OPENING TIPS
• With Utah State checking in at No. 20 in this week's Associated Press poll, it is the 10th team to be nationally ranked in school history and first since the 2019-20 team climbed as high as No. 15. USU's highest-ever ranking was in 1960 when it was No. 7 in the nation. Overall, USU is 66-20 (.767) as an AP ranked team.
• Utah State ranks 18th in the NET and 37th by KenPom as of Jan. 10.
• Head coach
Danny Sprinkle was named the recipient of the Jim Phelan Award Mid-Season honors on Jan. 4.
• Utah State junior wing
Great Osobor has been named to the 2023-24 Lute Olson Award Mid-Season Watch List.
• Utah State has won 14-straight games, which is the longest active streak in the nation. The win streak is the sixth-longest streak in program history.
• Utah State ranks in the top 50 in the nation in several categories, including defensive 3-point field goal percentage (.274, 11th), field goal percentage (.502, 12th), scoring margin (+16.25, 17th), assists per game (17.56, 20th), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.56, 21st), rebounding margin (+7.13, 31st) and points per game (81.56, 44th).
• Graduate senior guard
Darius Brown II ranks third in the nation in both assist-to-turnover ratio (5.26) and assists per game (7.56).
•
Osobor ranks 31st in the nation in rebounds per game (9.38), 37th in field goal percentage (.591) and 38th in defensive rebounds per game (6.50).
• USU's 15-1 start under
Sprinkle is the best start to a season under a first-year Aggie head coach in program history. USU is just the third-ever team to start a season off 15-1 after the 2008-09 team (24-1) and 2003-04 team (20-1). The 15 victories are tied with Nevada for the most wins in the nation.
• Utah State is an undefeated 13-0 this season when scoring at least 70 points.
• Utah State is one of just three teams in the nation returning zero points to its 2023-24 roster, joining New Mexico State and Northwestern. The Aggies also have the second-fewest returning rebounds (0.004 percent) and are tied for the second-fewest returning assists (0.003 percent), both behind NMSU.
-USU-
