SPORTS: USU takes on Long Beach in nationally televised game
In its first nationally televised home game in two years, the Utah State basketball team will take on the 49ers of Long Beach State University Thursday in the Spectrum. Because of ESPN coverage, tip-off will be at 10:07 p.m.
The game marks the first Big West Conference home game of the season for the Aggies. USU is 17-5 in league home openers since joining the BWC. A win over Long Beach would give the Aggies 22 consecutive victories in conference action, dating back to last season. Forward Toraino Johnson said while attendance has been good at previous games, he hopes to see an even bigger crowd now that conference games have begun.
“[The crowd] will give us a boost,” Johnson said.
USU will be going head to head against a Long Beach team that went 24-6 overall last season and took first place in the BWC’s Western Division. Although the 49ers did not advance to the NCAA Tournament, they did accept a bid to the National Invitational Tournament.
USU is looking to build on its success from last year as well. USU maintained a perfect 19-0 mark in league play during the 1999-2000 season and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Despite losing key players, including Matt Milisa, 2000 Big West Player of the Year, USU center Dimitri Jorssen said he thinks the 49ers will still be a competitive team.
“It’s not a matter of who is on the team,” Jorssen said. “[Long Beach State] is still going to be good.”
USU head coach Stew Morrill said although this year’s Long Beach team does not have as much depth, the 49ers still have really good talent.
“What they do have is pretty dang good,” Morrill said. “They’re a talented, dangerous team.”
The Aggies currently boast a 12-2 overall record, 2-0 in the conference. Long Beach is also 2-0 in the conference, with an 8-6 overall mark.
“This [game] will be a real test to see where we are in the league,” Morrill said.
Johnson said the key will be to play “hard-nosed defense and execute the offense.”
Morrill noted that Long Beach’s James Williams and Travis Reed are players to watch for.
“Williams [is] a driver and athletic slasher,” Morrill said. “Reed [is] a prime-time scorer inside.”
Morrill also said Reed plays a similar style of basketball as USU’s Shawn Daniels and both have big hands and the ability to get up around the basket.
Long Beach is likely to mix a lot of zones and is capable of forcing many turnovers.
“They’re getting so many steals that lead to easy baskets,” Morrill said.
Morrill added that Long Beach presses its opponents and is not afraid to play a passing game.
“[We] better be alert to play them,” he said.
Jorssen said he feels the team is confident and knows the Aggies can win if they play basketball like they know how.
“If we play our game, we’ll be fine,” he said. “We’ve shown that over the years,”
Johnson agrees.
“When the ball tips up, we’ll be ready,” he said.