Nov. 29, 2013
Watch Live | Live Stats | Listen Live | Coach Morrill Quotes
LOGAN, Utah -
USU MBB Notes - vs BYU
(RV) Utah State (5-0, 0-0 MW) vs BYU (5-2, 0-0 West Coast)
Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013 • 7 p.m. (MT) • Salt Lake City, Utah
Energy Solutions Arena (19,911)
Aggie Sports Radio Network • BYUtv
GAME DAY HEADLINES
• Utah State (5-0, 0-0 MW) wraps up its three games in seven days by traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah to square off with Brigham Young (5-2, 0-0 West Coast) played at EnergySolutions Arena (19,911) on Saturday, Nov. 30 in a 7 p.m. (MT) tip-off. Saturday's Beehive State battle between the Aggies and Cougars will be nationally televised on BYU TV. Saturday's match-up between USU and BYU will also be aired on the radio and audio streamed online on the Aggie Sports Network, as well as video streamed online through on USU's website, www.UtahStateAggies.com.
• The Aggies have an overall record of 1,505-1,032 (.593) in their 2,537 games played in their 109th season of basketball. USU became the 52nd team in NCAA history to reach the 1,500 total win plateau.
• Utah State is among others receiving votes in this week's USA Today/Coaches Top 25 Poll for the second week in a row. After receiving one vote in last week's USA Today/Coaches Poll, the Aggies received five votes this week to rank tied for 42nd in the nation.
• As of Nov. 29, Utah State has an RPI of 34. The RPI (Rating Percentage Index) is a measure of strength of schedule and how a team does against that schedule.
• Utah State is 5-0 to start a season for the first time in six years (2008-09) and for the fifth time in Stew Morrill's 16 seasons as head coach... USU is off to its 20th 5-0 start in the 109 years of men's basketball.
• USU is seeking not only its first 6-0 start in Stew Morrill's 16 seasons as head coach, but the Aggies are pursuing their eighth 6-0 start in school history in their 109 years of basketball.
• USU won 34 of its last 43 overall games (.791) against in-state opponents and is 42-13 (.764) against the state of Utah in the last 14 years. During that time period, USU is 7-6 versus Brigham Young, 7-4 versus Utah, 13-3 versus Weber State, 8-0 against Utah Valley and 7-0 against Southern Utah. Overall, USU is 42-18 (.700) versus teams from the state of Utah under head coach Stew Morrill.
• Utah State and Brigham Young will be meeting for the 230th time this weekend, extending the oldest rivalry in USU history. The Aggies trail in the all-time series, 137-92, in what is USU's oldest and most-played series in school history, with BYU holding a 1-0 neutral court edge, winning the match-up at EnergySolutions Arena on Dec. 6, 2008. The first game played in the series was on Feb. 23, 1906 with BYU winning 21-14. Overall, the Aggies have won seven of their last 12 games against the Cougars.
• Saturday is USU's first neutral site game of the season, and Utah State has a 36-21 (.632) record in neutral court games under under Morrill. Utah State is 3-3 all-time at EnergySolutions Arena and just the second under head coach Stew Morrill, with the other game coming in the 1998-99 season, Morrill's first year as USU's head coach.
• Utah State is 56-18 (.757) during the month of November under Morrill, having won its last eight games overall in the 11th month. USU has a 6-7 record in known games played on Nov. 30, losing its last two games on the date.
• Utah State has made at least one three-point basket in 234 straight games and the last time USU did not make a three-pointer in a game was on Dec. 16, 2006 in Provo as BYU defeated the Aggies, 75-62. USU entered that game having made at least one three-pointer in 127 games dating back to Dec. 14, 2002 when BYU held USU without a three-pointer in a 66-56 win in Provo.
• USU senior guard Preston Medlin recently became the 36th player in USU history to reach the 1,000 career points plateau, and enters Saturday needing four points for the No. 31 spot held by Vince Washington (1984-85) with 1,049 points, as well as six points for the No. 30 spot held by Desmond Penigar (2002-03) with 1,051 and 20 points for the No. 29 spot held by Gary Wilkinson (2008-09) with 1,065 points.
ON TAP
Utah State (5-0, 0-0 MW) wraps up its three games in seven days by traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah to square off with Brigham Young (5-2, 0-0 West Coast) played at EnergySolutions Arena (19,911) on Saturday, Nov. 30 in a 7 p.m. (MT) tip-off. It will be USU's second game in a row against an in-state foe, after playing at Weber State on Tuesday. Saturday's Beehive State battle between the Aggies and Cougars will be nationally televised on BYU TV (Ch. 21 / Ch. 647 HD Comcast; Ch. 9403 on Dish Network; Ch. 68 or 374 on DirecTV in Cache Valley). Dave McCann will handle the play-by-play, with analysis by Blaine Fowler and Lauren Francom as the sideline reporter. Saturday's match-up between USU and BYU will also be aired on the radio and audio streamed online on the Aggie Sports Network, as well as video streamed online through on USU's website, www.UtahStateAggies.com. Live stats will also be available through "Live Stats" link, and updates will also be available on Twitter - @Aggiehoops.
WHAT'S UP NEXT?
Utah State returns to the friendly confines of the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum to open a season-long six-game homestand, opening with Pacific on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. USU will then host another in-state foe in Utah Valley on Saturday, Dec. 14, also at 7 p.m., before hosting the Basketball Travelers, Inc., Classic, Sponsored by Gossner Foods on Dec. 19-21.
ON THE AIRWAVES
Utah State basketball games are broadcast on the Aggie Sports Network on KVNU (610 AM/102.1 FM) and KLZX (95.9 FM) in Logan, on KZNS (1280 AM) in Salt Lake City, KVEL (920 AM) in Vernal, KRPX (95.3 FM) in Price, 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 former USU head coach and athletics director Rod Tueller serves as the analyst during home games and select road games.
LISTEN LIVE ON THE INTERNET
Fans can also listen to all Utah State men's basketball games on the Internet by clocking on the "Listen Live" link at www.utahstateaggies.com, the official web site of USU athletics.
ON TV
The Beehive State battle will be nationally televised on BYU TV (Ch. 21 / Ch. 647 HD Comcast; Ch. 9403 on Dish Network; Ch. 68 or 374 on DirecTV in Cache Valley). Dave McCann will handle the play-by-play, with analysis by Blaine Fowler and Lauren Francom as the sideline reporter.
LIVE VIDEO ON THE INTERNET
Select Utah State home games and road games where available are streamed on the Internet by clicking on the "Watch Live" link at www.UtahStateAggies.com, the official web site of USU athletics. Tuesday's game will be streamed online through BigSky.tv.
LIVE STATS
Live stats for all USU home games are available via "Gametracker" links at www.utahstateaggies.com, the official web site of USU athletics. Road games will be under "live stats" links at www.utahstateaggies.com, which will redirect fans to the home team's stat system.
BEING SOCIAL
Utah State men's basketball news and information is available on twitter @Aggiehoops. Fans can also get USU men's basketball highlights on youtube at youtube/UtahStateAthletics. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics, on facebook at facebook.com/USUAthletics, or on Instagram at instagram.com/USUAthletics.
A GLANCE AT UTAH STATE
Utah State men's basketball is entering its first season in Mountain West with four returning starters as part of eight returning lettermen from last year's squad that started out 14-1, but lost all three of its returning starters to season-ending injuries by mid-season, as USU finished 21-10 overall and 11-7 in Western Athletic Conference play. Last year was USU's eighth and final season in the WAC before joining the Mountain West on July 1, 2013. The 2012-13 campaign was USU's 14th-straight 21-win season, as Utah State is just one of just five teams in the country to win at least 21 games in each of the past 14 seasons along with Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Syracuse. Furthermore, it was the 23rd time in school history that USU had won 20 or more games in a season.
