A “good test” awaits Aggies in Louisiana
As Head Coach Stew Morrill explained, the exhibition games are over and it’s time to get on with the real “counters.” The first counter of the 2006-2007 basketball season comes tonight in Natchitoches, La., against Northwestern State. The game starts at 6:45 and marks the first time the Aggies have ever played at Northwestern State.
The Aggies first ever encounter with the Demons came last year at home in an ESPN Bracket Busters game. The Demons led by 13 points at halftime before the Aggies stormed back to win the game 66-63. Utah State was led by Nate Harris, who scored 27 points. The Demons Clifton Lee scored 20 points as his team surprised the Aggies early on with a pressing defense and quick style of play.
“Last year our guys didn’t understand what we were getting into. We were fortunate to win. Had we not won, we don’t get into the NCAA tournament, no way we get an at large if we don’t beat Northwestern State,” Morrill said.
Northwestern State returns one starter, senior guard Luke Rogers, and nine letter winners from last year’s squad that finished the season with a 26-8 record and beat Iowa in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Rogers, the lone returning starter, averaged 9.3 points and three rebounds a game last year. This year, they are picked to win the Southland Conference for the third year in a row.
Junior college transfer Michael Earl said he was lucky enough to be at last year’s game on his recruitment trip so he knows how good the Demons are.
“We know how good they are and it will be a good test for our first game,” he said.
Morrill agreed, saying, “Hopefully our veterans will tell our new guys what were in for.”
Compared to the style of play that the Aggies saw in their exhibition games, Coach Morrill said this will be a completely different ball game.
“It will be totally different; they’ll pressure us, they’ll press us, try and cause havoc,” he said. “We’re on the road for the first time. It’s a totally different set of circumstances.”
The Aggies, who have nine new players on this year’s team, will have to continue to improve from what they did in the two exhibition games. Morrill said the team made some strides from the first exhibition game to the second and that the team will have to make more strides if they even want to stand a chance against Northwestern State.
The Demons play at a quick pace and like to press on the defensive end. Morrill said that a key to the game is how well the Aggies can break the press.
“We haven’t really been pressed, so that can always be an adventure the first time you get pressed to that degree,” he said.
Going into this year’s season opener the Aggies will look to uphold a tradition of excellence that Stew Morrill has set. During his nine years at USU, Morrill has a 75 percent winning record and is 3-0 on the road in season openers. Overall Utah State has won 12 straight season openers.
This will be the first of two trips to the state of Louisiana for Utah State this year. They will return later in the season during WAC play to take on Louisiana Tech. Going into this year the Aggies are predicted to finish fourth in the WAC by both the coaches and the media.
With so many new players on the team this year, Morrill has said that the players that want it the most will be the ones to get the playing time. He said that whoever can keep there head up and practice hard will earn minutes on the court.
Good effort will be important for the Aggies as they start out the season playing on road tonight and next weekend as they head to Alaska for the Top of the World Classic. The first home game will be on Nov. 25 when the Aggies host in-state rival Weber State.