for most wins in a single-season, marking just the fourth time in the 38 year history of the building that an Aggie team has gone undefeated at home.
UTAH STATE HAS EIGHTH-LONGEST HOME WINNING STREAK IN THE NATION
Utah State has won 18 straight games inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, which is the eighth-longest active winning streak in the country. BYU has won 47 straight home games, which is the longest streak in the nation.
UTAH STATE RETURNS SIX LETTERMEN AND ONE REDSHIRT
Utah State returns three starters in sophomore guard Tyler Newbold, sophomore forward Tai Wesley and senior forward Gary Wilkinson, and three other lettermen in sophomore forward Matt Formisano, sophomore center Modou Niang and sophomore guard/forward Pooh Williams from the 2007-08 team that went 24-11, finished in first-place in the Western Athletic Conference with a 12-4 record, and advanced to the postseason NIT where it lost at Illinois State (61-57) in the first round. Newbold averaged 5.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game last year, while shooting 54.7 percent from the field, 51.5 percent from three-point range and 83.9 percent from the free throw line. Wesley averaged 9.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, while shooting 63.5 percent from the field and 72.2 percent from the free throw line. Wilkinson averaged 13.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 58.4 percent from the field and 81.5 percent from the free throw line. Formisano averaged 1.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game and shot 36.0 percent from the field and 58.8 percent from the free throw line. Niang averaged 0.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game, while shooting 27.3 percent from the field and 71.4 percent from the free throw line. And Williams averaged 2.4 points, 1.0 assists and 0.8 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game, and shot 38.8 percent from the field, 36.0 percent from three-point range and 62.5 percent from the free throw line. Also returning is redshirt freshman point guard Jaxon Myaer who earned 3A Most Valuable Player honors as a prep senior at Judge Memorial High School in Salt Lake City, as he averaged 18.4 points and 6.5 assists per game.
DID YOU KNOW?
Utah State's six returning lettermen to the 2008-09 roster are the most since the 2004-05 season when USU returned seven lettermen.
UTAH STATE RETURNING PLAYER NOTES
#5 Pooh Williams - Played in 29 games, starting three in his first year at Utah State... Averaged 2.4 points, 1.0 assists and 0.8 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game... Shot 38.8 percent from the field, 36.0 percent from three-point range and 62.5 percent from the free throw line... His three starts were in consecutive games against Montana-Western, Cal Poly and UC Irvine... Scored a season-high 10 points against Illinois State in the postseason MasterCard NIT as he was 4-of-5 from the field and 2-of-2 from three-point range.
#15 Modou Niang - Played in 18 games in his freshman season at Utah State and averaged 5.1 minutes per outing... Finished the year by averaging 0.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game, while shooting 27.3 percent from the field and 71.4 percent from the free throw line... Played a season-high 17 minutes at Cal Poly... Also had season-highs with four points, three rebounds and three blocks against the Mustangs.
#24 Tyler Newbold - Started 25 games in his first season of Division I basketball and finished the year averaging 5.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, while shooting 54.7 percent from the field, 51.5 percent from three-point range and 83.9 percent from the free throw line... As a starter, he averaged 7.1 points and 3.0 rebounds... Averaged 21.5 minutes per game and played at least 20 minutes in every game he started, including a season-high 34 in two separate games... Played 30-plus minutes in five games during the year... Scored in double-figures six times during the season including a season-high 20 points at New Mexico State as he was 6-of-8 from the field, 5-of-7 from three-point range and 3-of-4 from the free throw line... Also had a season-high seven rebounds at NMSU, and recorded a season-best six assists at Boise State... Had an outstanding WAC Tournament as he averaged 17.5 points in two games, while shooting 75.0 percent from the field (12-16) and 75.0 percent from three-point range (9-12).
#25 Jaxon Myaer - Redshirted during his first year at Utah State.
#42 Tai Wesley - Started 24 games and played in all 35 in his first season of competition at Utah State... Finished the year by averaging 9.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, while shooting 63.5 percent from the field and 72.2 percent from the free throw line... Played 22.7 minutes per game... Averaged 11.6 points and 5.4 rebounds as a starter... Ranked first on the team and eighth in the Western Athletic Conference with 0.9 blocks per game (33)... Was also first on the team and third in the WAC in field goal shooting... His 63.5 field goal shooting ranks sixth all-time at Utah State for a single-season... Scored in double-figures 18 times during the season, including three 20-point games... Scored a season-high 27 points against Hawai'i on Jan. 3 in Logan as he was 7-of-8 from the field and 13-of-16 from the free throw line... Those 27 points are the second-most ever scored by a USU freshman in a single game, trailing the 28 points scored by Jaycee Carroll against UC Santa Barbara during the 2005 season... Posted two double-doubles during the season as he had 11 points and a season-high 11 rebounds against Prairie View A&M, and 13 points and 10 rebounds at Nevada... Recorded a season-high six blocks against San Jose State in the first round of the WAC Tournament, which is tied for the third-most blocks in a single game in school history... Posted a season-high six assists against Utah Valley.