The 2013-14 edition of Aggie men's basketball is veteran-led with four seniors returning in guard/forward Spencer Butterfield, guards Preston Medlin and TeNale Roland and center Jarred Shaw. A fifth senior, forward Sean Harris, is still recovering from a knee injury that kept him out all of last season, and his progress continues in the early going this season.
LOOKING AT UTAH STATE
Utah State is among others receiving votes in this week's USA Today/Coaches Top 25 Poll for the second week in a row. After receiving one vote in last week's USA Today/Coaches Poll, the Aggies received five votes this week to rank tied for 42nd in the nation.
USU is off to a 5-0 start to the season for the first time since 2008-09 after four players in double-figures boosted Utah State to a hard-fought 77-71 win at Weber State Tuesday night at WSU's Dee Events Center. The Aggies improved to 5-0 for the first time since 2008-09 with the win Tuesday, which was USU head coach Stew Morrill's 500th game at the helm of the Aggie program. Sophomore forward Kyle Davis posted 18 points and 14 rebounds, both career-highs for his USU time, matching his overall career-best for rebounds from his one season at Southern Utah, for his first double-double of the season and second of his career. Davis tallied 14 points and nine rebounds in the second half, helping USU rally from a 33-31 halftime deficit. At one point in the second half, Davis scored eight of USU's points in a row and 12 of its 14. Senior center Jarred Shaw tallied a team-high 20 points, netting 12 in the first half, while adding four rebounds and two blocks, notching his second 20-point game this season. Fellow senior guard/forward Spencer Butterfield tallied 12 points after halftime on the way to finishing with 14 points, while senior guard Preston Medlin logged 13 points and dished out seven assists, tallying a season-high helpers for the second game in a row.
The Aggies have three players averaging in double-figures for the season, led by Shaw with 16.4 points per game, while Medlin tallies 15.0 ppg and Butterfield logs 13.8 ppg. Shaw adds 7.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. He is shooting 54.7 percent (29-of-53) from the field as well as 85.7 percent (24-of-28) at the free throw line. Medlin adds 4.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game, shooting 45.3 percent (24-of-53) from the field, including 48.1 percent (13-of-27) from three-point range and 73.7 percent (14-of-19) at the charity stripe. Butterfield also averages 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per contest, shooting a team-best 52.6 percent (10-of-19) behind the arc, as part of 52.2 percent (24-of-46) field goal shooting, along with 78.6 percent (11-of-14) at the free pitch stripe. Davis adds 8.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, shooting a team-high 69.6 percent (16-of-23) field goal percentage, adding 9-of-17 (52.9 percent) at the free throw line. Davis also averaged 1.2 blocks per game.
As a team, USU is averaging 80.6 points per game, while making just over half of its field goalsat 50.2 percent (136-of-271), including 45.0 percent (36-of-80) from beyond, as well as 76.0 percent (95-of-125) at the free throw line. Defensively, the Aggies are limiting the opposition to 65.0 ppg, while holding them to 41.9 percent (117-of-279) field goal shooting, including just 25.9 percent (2-of-85) from three-point range, as well as 70.4 percent (69-of-98) at the charity stripe. USU has a +11.2 rebounding margin (38.8-27.6), while averaging 17.0 assists, 3.2 blocks and 3.0 steals per game.
AGGIES IN MW STATISTICS
Entering games on Nov. 29, Utah State is first in the Mountain West statistics in free throw percentage (.760) and rebounding margin (+11.2), while ranking second in field goal percentage (.502), three-point percentage (.450), assists (17.0) and assists-turnover ratio (1.60). USU is also third in scoring (80.6 ppg), scoring defense (65.0 ppg), scoring margin (+15.6), three-point field goal percentage defense (.259), fifth in rebounds (38.8), seventh in both field goal percentage defense (.419) and blocks (3.20) and 11th in steals (3.00).
Individually, sophomore forward Kyle Davis is first in the MW in field goal percentage (.696), senior guard Preston Medlin is first in assist-turnover ratio (4.0) and junior forward Ben Clifford is first in free throw percentage (1.000). See pg 4 for complete USU MW statistical rankings.
USU IN NCAA STATISTICS
Through the NCAA statistics released on Nov. 25, Utah State is tied for first in the NCAA in won-loss percentage, as well as seventh in three-point field goal percentage and 12th in the country in rebounding margin (+46.6). USU is also 19th in the nation in both three-point field goal percentage defense (.247) and assists per game (17.8), as well as 24th in assist-turnover ratio.
Individually, junior forward Ben Clifford is one of 19 players in the country with a perfect free throw percentage (1.000, 8-of-8), ranking tied for first in the nation. Sophomore guard Marcel Davis is 18th in the country in assist-turnover ratio (4.67).
USU's 5-0 STARTS UNDER COACH MORRILL
USU has now started a season 5-0 five times under head coach Stew Morrill, last doing so in 2008-09. Of the previous four times, the Aggies suffered a loss in the sixth game.
5-0 Seasons 6th Game Start1998-99 L 5-12001-02 L 5-12002-03 L 5-12008-09 L 5-12013-14 Saturday
GOING FOR EIGHTH 6-0 START IN 109 YEARS OF AGGIE BASKETBALL USU is seeking not only its first 6-0 start in Stew Morrill's 16 seasons as head coach, but the Aggies are pursuing their eighth 6-0 start in school history in their 109 years of basketball.
6-0 Seasons In USU History1913-141917-181921-221933-341934-351938-391961-621966-67
A LOOK BACK AT WEBER STATE GAME Four players in double-figures boosted Utah State men's basketball to a hard-fought 77-71 win at Weber State Tuesday night at WSU's Dee Events Center. The Aggies improved to 5-0 for the first time since 2008-09 with the win Tuesday, which was USU head coach Stew Morrill's 500th game at the helm of the Aggie program. USU's 5-0 start is its fifth in Morrill's 16 seasons leading the Aggies, as well as the 20th 5-0 start in the 109 years of Utah State men's basketball. Morrill is now 371-129 (.742) at USU, and is the winningest coach in school history and first all-time in games coaches (500). Weber State, which was playing in its home-opener Tuesday, is 0-3 on the young season. USU has now won 12 of the last 14 games against WSU, improving to 40-26 all-time against the Wildcats. Utah State has also won 34 of its last 43 games against in-state opponents and is now 42-13 against teams from the state of Utah during the last 14 seasons. Sophomore forward
Kyle Davis posted 18 points and 14 rebounds, both career-highs for his USU time, matching his overall career-best for rebounds from his one season at Southern Utah, for his first double-double of the season and second of his career. Davis tallied 14 points and nine rebounds in the second half, helping USU rally from a 33-31 halftime deficit. At one point in the second half, Davis scored eight of USU's points in a row and 12 of its 14. Senior center
Jarred Shaw tallied a team-high 20 points, netting 12 in the first half, while adding four rebounds and two blocks, notching his second 20-point game this season. Fellow senior guard/forward
Spencer Butterfield tallied 12 points after halftime on the way to finishing with 14 points, while senior guard
Preston Medlin logged 13 points and dished out seven assists, tallying a season-high helpers for the second game in a row. It's Shaw's fourth double-digit scoring outing this season and 30th of his 36 career games. Butterfield has now logged double-digit points in all five games this season and 23rd of his career. For Medlin, it was his fourth double-digit game of the season and 49th of his career. USU shot a scorching 63.0 percent (17-of-27) from the field in the second half on the way to finishing the night at 50.9 percent (29-of-57), marking the third time this season that the Aggies made at least half of their shots. Utah State made a season-low two three-pointers on the way to 2-of-7 (28.6 percent) behind the arc. USU also was 17-of-22 (77.7 percent) at the free throw line. Weber State had three players in double-digits, led by Davion Berry's game-high 21 points, while Jeremy Senglin added 14 points and Kyle Tresnak tallied 10. Joel Bolomboy and Kyndahl Hill collected eight rebounds apiece. The Wildcats made exactly half of their field goals (27-of-54), while netting one-third of their three-pointers (4-of-12). WSU was also 13-of-21 (61.9 percent) at the charity stripe. Utah State tied its season-low with seven turnovers for its third single-digit turnover outing this season. The Aggie defense forced 10 WSU turnovers. USU also had a 33-29 rebounding edge, out-rebounding its opponent for the fourth game in a row. The Aggies hit their first five shots of the night, en route to building up a 14-5 lead after a 10-0 run, with Medlin, Davis and Shaw scoring four points apiece during the spurt. Weber State later rallied and took a 24-23 lead at the 7:16 mark after a free throw by Tresnak, and the Wildcats extended their lead to 30-25 on a Senglin layup with 4:26 to go in the half. A pair of free throws by sophomore guard
Marcel Davis pulled USU within 32-31 with 1:10 left before Hill hit a charity stripe with eight ticks left for the 33-31 halftime score. A Berry jumper opened a 41-36 lead for the Wildcats just over three minutes into the second half. However the Aggies clawed away at the gap and took the lead at 50-49 on a Butterfield layup at the 10:21 mark and USU didn't trail again, fighting off several ties, before taking the lead for good on a bucket by
Kyle Davis with 6:58 remaining. The Aggies stretched the advantage to 69-61 with 2:43 on the game clock and held off a Wildcats' rally, getting a pair of Butterfield free throws with 8.2 ticks to play to secure the 77-71 win.
