Aggies look to break conference losing streak
After starting the season 7-0, the Utah State men’s basketball team has since gone 5-9, including 2-7 in the Mountain West Conference.
The Aggies continue conference play with a pair of home games this week when they begin the second go-around of conference games by hosting Nevada and Boise State.
“We’re just kind of a mess right now. We’re struggling,” said head coach Stew Morrill following the loss Saturday in Wyoming. “We’re having a hard time scoring. We’re having a hard time defending. Our players are not very confident.”
The road doesn’t get any easier for the Aggies.
While USU leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage, the Aggies are ninth in scoring offense and eighth in scoring defense while compiling a minus-4.7 scoring margin during conference play.
Morrill switched up the starting lineup on Saturday against Wyoming, something the Aggies hope will pay dividends against the Wolf Pack on Thursday. When the teams met in Reno on Jan. 11, USU started a stretch of seven games in which the team reached the 70-point plateau.
The Aggies have only reached the mark three times in conference play, once in a win over San Jose State and twice in losses to Air Force and Boise State.
It’s a trend that bodes ill for USU when Nevada visits the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Wednesday.
“We’ve got to be able to play defense even when our offense isn’t going the way we want it to,” said senior guard Spencer Butterfield after losing to Wyoming.
The Wolf Pack boasts the third-best scoring margin in the conference, outscoring opponents by an average of 5.2 points. Nevada has four players averaging in double figures, led by Deonte Burton at 21.0 points per game.
Nevada has allowed conference opponents an average of 64.4 points per game and held the Aggies to 54 in the first meeting this season, which was the Wolf Pack’s fourth of seven conference wins so far this season.
For the Aggies, switching the lineup is a focal point.
“We just have to get used to playing out new positions, but bottom line is that we’ve just got to play harder,” Butterfield said.
Morrill echoed Butterfield’s sentiment about the team’s effort.
“I don’t think we’re not trying, I think we’re just kind of a mess,” Morrill said. “And I hate to admit that, but it’s true. We’re not playing hard enough because we’re struggling so much, and when shots aren’t going down and the other team is scoring and you’re missing shots it gets deflating out there, and it’s no excuse, but it’s what is happening.”
The Aggies and Wolf Pack are scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
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Twitter: @CurtSport07