#44 Matt Formisano - Played in 22 games in his first season of action at Utah State and averaged 5.2 minutes per outing... Averaged 1.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game and shot 36.0 percent from the field and 58.8 percent from the free throw line... His best offensive game of the season was on Jan. 26 at New Mexico State as he scored a season-high eight points on 3-of-6 shooting to go along with four rebounds in 25 minutes, which was also a season-high... Also played 19 minutes at San Jose State and 10 minutes against Prairie View A&M.
#55 Gary Wilkinson - Earned second-team all-WAC honors as well as being named to the league's all-newcomer team as he finished the year by averaging 13.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 58.4 percent from the field and 81.5 percent from the free throw line... Ranked fourth in the WAC in overall shooting, fifth in free throw shooting, eighth in rebounding and 13th in scoring... His shooting percentage from the field ranks tied for 16th all-time at Utah State for a single-season... During WAC games, he averaged 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds and shot 60.6 percent from the field... Started all 35 games in his first year at USU and played an average of 27.9 minutes per game... Scored in double-figures 28 times during the season including 18 of his last 19 games... Also had four 20-point games including a season-high 23 against Nevada on Feb. 2 as he was 9-of-11 from the field... Posted seven double-doubles during the season which included a home-stretch in February where he had three straight double-doubles against UC Santa Barbara (14p, 12r), Louisiana Tech (19p, 10r), and Fresno State (17p, 10r)... Recorded a season-high 13 rebounds against Idaho on Jan. 19.
UTAH STATE AMONG THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY
Over the last nine years, Utah State has been one of the best basketball programs in the country, recording a 223-73 (.753) record. Those 223 wins are the seventh-most in the country, while the 75.3 percent winning percentage is fifth-best behind Duke (.831), Kansas (.804), Gonzaga (.797) and Florida (.764). USU has also been among the top teams in the country in field goal (.514) and free throw (.792) shooting as it led the nation in both categories during the 2007-08 season.
UTAH STATE HAS DOMINATED CONFERENCE PLAY SINCE 2000
Utah State has had tremendous success in league play over the last nine years recording a 116-36 (.763) record, which includes an 84-20 record in the Big West Conference as it won three regular season championships and four tournament titles and a 32-16 record in the WAC. Here is a look at how the current members of the Western Athletic Conference has done in league play dating back to the 1999-2000 season. Note: Utah State and Idaho's league record includes six years in the Big West Conference (2000-2005); Boise State's record includes two years in the Big West (2000-2001); Nevada's record includes one year in the Big West (2000); Louisiana Tech's record includes two years in the Sun Belt Conference (2000-01); and New Mexico State's record includes one year in the Big West (2000) and five years in the Sun Belt (2001-05).
AGGIES WELCOME EIGHT NEWCOMERS TO THE PROGRAM
For the second year in a row, Utah State welcomes eight new players to the program, which is made up of four junior college transfers and four high school players. Highlighting this group of talented newcomers is Jared Quayle who is the third Junior College All-American to sign with Utah State in the last four years along with Wilkinson and Chaz Spicer. As a sophomore at Western Wyoming Community College, Quayle ranked fifth in the nation in scoring at 24.4 points per game and scored in double-figures in 30 contests, including 19 20-point outings. He also averaged 7.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.4 steals per game and shot 51.2 percent from the field, 50.0 percent from three-point range and 76.7 percent from the free throw line. Along with Quayle, Utah State signed two other junior college transfers who will be looked upon to make impacts this fall in Richard Sirju and Stavon Williams. Sirju earned second-team all-conference honors twice at Daytona Beach (Fla.) Community College. During his sophomore season, he scored in double-figures 23 times, had 12 20-point games and finished the year averaging 19.5 points per game, while 39.4 percent from the field, 39.8 percent from three-point range and 77.3 percent from the free throw line. Williams earned all-region honors as a sophomore at San Jacinto (Texas) Junior College after averaging 15.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and shooting 49.4 percent from the field, 43.5 percent from three-point range and 72.2 percent from the free throw line. The fourth JC transfer is a local product in junior forward Clint Lee who spent the 2007-08 season at Eastern Utah. As a prep senior at Sky View High School, Lee averaged 13.0 points and 5.7 rebounds and earned first-team all-state honors. The remaining newcomers to the program include a talented group of freshmen in guards Dominique Cooks, Deremy Geiger and Skyler Halford, and forward Brady Jardine. Cooks was named the Illawarra Basketball Association Player of the Year in 2008 in Australia after averaging approximately 17.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. Geiger was named the Sunrise Region Most Valuable Player in 2008 as he averaged 25.0 points, 6.1 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game and shot 49.3 percent from the field, 36.7 percent from three-point range and 88.2 percent from the free throw line as a prep senior at Canyon Springs HS in Las Vegas, Nev. Halford earned second-team all-state honors as a prep senior at Timpanogos HS in Orem, Utah as he finished the season as the second-leading scorer in 5A with 23.6 points per game and shot 50.0 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from three-point range. And Jardine was named the Idaho Gatorade and 5A Player of the Year as a prep senior in 2006 at Twin Falls High School as he averaged 17.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.8 blocks per game.