POST-GAME NOTES FROM WEBER STATE GAME
TEAM NOTES * Utah State had four players score in double-figures for the second time this year also doing so against USC.
* Utah State shot over 50 percent from the field for the third time this year (.509) as it tied its season-high with its 29 made field goals.
* Utah State made a season-low two three-pointers, which are its fewest in its past 15 games dating back to last season when it made just one three-pointer against Denver on Feb. 14, 2013 at home.
* Utah State tied its season-low with seven turnovers and has now committed single digit turnovers three times this season. USU also had a season-low 14 assists.
* Utah State out-rebounded its fourth-straight opponent this season as it had a 33-29 rebound advantage against Weber State.
* Weber State's 71 points are a season-high for an Aggie opponent, and the Wildcats are the first USU opponent this year to shot at least 50 percent from the field (.509).
PLAYER NOTES * Senior center Jarred Shaw scored in double-figures for the fourth time this year and 30th time in his career with his 20 points. It was also his second 20-point game this year and sixth of his career.
* Senior guard Preston Medlin scored in double-figures for the fourth time this year and 49th time in his career with his 13 points. Medlin also had a season-high seven assists and tied his season-high with 34 minutes played.
* Sophomore forward Kyle Davis scored in double-figures for the second time this year and 11th time in his career with his season-high 18 points. He also tied his career-high with 14 rebounds for his first double-double of the season and second of his career.
* Senior guard/forward Spencer Butterfield scored in double-figures for the fifth time this year and 23rd time in his career with his 14 points. Overall, it is his eighth-straight double-figure scoring game dating back to last season.
SCOUTING BYU
The Cougars are 5-2 on the season, after going 1-1 at the CBE Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, Mo., beating Texas, 86-82, on Monday and No. 12 Wichita State, 75-62, on Tuesday. Junior guard Matt Carlino led BYU with 21 points against Wichita State, while fellow junior guard Tyler Haws added 17 points, including 11-of-11 at the free throw line, and freshman forward Eric Mika added 10 points. Junior forward Nate Austin pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds before getting ejected with 45.3 seconds left for a flagrant #2 foul. On the season, Haws leads BYU with 24.2 points per game, making 39.3 percent (35-of-89) of his field goals, 46.2 percent (6-of-13) behind the arc and 83.3 percent (45-of-54) at the free throw line. Haws also averages 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 assists per game. Carlino adds 19.1 ppg, making a team-high 14-of-41 (34.1 percent) three-pointers, as part of 39.8 percent (49-of-123) from the field and 68.8 percent (22-of-32) at the charity stripe. He also averages 5.0 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. Mika adds 13.1 ppg to go with 4.7 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game, while sophomore guard Kyle Collinsworth is the fourth Cougar with double-figure scoring averages with 11.9 ppg, adding 8.4 rebounds, as well as a team-leading 5.3 assists per contest, along with 1.6 steals per game. Austin leads BYU with 9.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. Overall, BYU is averaging 88.7 points per game, while shooting 45.9 percent (219-of-477) from the field, 35.8 percent (39-of-109) three-point shooting and 67.3 percent (144-of-214) at the free throw line. The Cougars have a +3.3 rebounding advantage (43.9-40.6). The BYU defense is holding the opposition to 40.6 percent (191-of-471) field goal shooting, 29.9 percent (55-of-184) from three-point range and 69.9 percent (121-of-173) at the free pitch stripe. BYU also averages 17.0 assists, 3.2 blocks, 3.0 steals per game, while committing 10.4 turnovers per game.
UTAH STATE VS. BRIGHAM YOUNG RIVALRY OLDEST IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Utah State and Brigham Young will be playing for the 230th time this week in what is the oldest rivalry in school history. USU's first game against BYU was during the 1905-06 season.
AGGIES VS. COUGARS SERIES HISTORY
Utah State and Brigham Young will be meeting for the 230th time this week, extending the oldest rivalry in USU history. The Aggies trail in the all-time series 137-92, but holds a 59-51 advantage at home, while BYU holds an 85-32 advantage at Provo as well as holding a 1-0 neutral court edge, winning the previous match-up between USU and BYU at EnergySolutions Arena on Dec. 6, 2008. The first game played in the series was on Feb. 23, 1906 with BYU winning, 21-14. USU and BYU last met last season on Feb. 19, 2013 in Provo, after the meeting originally scheduled for Dec. 5 was postponed due to medical situation with USU player Danny Berger. Overall, USU has won seven of its last 12 games against the Cougars.
VERSUS THE WEST COAST CONFERENCE
Utah State is playing its first West Coast Conference opponent this season, but the first of back-to-back games against WCC teams, as the Aggies' next game is against Pacific on Saturday, Dec. 7. Overall, USU is 172-180 (.489) against current members of the West Coast Conference as it has a 92-137 record against BYU, a 44-23 mark versus Pacific, a 13-2 record against Portland, a 5-4 record against St. Mary's, a 4-1 record against Gonzaga, a 5-3 record against Santa Clara, a 2-0 record against both San Diego and Loyola Marymount, a 2-2 record against Pepperdine and a 3-8 record against San Francisco. USU head coach Stew Morrill is 42-31 (.575) all-time versus current members of the West Coast Conference including a 15-12 (.556) record at USU, as well as 7-8 against BYU. All-time, Morrill is 14-15 against the Cougars, which includes a 7-7 record while at Colorado State as well as during his time at USU.
UTAH STATE VERSUS THE STATE OF UTAH
USU won 34 of its last 43 overall games (.791) against in-state opponents and is 42-13 (.764) against the state of Utah in the last 14 years. During that time period, USU is 7-6 versus Brigham Young, 7-4 versus Utah, 13-3 versus Weber State, 8-0 against Utah Valley and 7-0 against Southern Utah. Overall, USU is 42-18 (.700) versus teams from the state of Utah under head coach Stew Morrill.
