Ags set for SLC showdown

Utah State’s quest for the Oquirrh Bucket, the award given to the Utah college basketball team with the best record against in-state opponents, begins Wednesday in Salt Lake City when the Aggies face the University of Utah in the Huntsman Center.

The game will start at 7:05 p.m. and will be televised on KJZZ-TV.

USU pummeled the Utes 71-45 in the Spectrum last season.

“My guess is they’re using that as motivation more than we are,” head coach Stew Morrill said. “The last thing we need is to look at that game and think we have something going.”

Morrill said in-state games in Utah are always an event.

“These in-state games are what they are,” he said. “There’s a lot of interest and a lot of intensity. It will be interesting to see if the new guys understand it until they’ve been through it. It will be a challenge for our team.”

Cass Matheus said he thinks Utah is still sour from the beating they took last season in Logan.

“They’re fired up after last year,” he said. “We need to step up.”

Morrill said it will be key for Matheus to stay out of foul trouble because of the size Utah has. Matheus played limited minutes against Oral Roberts and Middle Tennessee State because of foul trouble.

“Cass can’t play 15 or 17 minutes,” Morrill said. “We need him on the court. He needs to be smart about that.”

Morrill said teams always look bigger when you play them on the road.

“I’m not sure you ever get used to playing on the road,” he said. “The nature of the road is always a challenge.”

Carroll said because of the size the Utes have, he expects Nate Harris and Matheus to be targeted, meaning he needs to play well on the perimeter.

“I expect a tough game,” he said. “They’ll probably monster Nate and Cass and they’ll probably face-guard me pretty hard.”

Carroll said said the team’s attitude will determine how well it plays.

“If we show up [mentally], we’ll compete,” he said. “If we’re timid, we won’t compete.”

The Aggies will be without Nick Hammer coming off the bench. Morrill said he will be out for at least a month and a half.

“There is a definite fracture of his finger,” Morrill said. “The time-frame for his return appears to be out there quite a ways. I’d say six weeks minimum.”

-bhhinton@cc.usu.edu