Tournament beneficial for USU women
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Although the Utah State women’s basketball team was not in action at this season’s Big West Conference Tournament, it was there in full force.
Aggie Head Coach Reagan Scott-Pebley and many members of the team made their way to southern California to experience the tournament atmosphere first hand.
And they saw exactly what they expected.
UC Santa Barbara (26-4 overall, 15-1 in league play) defeated Pacific (16-4, 11-5) in the women’s BWC championship. The Gauchos came out on top 68-50.
The UCSB win wasn’t a surprise, since it has been nationally ranked throughout the season and entered the tournament with six consecutive championships.
The No. 7 seed Gauchos will play No. 10 Xaiver Sunday in Texas in the NCAA tournament.
Scott-Pebley said seeing the teams in person opposed to on tape was completely different.
“You just get a better idea of height, size and strength,” she said during halftime of the USU men’s semifinal game against UC Irvine. “[You see] the interaction they have with each other and which teams have that special bond and which teams don’t. Those things make a huge difference, especially in women’s basketball where we are such emotional people.”
Possibly one of the greatest benefits from going to the tournament is that the USU women’s team had the opportunity to see what it will be up against next year.
Scott-Pebley said she thinks her squad will realize that it needs to get strong and hit the weight room a little harder.
“I think it’s going to be one of those things they look back on and say ‘that really, really helped us,'” she said.
Unlike the men, a women’s team entering the Big West doesn’t have to serve a “probationary period” before being eligible for the tournament, Scott-Pebley said. The Aggies, new to Division I next season, will be able to compete immediately.
The Butler did it
Utah State junior Cardell Butler has come a long way. After not being able to play last year because of academic reasons after transferring from the College of Southern Idaho, Butler was determined to make a difference this season.
Despite an up-and-down regular season, Butler shined during the Big West Conference Tournament.
The forward from San Francisco, Calif. recorded double digits each night, and sealed Aggie victories in the semifinals and final game at the free-throw line. Combined, Butler finished the tournament 10-for-11 from the charity stripe.
Perhaps the most rewarding thing for Butler during the tournament was having his mom, Rosaria Harris, and other family members come see him play.
“I’m very proud of Cardell,” she said on the court following the Aggie victory on Saturday. “We’ve waited a long time for something like this.”
Harris said the family made the journey south after they found out Butler was going to be playing in the championship game.
Quotables
“Putting the game into overtime was a Herculean task. Next year could really be special. We just need to hit the weight room and build on our last four games.”
–Cal State Fullerton Head Coach Donny Daniels on his team’s comeback against USU.
“It felt like a slap in the face. We let it slip through our hands. I’m shocked. It hurts.”
–Cal Poly junior Varnie Dennis on watching the Aggies celebrate after winning the Big West Conference championship.
“We have raised the bar. Our team busted their butts once again this year, and I am very proud. We will make the NCAA Tournament [someday]. I don’t lay awake at night worrying about it. We will make the NCAA Tournament.”
–UC Irvine Head Coach Pat Douglas on the future of his team.
By the numbers
4,136 — attendance for the semifinal game against UC Irvine.
3,265 — attendance for the quarterfinal game against Cal State Fullerton
3,228 — attendance for the Big West Conference championship game against Cal Poly.
15 — Utah State’s seed for the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies will face No. 2 seed Kansas on Thursday in Oklahoma City.
10 — free throws made by junior Mark Brown during the quarterfinal game against CSF.
6 — Aggies hailing from California.
4 — consecutive championship game appearances by Utah State.
3 — double digit scoring games by Desmond Penigar and Butler.
3 — dunks by Butler in the game against the Titans.
2 — BWC tournament overtime games. UC Irvine’s quarterfinal game against Cal State Northridge and Utah State’s game against Cal State Fullerton each went into an extra period.
–juag@cc.usu.edu