BEEHIVE STATE BUNCH
The Aggies have six players from the state of Utah in junior forward Ben Clifford (South Jordan/Bingham HS), junior center Jordan Stone (Smithfield/Sky View HS) and sophomore guard Marcel Davis (American Fork/American Fork HS), along with sophomore forward Kyle Davis (Draper/Alta HS/Southern Utah), freshman forward Jalen Moore (Smithfield/Sky View HS), and freshman guard Terrell Young (Salt Lake City/Judge Memorial HS).
BYU has seven players from Utah in freshman forward Eric Mika (Alpine/Lone Peak HS), junior guard Tyler Haws (Alpine/Lone Peak HS), sophomore guard Kyle Collinsworth (Provo/Provo HS), junior forward Josh Sharp (Highland/Lone Peak HS/Utah), sophomore guard Andrew Johnston (St. George/Snow Canyon HS) and junior forward Nate Austin (Alpine/Lone Peak HS).
UTAH STATE-BYU CONNECTIONS
• USU senior guard/forward Spencer Butterfield was born in Provo, Utah and both of his parents, Darren and Jerilyn Butterfield, along with his grandparents are BYU alum. • BYU director of operations Cody Fueger is in his first year at BYU after one season at Utah State in the same role.
USU LAST MEETING AGAINST BYU - Feb. 19, 2013
PROVO, Utah - Junior guard/forward Spencer Butterfield had 21 points including two free throws to tie the game at 68-all in the final minute, but BYU's Craig Cusick scored the winning basket with 0:00.2 remaining following an offensive rebound to lead the Cougars to a 70-68 home win against Utah State inside the Marriott Center Tuesday night. Utah State, who also lost to Denver, 63-60, on a buzzer-beating three-pointer in overtime five days earlier, falls to 18-7 with the loss. BYU improves to 20-8 on the season with the win. Butterfield added 14 rebounds for his sixth double-double in the last eight games, and added five assists Tuesday, as he shot 6-of-16 from the field, 2-of-8 from three-point range and 7-for-8 at the free throw line. Junior center Jarred Shaw added 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots, while junior guard Marvin Jean scored 11 points to go along with four rebounds and a season-high tying four assists. Sophomore center Jordan Stone added a career-high nine points to go along with a career-best four blocked shots. Tyler Haws scored a game-high 27 points to lead BYU, while Brandon Davies and Brock Zylstra added 10 points apiece. Trailing 60-51 with 7:54 to play, Utah State used an 11-4 run to close within 64-62 at the 3:58 mark. BYU extended its lead back to five at 68-63 with 1:48 to play only to see USU score five-straight points on a Jean three-pointer and Butterfield's two free throws to tie the game with 0:57.1 seconds to play. However, BYU never gave up possession of the ball after that as they grabbed two offensive rebounds in the final 0:32 including one that led to the winning basket. Utah State finished the game shooting 44.2 percent (23-of-52), including 23.8 percent from three-point range (5-of-21) and 63.0 percent at the free throw line (17-of-27). BYU shot just 35.2 percent (19-of-54), including just 19.0 percent from three (4-of-21), but shot 84.8 percent at the charity stripe (28-of-33). USU also out-rebounded BYU by six (39-33) and had six more blocked shots (8-2) to go along with four more assists (14-10), while also committing six more turnovers (18-12). The Aggies also had a 28-14 points in the paint advantage as well as a 14-10 bench points edge. In the final 20 minutes, USU held BYU to just 26.7 percent shooting (8-of-30), including just 10.0 percent from three (1-of-10), as the Aggies out-scored the Cougars, 36-29, following intermission. Utah State scored the first two points of the game on a steal and dunk by Shaw and led 4-3 after another Shaw basket. With the game tied at 7-all, BYU used a 6-0 run to go ahead 13-7 only to see USU score the next seven points to take its last lead of the game at 14-13 with 11:18 to play in the half. BYU answered USU's run with a 12-1 scoring spurt to take its largest lead of the half at 25-15 with 7:49 remaining. Utah State closed to within five at 28-23 at the 4:38 mark on a pair of TeNale Roland free throws, but couldn't get any closer as the home team went into halftime with a 41-32 advantage. Shaw led Utah State with 11 first-half points as USU shot 44.0 percent from the field (11-of-25), 15.4 percent from three-point range (2-of-13) and 53.3 percent at the free throw line (8-of-15). Haws had 17 points to lead BYU in the first 20 minutes as the Cougars shot 45.8 percent (11-of-24), including 27.3 percent from behind the arc (3-of-11) and 80.0 percent at the line (16-of-20). BYU held a lead of eight to 11 points for the first eight minutes of the second half and led 50-40 at the 13:32 mark before Utah State scored eight-straight points to get within two. BYU eventually pushed its lead back to nine at 60-51 with 7:54 to play before USU's final push to tie the game at 68-all in the final minute.
USU-BYU LAST MEETING AT SALT LAKE CITY - Dec. 6, 2008
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Brigham Young held off a late Utah State rally to deal the Aggies their first loss of the season, 68-63, at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City on Dec. 6, 2008. USU was led by senior forward Gary Wilkinson's 22 points and nine rebounds, while sophomore guard Tyler Newbold added 11 points and a career-high nine boards in leading the Aggies to a 39-27 rebounding advantage. Sophomore forward Tai Wesley added 12 points, six rebounds and four assists. BYU's Jonathan Tavernari tallied a game-high 24 points and tied the game-high with nine rebounds, while Jimmer Fredette added 16 points. The Aggie defense held BYU's leading scorer Lee Cummard to six points, 14 below his season average. Jackson Emery had a game-high five steals, while Tavernari added four swipes, part of BYU's 12 steals on the night, as USU had 17 turnovers compared to nine miscues for BYU. The Cougars jumped out to a 26-18 lead on a jumper by Gavin MacGregor with 9:24 left in the half and extended the lead to 36-26 with 3:46 remaining in the first frame on a Jackson three-pointer. The Aggies closed the half on a 9-2 run, as junior guard Jared Quayle started the surge with a three-pointer and ended it with a baseline jumper to cut the deficit to 38-35 at the break. To start the second half, Wilkinson and Quayle hit back-to-back buckets to put USU ahead, 39-38, but BYU later rallied to take a 52-45 lead with 10:13 left in the game on a MacGregor layup. USU closed to 62-60 with 1:03 remaining on a Wilkinson layup, but BYU held off the Aggies' rally. Newbold hit a three-pointer from the left wing with 7.1 seconds left to pull USU within, 65-63, but the Cougars hit three-of-four free throws in the waning seconds for the final scoring margin. The Aggies shot a season-low 40.4 percent (21-of-52) from the floor, including 5-of-22 (22.7 percent) from three-point range, also a season-low. USU was a season-best 84.2 percent (16-of-19) at the free throw line. The Cougars were 22-of-53 (41.5 percent) field goal shooting including 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) behind the arc. BYU hit 66.7 percent (16-of-24) at the charity stripe.
USU IN ENERGYSOLUTIONS ARENA
Utah State is 3-3 all-time at EnergySolutions Arena and will be playing its first game in the building since the 2008-09 season and just the second under head coach Stew Morrill, with the other game coming in the 1998-99 season, Morrill's first year as USU's head coach.
USU IN NOVEMBER
Utah State is 56-18 (.750) during the month of November under Morrill, having won its last eight games overall in the 11th month. USU has a 6-7 record in known games played on Nov. 30, losing its last two games on the date.
