10 Reasons to watch Aggie Basketball

Women’s Basketball

1. The Utah State women’s team was ranked No. 1 in the conference in free-throw percentage with an average of over 73 percent at the line last year.

2. The Aggie women recorded the highest one-game field goal percentage in the nation last season. They shot over 70 percent against Sacramento State on Dec. 19 of last year. The Aggies’ field goal percentage overall last year was nearly 40 percent, beating their opponent’s average of just under 39 percent.

3. Funda Nakkasoglu was fourth in the conference in scoring averaging at more than 17 points a game last year. She was also third in the conference in assists, averaging almost five per game and was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year.

4. Nakkasoglu also led the Aggies in free-throw percentage with 80 percent. She set a Mountain West record for free throws made and free-throw percentage in a single game 14-14 against San José State in the MW Tournament.

5. The women’s team forms a diverse group, with players from five nations and five different states within the United States. There are players from Australia, France, Brazil, Serbia, Texas, Montana, Connecticut, Oklahoma and Utah.

6. USU is returning just six players from last year, and only one starter — Funda Nakkasoglu. The team has nine newcomers this year.

7. With international players and all-around great names, you may want help this season. Here’s a pronunciation guide:

Antoina Robinson — Ant-wan-uh

Julianne Anchling — On-shling

Finkbeiner — Fink-by-ner

Tijana Djukic — Tee-yana Duke-ich

Funda Nakkasoglu — Foon-da Knock-a-so-glue

8. The Utah States women’s basketball program started in 1972. The Aggies’ overall record is 296-436.

9. Former Aggie Franny Vaaulu signed on to play professional basketball in Germany this year. She is going to play for the Wolfpack of Wolfenbuttel. Two other Aggies currently play overseas — Jennifer Schlott plays in Finland, and Alice Coddington plays in her hometown of Canberra, Australia. This season is your chance to meet more Utah State players that might go pro.

10. Here are some of Utah States women’s basketball all-time individual single game records that might fall this season.

Most points — 38

Most rebounds — 22

Most assists — 14

Most steals — 12

Most blocked shots — 8

Men’s Basketball

1. Utah State is predicted to place third in the conference this year according to the MW preseason poll. The Aggies were 11-7 in conference play last year and they tied for fourth place in the Mountain West Conference. The set the record with 11 wins — the most wins by a team in its second year in the conference.

2. USU was ranked No. 8 in the nation and first in the conference last year in turnovers, averaging only about 10 per game.

3. Since 2000, the Aggies have won nearly 90 percent of their home games in the Spectrum. USU’s all-time record in 46 seasons in the Spectrum is 542-125, which is nearly 82 percent.

4. Utah State was 14th in the nation and No. 1 in the conference last year in 3-point percentage with at nearly 40 percent. They were two spots above in-state rival BYU.

5. The Aggies will have 18 of their games covered on national television this year.

6. In the last 15 years, Utah State has won 73 percent of its games, which is sixth in the nation. The only teams above the Aggies are Florida, Kentucky, Gonzaga, Kansas and Duke at the No. 1 spot.

7. Blearcherreport gave USU the only honorable mention to its top-five college fanbases in the nation. Once again, the Aggeis find themselves on a list with some of the most respected teams in the nation. The top five were Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Duke and Syracuse.

8. According to an article for SBnation by Bill Hanstock, Utah States has the best hair in all of college basketball. Jalen Moore was ranked individually with the 3rd best hair and former Aggie Sean Harris was voted 2nd. Besides having the best hair on the team, Jalen Moore also led the USU in rebounding averaging nearly seven per game.

9. David Collette is 14th in the nation and first in the MW in shooting, with about 59 percent. He also led the team in blocks, averaging almost two blocks each game.

10. Chris Smith shot at over 47 percent from the 3-point line last season. That is the fifth best single season percentage is school history.