Ags will face Northwestern State in BracketBuster

Utah State found out it will be hosting Northwestern State in ESPN’s BracketBuster in one of the 13 games televised by ESPN.

“Supposedly, [Northwestern is] kind of thought of as the Cinderella team this season,” USU Athletic Director Randy Spetman said. “If you look at their record, they’ve beaten Oregon State, Oklahoma State and Mississippi State – several of those schools at their home on the road. This is going to be a real challenge for us to be successful.”

Although many in Utah may not have heard of the Demons, others around the country know they are tougher than they may seem.

Northwestern State is located in Natchitoches, La., and is a member of the Southland Conference. Currently, the Demons have a 13-6 season record and a 6-1 conference record.

Spetman said the BracketBuster is a chance for the Aggies to get more national exposure – something that should help them come tournament time.

Even if USU doesn’t win, Spetman said the game will still help the Aggies because it will strengthen their schedule and will help USU’s RPI (ratings percentage index).

The WAC conference had contracted with ESPN to be involved in the BracketBuster, Spetman said. It was a way, he added, for the conference to generate more money.

But the money isn’t the only reason USU is going to be in the game.

“I just think it’s the exposure,” Spetman said. “The basketball committee will have seen us on TV for the third time and hopefully we’ll have beaten a team with an RPI that is pretty high. That’s big in how they determine who goes [to the March Madness tournament].”

The teams will play either Feb. 17 or 18 and will be televised on one of the ESPN channels.

-aedmunds@cc.usu.edu