ALL FIVE BELOW 34 FROM THREE
Utah State has held all five of its opponents this year to less than 34 percent shooting from three-point range. UC Santa Barbara (11/16) and Weber State (11/26) are tied for the highest three-point percentage by an opponent this season at 33.3 percent (6-of-18 by UCSB / 4-of-12 by WSU), while USU limited Mississippi State (11/23) to 31.3 percent (5-of-16), Southern Utah (11/12) was held to 20.0 percent (3-of-15) and the Aggies held USC (11/8) to 16.7 percent (4-of-24). USU is currently third in the Mountain West in three-point field goal percentage defense (.259).
MEDLIN FOR 1,000 PLEASE, ALEX
With 18 points at UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 16, senior guard Preston Medlin became the answer to the Jeopardy question, `Who is the 36th member of the USU 1,000 Points Scored Club?', as Medlin currently now has 1,045 career points and climbed to No. 32 on the USU career scoring list. He has played in 80 career games, to nearly match his jersey number with a 13.1 career points per game average. Medlin became the 36th player in USU history to reach the 1,000 career points plateau, and the first since former teammate Tyler Newbold (2008-11), who is now at No. 34 on the list with 1,014 career points. Another former teammate, Tai Wesley (2008-11) is at No. 8 with 1,749 points. Medlin enters Saturday needing four points for the No. 31 spot held by Vince Washington (1984-85) with 1,049 points, as well as six points for the No. 30 spot held by Desmond Penigar (2002-03) with 1,051 and 20 points for the No. 29 spot held by Gary Wilkinson (2008-09) with 1,065 points.
USU CAREER Points (1,000-plus) Name Years Points1. Jaycee Carroll 2005-08 25222. Greg Grant 1983-86 21273. Wayne Estes 1963-65 20014. Brian Jackson 1978-81 19005. Cornell Green 1960-62 18906. Marvin Roberts 1969-71 18447. Kendall Youngblood 1989-92 17748. Tai Wesley 2008-11 17499. Tony Brown 1999-02 156410. Eric Franson 1991, 94-96 154511. Reid Newey 1984, 87-89 153612. Nate Harris 2003-06 147513. Dean Hunger 1977-80 147214. Kevin Nixon 1985-88 145615. Dan Conway 1986-89 139816. Mike Santos 1975-78 128717. Shaler Halimon 1967-68 128418. Spencer Nelson 1999, 03-05 128319. Bob Lauriski 1971-73 126620. Rich Haws 1973-75 125521. Jim Boatwright 1972-74 123822. Max Perry 1959-61 123623. Jay Goodman 1991-93 121524. Jimmy Moore 1973-75 116425. Bert Cook 1950-52 113326. Troy Collier 1963-64 110927. Jeff O. Anderson 1985-88 109528. Nate Williams 1970-71 108029. Gary Wilkinson 2008-09 106530. Desmond Penigar 2002-03 105131. Vince Washington 1984-85 104932. Preston Medlin 2010, 12- 104533. Pat Dunn 1953-56 101834. Tyler Newbold 2008-11 101435. Bill Hull 1951-54 100736. Bob Ipsen 1958-59 1001
DID YOU KNOW?
Utah State is 356-116 (.754) during the last 14 seasons which ranks as the fourth-best winning percentage and sixth-most wins in the nation during that time period. Furthermore, USU has averaged 25.4 wins during the last 13 seasons.
UTAH STATE AT THE HALF
After leading at halftime in its first four games of the season, USU found itself trailing at intermission in the fifth game of the season, at Weber State Tuesday. Utah State is 4-0 this season after going 18-0 during the 2012-13 season when leading at half and has won 88 of their last 90 games (.978) when leading at the break. Over the last 14 years, USU is 295-25 (.922) when holding a lead at intermission. On the flip side, Utah State is 1-0 this list when trailing at the break and is now a palindromic 48-84 (.364) when trailing at the half under head coach Stew Morrill.
UTAH STATE FROM THREE-POINT RANGE
Utah State has made at least one three-point basket in 234 straight games and the last time USU did not make a three-pointer in a game was on Dec. 16, 2006 in Provo as BYU defeated the Aggies, 75-62. USU entered that game having made at least one three-pointer in 127 games dating back to Dec. 14, 2002 when BYU held USU without a three-pointer in a 66-56 win in Provo.
UTAH STATE USUALLY WINS WHEN SCORING 70-PLUS POINTS
Utah State's magic number historically appears to be 70, as in 70 points. USU is 5-0 this season after going 15-0 during the 2012-13 regular season when it scored 70 or more points in a game before losing in the WAC Tournament quarterfinals after scoring 78. Overall, USU has won 96 of its last 102 games (.941), when reaching 70 points and is 238-31 (.885) all-time under head coach Stew Morrill when scoring 70 points in a game. On the flip side, USU is 26-50 (.342) when scoring less than 60 points under Morrill.
USU VERY SUCCESSFUL WHEN HOLDING ITS OPPONENTS UNDER 60 POINTS
Utah State is 1-0 this season after going 7-1 last season and has won 121 of its last 127 games (.952) when holding its opponents under 60 points. Overall, USU is 186-16 (.921) under Morrill when allowing fewer than 60 points in a game.
AGGIES OK IN OT
USU was 2-1 last season in overtime, getting a three-pointer in the waning seconds of regulation from junior guard Preston Medlin both against Idaho on Jan. 5 and against Santa Clara on Nov. 28, before getting beat on a buzzer-beating three-pointer in the Denver game. USU has now won seven of its last nine extra session games and Utah State is 54-41 (.569) all-time in overtime games.
80 PERCENT AT FREE PITCH STRIPE
Utah State has made 80.0 percent or better once so far in three games this season, making 89.5 percent (17-of-19) at UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 16. That was USU's best FT percentage since a perfect 10-of-10 (1.000) against Fresno State on Jan. 15, 2009. Last season, USU was 80.0 percent or better at the charity stripe in 10 games, going 7-3 when doing so. The Aggies shot over 80 percent in three of their last four regular-season games, including the last two, making USU's 87.5 percent on March 9 against UTSA, which was its third-highest of the season behind its season-high 88.9 percent against Western Oregon on Dec. 8 and its 88.2 percent versus LA Tech on Jan. 26.
AGGIES TO FACE FOUR IN-STATE FOES THIS SEASON
Utah State will face four of the other five Division I teams in the state of Utah, taking on in-state rival Brigham Young at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 30, as well as hosting in-state foes Southern Utah on Tuesday, Nov. 12 and Utah Valley on Saturday, Dec. 14, while playing at fellow Beehive State opponent Weber State on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
AGGIES BE REBOUNDING
USU has picked up right where it left off in the rebounding department from last season. After a -1 rebounding deficit in the USC game, the Aggies bounced back to double-up Southern Utah at +22 at 44-22 on Nov. 12, then posted a +13 advantage (38-25) at UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 16 before logging a +18 (41-23) versus Mississippi State on Nov. 23, and a +4 (33-29 at Weber State on Nov. 25.
Utah State's 22 rebounds allowed to SUU are its fewest since Denver has just 19 rebounds on Feb. 14, 2013, a span of 11 games, while its 22 rebound advantage is its largest since also out-rebounding Western Oregon by 22 (43-21) on Dec. 8, 2012, a span of 28 games.
Utah State is currently first in the Mountain West in rebounding margin (+11.2), as well as 12th in the NCAA stats as of Nov. 25.