UTAH STATE NO LONGER CALIFORNIA DREAMING
For the second straight season, Utah State does not have a single player from the state of California on its roster. The 2007-08 season marked the first time since the 1993-94 season, a span of 14 years, that Utah State did not have a player from California on its roster. Since the 1994 season, USU has had a total of 45 players from the "Golden State", including a single-season high of seven during the 2003-04 campaign.
UTAH STATE TRADITION
•Over the last nine years, Utah State has averaged 24.7 wins and is one of just three schools in the nation to win at least 23 games in each of those seasons joining Gonzaga and Kansas.
•Over the past nine years, Utah State has won four regular season conference championships and four tournament championships.
•Utah State has advanced to nine straight postseason appearances, which is a school record, going to the NCAA Tournament in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2006 and to the National Invitation Tournament in 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2008.
•Over the last nine years, Utah State has gone 18-5 (.783) in conference postseason tournaments and has advanced to the championship game seven times.
•The Aggies have won 23-plus games in each of the last nine seasons, which is a school record, bettering the old mark of three straight 20-win seasons from 1962-64.
•During the 2007-08 season, Utah State recorded the fifth-most wins in school history (24) and advanced to postseason play for the 26th time.
•During the 2007-08 season, Utah State led the nation in field goal shooting at 51.4 percent and free throw shooting at 79.2 percent, becoming just the fourth team in NCAA history to lead the nation in both statistical categories.
•Over the past nine seasons, Utah State has gone 222-73 overall and 116-36 in conference play. Those 222 wins are the seventh-most in the country over that time period, while its 75.3 percent winning percentage is the fifth-best in the country.
•The 1999-2000 team set a school record with 28 wins and went a perfect 19-0 in the Big West Conference, marking only the third time in league history a team has gone undefeated.
•The 2000-01 team tied the school record for wins (28) and recorded Utah State's first NCAA Tournament win in 31 years with a 77-68 overtime victory against Ohio State.
•From 2000-2001, Utah State won 26-straight Big West games, which is the fourth-longest winning streak in the history of the conference.
•Over the last nine years, Utah State has recorded nine of the 11 winningest seasons in school history.
•Over the past nine years, Utah State has had three All-American selections, 15 first-team all-conference selections, 25 all-conference selections (first and second team) and 30 conference player of the week honorees, not to mention Coach Morrill being named the league's Coach of the Year on two separate occasions.
Nate Bendall RESIGNS WITH UTAH STATE
Utah State head men's basketball coach Stew Morrill announced Wednesday, Nov. 12 that Nate Bendall (Salt Lake City, Utah) has signed a National Letter of Intent to rejoin the Aggie program beginning in the 2009-2010 season. Bendall will have two years of eligibility at USU. Bendall, a 6-8, 245-pound forward, is currently a sophomore at Salt Lake Community College and is averaging 17.5 points and 5.5 rebounds through two games this year. In SLCC's season opener, he scored 25 points going 8-of-11 from the field and 9-of-13 from the free throw line. As a freshman at Utah State during the 2005-06 season, Bendall averaged 2.4 points and 1.5 rebounds in 13 games, while shooting 72.2 percent from the field (13-18). Following the 2005-06 campaign, Bendall served a one-year LDS Service Mission in Nauvoo, Ill. Bendall prepped at Skyline High School in Salt Lake City where he earned first-team all-state honors. As a senior, he averaged nearly 18 points and nine rebounds, and shot 54 percent from the field and 78 percent from the free throw line as he led Skyline to an 18-5 record and to the semifinals of the 5A state tournament. Along with Utah State, Bendall was also being recruited by Boise State, Colorado State, Montana and Montana State.
FROM THE STATE OF UTAH
Aggie players from the state of Utah include senior forward Gary Wilkinson (South Jordan/Bingham), junior forward Clint Lee (North Logan/Sky View HS), junior guard Jared Quayle (Perry/Box Elder HS), sophomore guard Tyler Newbold (Payson/Payson HS), sophomore forward Tai Wesley (Provo/Provo HS), redshirt freshman guard Jaxon Myaer (Salt Lake City/Judge Memorial HS), and freshman guard Skyler Halford (Orem/Timpanogos HS). The seven players from the state of Utah on the 2008-09 roster are the most on a USU team since the 1988-89 squad also had seven in-state players on its roster.
