Aggies begin endurance test against Idaho State
The Utah State Aggies haven’t missed a conference tournament under head coach Stew Morrill. The Aggies have also been able to make it to either the semi-final or the final of their conference tournament every year. Perhaps that fact can be attributed to the Aggies annual self-hosted Gossner Foods sponsored tournament.
“When you get to the conference tournament, and that is what we have told our guys, you are playing consecutive nights,” Morrill said. “What we have always told our players is it tests you physically, it tests you on preparation on a 24-hour turn-around, and it tests you mentally whether you can be tough enough to play back-to-back-to-back, in this case. If you get in the conference tournament … you are going to have to play on consecutive nights.”
The Aggies (8-2) start the tournament against the Idaho State Bengals (3-6) from the Big Sky Conference. The Aggies own a 33-13 series advantage over the Bengals, but this could very well be the best Idaho State team the Aggies have faced.
“Watching Idaho State versus Creighton, I feel like definitely they have some quality personnel,” Morrill said. “Their record is deceiving because they’ve played so many road games, so many guarantee games. They’ve got some size, they’ve got some athleticism and it’s real important that we understand that they’re a very capable team and much better than their record indicates. That’s what I’m going to make sure and try and get across to my team today.”
The Aggies defeated the Utah Valley University Wolverines in Orem on Saturday night, 76-58, and they will be looking to build on one of the best offensive second halves they have played all season. The Aggies shot 53.8 percent from the floor and 42.8 percent from the 3-point line against the Wolverines, and the Aggies will be looking for that kind of production which the Aggies have not been able to consistently find.
“What you are searching for is consistency,” Morrill said. We are trying to get more consistent on the offensive end. Our defense and rebounding has been a solid area for us. We need to grasp on to those and keep making sure that area of the game is solid.”
The Aggies solid defense and rebounding will be tested tonight against the Bengals. Senior guard Broderick Gilchrest is averaging 15.8 points per game and senior center 7-footer Deividas Busma is averaging 12.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
“Gilcrest is really impressive,” Morrill said. “Last year he was a new player and a junior college kid who was not as aggressive as their veteran kids. This year he is really aggressive, he shoots it well from three, he is so quick and gets the ball up the court and makes things happen.”
Morrill is equally impressed with Busma.
“Their second leading scorer (Deividas Busma) is a handful because he is seven feet tall and shooting 57 percent, and has good touch around the basket,” Morrill said.
Tip-off between the Aggies and Bengals is slated for 8:05 p.m. at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
-ty.d.hus@aggiemail.usu.edu