Last year, USU finished the season ranked third in the NCAA and tops in the WAC for rebounding margin at +9.1. The Aggies' rebounding margin was helped by out-rebounding each of its last 15 opponents, going 7-8 over those 15 games. On the year, USU was 18-9 when out-rebounding its opponent.
DOUBLE-DIGIT REBOUNDING EDGE
Of the last 30 games that USU has out-rebounded its opponent, the Aggies have had a double-digit rebounding edge 19 times, including three games this season. Utah State is 15-4 (.789) during those 19 games when posting a double-digit rebounding advantage.
MEDLIN AMONG TOP 10 ALL-TIME AT UTAH STATE IN THREE-POINT SHOOTING
Senior guard Preston Medlin is shooting 41.8 percent from three-point range (156-373) during his Utah State career to rank fifth all-time in school history for three-point percentage, as well as climbing up the top 10 for three-pointers made, moving up to No. 7 with 156, passing former teammate and current Aggie graduate assistant Brian Green (2010-11) with 129, as well as becoming just the 10th player with 300 or more career three-point attempts, moving up to No. 7 with 373.
Three-Point Field Goals Made Name Years 3FG1. Jaycee Carroll 2005-08 3692. Tony Brown 1999-02 2833. Reid Newey 1984, 87-89 2374. Jay Goodman 1991-93 2095. Tyler Newbold 2008-11 1946. Justin Jones 1996-98 1837. Preston Medlin 2010, 12- 1568. Brian Green 2010-11 1299. Jared Quayle 2009-10 12810. Pooh Williams 2008-11 11711. Troy Rolle 1999-00 112
Three-Point FGs Attempted Name Years Att.1. Jaycee Carroll 2005-08 7932. Tony Brown 1999-02 6863. Jay Goodman 1991-93 5804. Reid Newey 1984, 87-89 5725. Tyler Newbold 2008-11 4776. Justin Jones 1996-98 4087. Preston Medlin 2010, 12- 3738. Pooh Williams 2008-11 3209. Jared Quayle 2009-10 31610. Troy Rolle 1999-00 30411. Brian Green 2010-11 268
Three-Point Pct. (Min. 50 Made) Name Years Pct.1. Brian Green 2010-11 .4832. Jaycee Carroll 2005-08 .4653. Justin Jones 1996-98 .4494. Kendall Youngblood 1989-92 .4485. Preston Medlin 2010, 12- .4186. Jeff O. Anderson 1985-88 .4157. Reid Newey 1984, 87-89 .4148. Tony Brown 1999-02 .4139. Vince Washington 1984-85 .41110. Tyler Newbold 2008-11 .40711. Jared Quayle 2009-10 .405 Kevin Nixon 1985-88 .405
SEVEN AGGIE NEWCOMERS FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW MOST SINCE 2008-09 Utah State has seven newcomers on the 2013-14 roster, marking the second year in a row for seven newcomers, after not having that many newcomers on the roster since 2008-09
NEW AGGIES
USU will welcome in a group of seven newcomers, with one sophomore and six freshmen.
The one sophomore is forward Kyle Davis, who transferred to USU after returning from his LDS Church Mission. Prior to his mission, Davis played at Southern Utah, where he averaged 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game overall, including 10.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in conference action. Davis also ranked second on the team overall in blocked shots with 31 (1.0 bpg). He started the last 15 games of the season and logged double-digits in nine of those games.
The six freshmen include four who can come in and contribute right away in forward Jalen Moore, center Carson Shanks, and guards JoJo McGlaston and Viko Noma'aea, while two others are walk-ons in forward James Croasdell and guard Terrell Young.
One of the new freshmen is a local talent with ties to Utah State in Moore, who is from Smithfield, Utah, where he was the Utah 4A MVP at Sky View HS in leading the Bobcats to the state title. Moore averaged 21.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game during his senior season. In the 4A semifinals vs. Bountiful, Moore drained a shot from near mid-court at the buzzer in OT for a 63-60 win, making ESPN's SportsCenter and tabbed as the No. 2 Play of the Day, as Sky View snapped Bountiful's 20-game winning streak.
Shanks comes to USU from Prior Lake, Minn., where he was a four-year letterwinner at Prior Lake High School. Shanks was a two-time all-conference honoree, averaging 12 points, eight rebounds and four blocks per game as a senior, ranking as the third-ranked prospect in the state of Minnesota.
McGlaston hails from Dublin, Calif., where he was a four-year letterwinner at Dublin High School, and was the Diablo Foothill Athletic League (DFAL) Player of the Year, as well as first-team all-Bay Area and first-team all-East Bay honors, in addition to second-team all-California Division II accolades. McGlaston led Dublin HS in scoring at 22.0 points per game in leading the Gaels to their first DFAL title since 1973. He added 7.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game, while shooting 58 percent from the field, including 38 percent from three-point range, netting a season-high 40 points in a game during the regular season while adding a NorCal Division II record 35 points, in Dublin's loss in the finals, while also pulling down 14 rebounds.
A native of Las Vegas, Nev., Noma'aea comes to USU after his LDS Church Mission. Noma'aea was a two-year starter at Sierra Vista Mountain High School in Las Vegas, Nev., and was a two-time first-team all-Nevada State Class 4A honoree, as well as earning first-team all-region honors, being named co-MVP of region. He also earned all-Sunset-Southwest League honors and was two-time team MVP for Sierra Vista. As a senior, Noama'aea averaged 17.7 points, 5.3 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game, helping the Mountain Lions to a state semifinal appearance. He netted 20-plus points in 13 games his senior season, including two over 30, highlighted by season-high 35. Noama'aea also recorded 17 games with five or more assists, including two with double-figure helpers, paced by season-high 11.
Young is a Beehive State product, coming to USU from Salt Lake City, where he was a two-year letterwinner at Judge Memorial High School. He averaged 9.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.6 steals per game in earning second-team all-Region 9 and honorable mention all-state accolades. Young also ranked second on the team in scoring and three-pointers, making 1.7 treys per game.
Croasdell comes to USU from Albuquerque, N.M., where he was a two-year letterwinner at Albuquerque High School. He earned all-District 5-5A honors as a senior after averaging 10.7 points, 13.9 rebounds, 4.1 blocks, 3.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game in helping the Bulldogs to a 16-11 overall and 7-3 league mark, falling in the state tournament quarterfinals. Croasdell will redshirt this season before going on his LDS Church Mission.
USU PICKED FIFTH IN MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
Utah State men's basketball has been picked fifth in the 2013-14 Mountain West Conference Preseason Media Poll, as selected by a voting panel comprised of Conference media.
Defending Mountain West regular-season and tournament champion New Mexico is the overwhelming preseason favorite to win the MW men's basketball regular-season title again in 2013-14. The Lobos received 23 of 24 first-place votes and 263 points to garner the top spot in the poll. UNLV claimed the remaining first-place vote and 214 points to tie with Boise State at the second spot, while San Diego State garnered 212 points for the No. 4 spot.
Mountain West newcomer Utah State collected 156 points for fifth, followed by Colorado State in sixth (142 points) and Wyoming (112 points) in seventh. Rounding out the poll were Fresno State (96 points) in eighth, Nevada (84 points) in ninth, Air Force (61 points) in 10th and MW newcomer San José State (30 points) in 11th.
The MW also announced a Preseason all-Mountain West team, and due to a tie in the balloting, six players were chosen, led by Preseason Player of the Year, New Mexico senior guard Kendall Williams. Also on the preseason team was New Mexico junior center Alex Kirk, along with Boise State junior guards Anthony Drmic and Derrick Marks, as well as Nevada senior guard Deonte Burton and UNLV junior forward Khem Birch.