HEAD COACH Stew Morrill
In 23 seasons as a collegiate head coach and 10 years at Utah State, Stew Morrill became the winningest coach in school history on Jan. 17, 2008 in the Aggies' 82-78 win against Boise State, passing E. Lowell Romney (1920-41) who won 225 games in 22 seasons. In his 11th year at USU, Morrill has taken the Aggie Basketball program to unprecedented heights leading it to an incredible 238-86 (.735) record, including a 124-44 (.738) conference mark in the Big West and WAC. While at Utah State, he has guided the Aggies to nine straight 23-win seasons and nine straight postseason appearances (NCAA-5, NIT-4), both of which are school records. Morrill has also led Utah State to the fifth-best winning percentage in the nation during the last nine years at 75.3 percent with an overall record of 223-73. Against conference opponents, Utah State has a 142-50 record with four regular season league championships and four tournament titles during that time, including appearances in its league's tournament championship game seven times in the last nine years. Under Morrill, Utah State has notched eight of the top 10 seasons in school history during the last nine years as the Aggies set a school record with 28 wins during the 2000 season, tied that record with 28 wins during the 2001 season and notched the fifth-most wins in school history during the 2008 season with 24 victories. During the 2007-08 season, Morrill guided Utah State to a share of its first-ever Western Athletic Conference regular season championship. The 2007-08 Aggie basketball team also set a school record by shooting 79.2 percent from the free throw line, which led the nation. USU also led the nation in field goal shooting at 51.4 percent and became just the fourth team in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in both field goal and free throw shooting in the same year. For the ninth straight year, USU had at least one player earn first-team all-league accolades as Jaycee Carroll was named the WAC Player of the Year in 2008. Overall, Morrill has coached 10 first-team all-league players at Utah State who have won the award a total of 15 times. Morrill has also taken full advantage of the home court at USU, the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. In Morrill's 11 years, USU is an amazing 143-12 (.923) at home, which includes a 76-8 (.905) record in league play. As for Morrill, he has won 20 or more games on 13 different occasions during his career, and he has won at least 17 games 19 times. Overall, Morrill ranks 23rd in the nation among active coaches and 96th all-time with his 456 career wins, while his career winning percentage of 67.1 percent ranks 28th among active coaches and 100th all-time. He is also one of 27 active coaches with 400 career wins at the Division I level and one of just 13 active coaches to notch at least 13 20-win seasons. His current streak of nine straight 20-win seasons ranks ninth among active coaches and is tied for the 13th-longest streak ever at the Division I level. Morrill has also been named Coach of the Year (2000 BWC, 2002 BWC) twice in his eight years at USU, along with winning the Big Sky award while the head coach at Montana in 1991.
• Head coach Stew Morrill (238-86) is the winningest coach in school history and is second all-time in games coached (324) behind the legendary E. Lowell Romney (382). Morrill is also the longest tenured coach at Utah State (entering 11th season) since the H. Cecil Baker era (1951-61).
• Entering his 11th season with the Aggies, Morrill has a 238-86 (.735) overall record, a 124-44 (.738) conference record and an 18-6 (.750) record in conference postseason play. Overall, Morrill owns a 456-224 (.671) record in 23 years as a collegiate head coach.
• Among active coaches at the Division I level, Morrill ranks 22nd in the nation with his 456 career wins and 27th in winning percentage at 67.1 percent.
• Morrill is one of just 33 active coaches with 400 career wins at the Division I level and one of just 13 active coaches to notch 13 20-win seasons, while his current streak of nine straight 20-win seasons is tied for the eighth-longest in the nation.
• Morrill has been named conference coach of the year three times during his career, winning the award in 1991 while at Montana, and in 2000 and 2002 while at Utah State.
• Morrill has coached 10 first-team all-league players who have won the award a total of 15 times. Those players are Shawn Daniels (twice), Troy Rolle, Bernard Rock, Tony Brown, Desmond Penigar (twice), Mark Brown, Cardell Butler, Nate Harris (three times), Spencer Nelson and Jaycee Carroll (twice).
• Utah State is 143-12 (.923) in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum under Morrill.
• Morrill has led Utah State to nine straight 20-win seasons and nine straight postseason appearances, both of which are school records.
• Morrill led Utah State to its first NCAA Tournament win in 31 years when USU defeated fifth-seeded Ohio State 77-68 in overtime during the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
• Morrill has been involved in postseason action 12 times in his career, including the NCAA Tournament at Utah State in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2006 and the National Invitation Tournament in 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2008.