San Diego State senior forward Josh Davis garnered Preseason Newcomer of the Year accolades, while UNLV guard Kendall Smith was tabbed as the Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Last season, the Mountain West sent a league-record five teams to the NCAA Tournament, and the league was ranked as the number one RPI conference in the country. With five of its nine teams earning bids to the 2013 NCAA Tournament, the Mountain West had the highest percentage at 56 percent of its teams included in the Big Dance of any of the 31 conferences. The Mountain West was also one of six conferences with five or more teams participating in March Madness in 2013.
MEDLIN NAMED TO BOB COUSY AWARD WATCH LIST
USU senior guard Preston Medlin is one of 46 players on the 2014 Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award Watch List, announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The annual honor, named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic Bob Cousy, recognizes the top point guards in men's college basketball. This list was created by a committee of well-respected media members and influential people within college basketball from around the country.
Medlin, a senior guard from Carrollton, Texas, is one of three Mountain West players on the 46-player list, along with Boise State's Derrick Marks and New Mexico's Kendall Williams. The USU guard is also the only player from a Utah school on the list.
This watch list of candidates will be narrowed down to a final 20 in early February, then final five by early March. A premier Selection Committee has been appointed by the Hall of Fame to review the candidates in contention for the nation's top collegiate point guard award. This committee is made up of top college basketball personnel including members of the media, head coaches, media relations contacts and Hall of Famers. The Cousy Award winner will be presented the award on Championship Monday in Dallas at the Hall of Fame's Class of 2014 Announcement and Press Conference.
MEDLIN, SHAW ON COLLEGE SPORTS MADNESS PRESEASON ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST TEAM
USU senior guard Preston Medlin and senior center Jarred Shaw were named to the College Sports Madness Preseason Mountain West All-Conference Teams, with Medlin being tabbed to the second-team while Shaw was on the third-team.
Boise State head coach Leon Rice was the publication's Preseason Coach of the Year, while New Mexico's Kendall Williams was the Preseason Player of the Year and UNLV's Christian Wood was the Preseason Freshman of the Year.
MEDLIN, SHAW ON ESPN.COM'S NEXT MID-MAJOR STAR LIST
USU senior guard Preston Medlin and senior center Jarred Shaw were on ESPN.com's "Who is the next mid-major star?" list, made by ESPN's Jeff Goodman. While not including the high-profile leagues (ACC, A-10, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC, Big East, American, Mountain West and West Coast), but made exception for USU as, Goodman said, "...But I will make one exception. I'm going to allow a pair from Utah State on the list, since the Aggies are a legit mid-major and enter their first season in the Mountain West."
COACH MORRILL NO. 6 ON ESPN.COM's RANKING TOP 25 X's AND O's COACHES
ESPN.com ranked the top X's and O's coaches in college basketball, regardless of level. They polled about two-thirds (around 250) of the Division I head coaches, and some opted to vote more than once. There were more than 300 total votes cast, and USU head coach Stew Morrill ranked No. 6.
COACH MORRILL TABBED COLLEGE CHALKTALK MOUNTAIN WEST COACH OF THE YEAR
Aggie head coach Stew Morrill was tabbed by College Chalktalk as the publication's Preseason Mountain West Coach of the Year. The publication picked USU fifth in its preseason MW poll, as well as predicting that the Aggies will play in the NCAA Tournament, along with its preseason favorite New Mexico, as well as Boise State, UNLV and San Diego State.
POSTSEASON OPPONENTS
In addition to the five Mountain West opponents that went to the NCAA Tournament, USU's 2013-14 schedule also includes a total of six other teams for a total of 11 teams that participated in postseason play. MW champion New Mexico, as well as UNLV, Colorado State, San Diego State and Boise State all went to the NCAA Tournament last season, and USU will have home-and-home games with all five. Utah State will also face two other Mountain West teams that qualified for postseason play in Wyoming, who participated in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI), while Air Force played in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT).
The Aggies will host Pacific, who won the Big West Conference title and went to the NCAA Tournament. USU will also play Weber State, who advanced to the championship game of the Collegeinsider.com Tournament, becoming the first team in Big Sky history to reach the championship game of a national postseason tournament. The Aggies will also face another in-state foe who qualified for postseason play in BYU, who advanced to the semifinals of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), at Madison Square Garden. Western Illinois participated in last season's CBI.
MORRILL DEAN OF MOUNTAIN WEST COACHES
USU head coach Stew Morrill is entering his 28th-year as a head coach and has the longest coaching tenure, as well as the most overall wins of all the current Mountain West Conference coaches. Morrill has amassed a 587-267 (.686) record in his 27 years. San Diego State's Steve Fisher is 467-254 (.648) in 22 seasons as a head coach. Colorado State's Larry Eustachy has compiled a 430-268 (.616) overall record, also in 22 seasons, including 98-53 (.649) during five seasons at Utah State (1994-98).
AGGIES HAVE SIX PLAYERS FROM THE STATE OF UTAH
Aggie players from the state of Utah include junior forward Ben Clifford (South Jordan/Bingham HS), junior center Jordan Stone (Smithfield/Sky View HS) and sophomore guard Marcel Davis (American Fork/American Fork HS), along with sophomore forward Kyle Davis (Draper/Alta HS/Southern Utah), freshman forward Jalen Moore (Smithfield/Sky View HS), and freshman guard Terrell Young (Salt Lake City/Judge Memorial HS).
AGGIES TO PLAY TEAMS FROM 10 DIFFERENT STATES
Utah State will play teams from 10 different states for the second year in a row. California leads the way with six, while Utah is second with four, along with two each from Colorado and Nevada, as well as one each from six different states:
Alabama - 1Troy - Dec. 21
California - 6San José State - Jan. 4, March 1at UC Santa Barbara - Nov. 16, Dec. 20USC - Nov. 8Pacific - Dec. 7San Diego Christian - Dec. 28San Diego State - Jan. 25, Feb. 18
Colorado - 2Air Force - Jan. 1Colorado State - Jan. 15, Feb. 11
Idaho - 1Boise State - Jan. 18, Feb. 8
Illinois - 1Western Illinois - Dec. 19
Mississippi - 1Mississippi State - Nov. 23
Nevada - 2Nevada - Jan. 11, Feb. 5UNLV - Jan. 22, Feb. 15
New Mexico - 1New Mexico - Jan. 28, Feb. 25
Utah - 4vs. Southern Utah - Nov. 12at Weber State - Nov. 26vs. BYU - Nov. 30vs. Utah Valley - Dec. 14
Wyoming - 1Wyoming - Feb. 1, March 5
52 TO 1500
Utah State's win on March 9, 2013 was the Aggies' 1,500th all-time win, becoming the 52nd team in NCAA history to reach the 1,500 total win plateau.
UTAH STATE COLLECTS 14TH-STRAIGHT 21 WIN SEASON
Utah State won its 21st game of the season with its 71-51 win over UTSA on March 9, 2013. USU is one of just five teams in the country to win at least 21 games in each of the past 14 seasons along with Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, and Syracuse. Furthermore, it is the 23rd time in school history that USU has won 20 or more games in a season.
UTAH STATE HAS WON EIGHT TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS
Utah State won six Big West Tournament championships while a member of that league (1979-2005), and has won WAC Tournament championships in 2009 and 2011. Those eight tournament championships are the most by any current member of the Western Athletic Conference. Louisiana Tech has the second-most league titles among WAC schools with six as it won three tournament titles while a member of the American South Conference and three as a member of the Southland Conference. Hawai'i has won three WAC Tournament championships, while Nevada and New Mexico State have won two WAC Tournament championships. Fresno State and New Mexico State both won three Big West Tournament championships, while San José State won two tournament championships as a member of the Big West Conference.
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
Utah State left the Western Athletic Conference with four WAC regular-season championships in the last six years as part of USU's eight years in the league. The Aggies shared the 2008 title with Boise State, Nevada and New Mexico State as all four teams had 12-4 league records, before winning the 2009 and 2010 WAC titles with identical 14-2 conference records, and the 2011 WAC Championship after going 15-1. Prior to USU's run, Nevada won five straight regular season WAC titles from 2004-08.
Utah State won 48 of its last 62 WAC games (.770) and was 74-22 (.768) against teams from the WAC during the last six seasons. Overall, USU posted 94-34 (.732) regular-season WAC record in its eight years in the league.
UTAH STATE'S DOUBLE-DIGIT CONFERENCE WINS
Utah State won 11 WAC games in 2012-13, giving the Aggies their sixth season with double-digit WAC wins in USU's eight years in the league. Under veteran head coach Stew Morrill, USU now has 12 seasons with double-figures in the conference win column in his 15 seasons at the helm of the Aggie program. Overall, it is USU's 24th season with double-digit conference wins.
USU MEN'S BASKETBALL THIRD IN NATION IN REBOUNDING MARGIN IN 2012-13
Utah State men's basketball ranked third in the nation in rebounding margin last season as part of ranking in the top 50 in three categories of the final NCAA Division I statistics,
USU's +9.1 rebounding margin ranked the team third in the NCAA, and was also tops in the Western Athletic Conference. The Aggies' rebounding margin was helped by out-rebounding each of its last 15 opponents, as part of 27 times overall. On the year, USU was 18-9 when out-rebounding its opponent in 2012-13.
The Aggies were also 24th in the country in field goal percentage (.469). Utah State also ended 49th in assists per game (14.7), 63rd in won-lost percentage (.677) and 75th in the nation in assists-turnover ratio (1.12).
SHAW LONE USU INDIVIDUAL IN TOP 100 OF NCAA STATS
Junior center Jarred Shaw was ranked 50th in field goal percentage (.539), as well as 71st in rebounds per game (8.4) and 81st in double-doubles (9.0).
USU LED WAC OVERALL IN TWO CATEGORIES
In addition to rebounding margin (+9.1), the Aggies were also tops in the WAC statistics in rebounding defense, holding their opponents to 28.4 rebounds per game.
USU was also second in the league in free throw percentage (.723) and field goal percentage (.469), as well as assists (14.68) and assist-turnover ratio (1.11), while ranking third in scoring (68.8), scoring margin (+5.3) and three-point field goal percentage (.356). The Aggies were also fourth in blocks (4.03), while ranking fifth in scoring defense (63.6), field goal percentage defense (.412) and rebounds (37.5), in addition to seventh in three-point field goal percentage defense (.337) and ninth in steals (4.84).
UTAH STATE TRENDS
Utah State finished the 2012-13 season ... 18-0 when leading at halftime; 1-9 when trailing at halftime; 2-1 when tied at halftime; 18-3 when shooting better from the field; 3-7 when shooting worse than opponent from field; 14-4 when shooting better from three-point range; 7-6 when shooting worse from three-point range; 16-5 when shooting better from the free throw line; 18-9 when out-rebounding the opponent; 3-1 when getting out-rebounded; 16-8 when committing more turnovers; 3-1 when committing fewer turnovers; 17-3 when having more assists; 15-4 when blocking more shots.
HEAD COACH Stew Morrill NOTES
350 USU WINS FOR COACH MORRILL
Utah State's win over Western Oregon on Dec. 8, 2013 was USU head coach Stew Morrill's 350th victory at the helm of the Aggie program.
500 AGGIE GAMES FOR COACH MORRILL
USU's 77-71 win at Weber State on Nov. 26, 2013, was Aggie head coach Stew Morrill's 500th game at Utah State and Morrill is now 371-129 (.742) at USU.
THE MORRILL COACHING TREE
Utah State head coach Stew Morrill currently has three former assistants who are head coaches at the Division I level, which is tied for the eighth-most in the nation among active coaches.
Randy Rahe (Weber State)
Dave Rice (UNLV)
Don Verlin (Idaho)
Arizona State's Herb Sendek and Louisville's Rick Pitino each have eight assistants who are current head coaches, followed by Mike Montogmery (California) with seven, Billy Donovan (Florida) with six, Tom Izzo (Michigan State), John Calipari (Kentucky) and Trent Johnson (TCU) all with five.
COACH MORRILL NO. 6 ON ESPN.COM's RANKING TOP 25 X's AND O's COACHES
ESPN.com ranked the top X's and O's coaches in college basketball, regardless of level. They polled about two-thirds (around 250) of the Division I head coaches, and some opted to vote more than once. There were more than 300 total votes cast, and USU head coach Stew Morrill ranked No. 6.
COACH MORRILL TABBED COLLEGE CHALKTALK MOUNTAIN WEST COACH OF THE YEAR
Aggie head coach Stew Morrill was tabbed by College Chalktalk as the publication's Preseason Mountain West Coach of the Year. The publication picked USU fifth in its preseason MW poll, as well as predicting that the Aggies will play in the NCAA Tournament, along with its preseason favorite New Mexico, as well as Boise State, UNLV and San Diego State.
MORRILL HAS COACHED 15 FIRST-TEAM ALL-LEAGUE PLAYERS AT UTAH STATE
Utah State head coach Stew Morrill has coached 14 first-team all-league players who have won the award a total of 20 times in his 13 years at Utah State. 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, Jaycee Carroll (twice), Gary Wilkinson, Jared Quayle, Tai Wesley (twice), Brockeith Pane and Preston Medlin.
MORRILL NAMED 2011 JIM PHELAN NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
Utah State men's basketball coach Stew Morrill was named the 2011 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year at the Final Four in Houston. Named after legendary Mount St. Mary's head coach Jim Phelan, who won over 800 games and coached in more contests than any in college basketball history, the award is presented annually to the top coach in America by CollegeInsider.com. The honor is voted upon by a distinguished group of coaches, media members and athletic administrators. Other finalists for the award included Mike Brey (Notre Dame), Rick Byrd (Belmont), Jamie Dixon (Pittsburgh), Billy Donavan (Florida), Steve Fisher (San Diego State), Greg Kampe (Oakland), Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Steve Lavin (St. John's), Thad Matta (Ohio State), Sean Miller (Arizona), Matt Painter (Purdue), Rick Pitino (Louisville), Dave Rose (BYU), Bill Self (Kansas) and Roy Williams (North Carolina).
MORRILL DEAN OF MOUNTAIN WEST COACHES
USU head coach Stew Morrill is entering his 28th-year as a head coach and has the longest coaching tenure, as well as the most overall wins of all the current Mountain West Conference coaches. Morrill has amassed a 589-267 (.688) record in his 27 years. San Diego State's Steve Fisher is 468-255 (.647) in 22 seasons as a head coach. Colorado State's Larry Eustachy has compiled a 431-269 (.616) overall record, also in 22 seasons, including 98-53 (.649) during five seasons at Utah State (1994-98).
Stew Morrill VERSUS THE MOUNTAIN WEST
Stew Morrill is 122-64 (.656) all-time against Mountain West teams.
vs. Air Force 14-2vs. Boise State 24-10vs. Colorado State 1-2vs. Fresno State 16-12vs. Nevada 21-14vs. New Mexico 3-9vs. San Diego State 11-2vs. San José State 22-1vs. UNLV 3-2vs. Wyoming 7-10Total 122-64
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